Page 92 of The Duchess He Couldn’t Resist

Her words hit him harder than any gesture ever could. Her defiance and open disgust shook him as his face melted into a hurt expression. Marigold stood tall, chin up, and though she was the one tied up in ropes, Donny was the real captive here.

But that only lasted for a moment. Rage the likes of which she had never seen on him took over of this man. Marigold had spoken the truth, but he was not ready to listen. His face went red, and he was shaking from rage.

“Filthy little…” Donny growled.

He was beyond coherent speech. He raised his hand, ready to strike her.

“Stop.”

A voice rang out from behind Donny. It was calm, commanding, and cold. Marigold had heard only one word, but she recognized the voice immediately. Even if she didn’t, she would know exactly who that man was by the way Donny froze.

Marigold looked as the man stepped into the light. The first thing she saw was those merciless eyes. It was her turn to freeze as well. She was right never to fear Donny. He was nothing but a coward. But this man? This man was the real danger that she faced. Johnny.

“Your Grace,” Johnny said in the most disrespectful of ways.

“It would be best for everyone if you just let me go,” Marigold said with authority.

“And here I was believing that you would like to be close to this. The end of your husband.”

She felt despair grabbing her soul, but she denied herself the urge to give in. She had not broken when she was alone in this world, threatened by these same people. She would not give in now that she had so much to lose.

“Take a step back, Donny,” the man ordered.

His command was executed immediately. Donny stepped back, his face twisted with resentment. Johnny walked towards Marigold, studying her.

“I should have never been so lenient with you,” Johnny said with a smile that was the sharpest thing that Marigold had ever faced. “I underestimated you. Who knew that an insignificant little girl would snare a Duke?”

Marigold stayed silent.

“You know,” Johnny circled her, “your husband has been a thorn in my side for far too long, but tonight, I will remove that thorn. Permanently.”

Her hands tightened around her restraints. Her heart was racing. This was it. A trap. For Brandon. He was coming, and Johnny was waiting for him. Everything else disappeared into insignificance. The annulment and the rejection. None of it mattered now.

Marigold did not care if he didn’t want her. She didn’t care about the deal or the heir or any of it. She didn’t care about the title and the status. She only cared that he was alive. She needed him to be alive. Even if it were just to share awkward breakfasts where she could look upon his face and listen to his voice. She just needed to know that he was somewhere in the world, and somehow, that would make everything better.

A thought hit her like a wave then. Overwhelming and undeniable. A simple, clear truth that she somehow knew but never uttered even to herself. She loved him. She loved her husband. She loved Brandon. She loved him, and he might die before she even got the chance to tell him.

“Let me go.” She struggled against the ropes.

“I don’t think I will, Your Grace,” Johnny mocked.

“You cannot do this!”

“I can, and I will,” he said and then turned to his men. “Get her secure. Her husband will be here soon, and I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.”

Marigold watched in despair as he walked out of the room, and almost all the men, ready with guns, entered, lurking and waiting.

All she could think was for him to be safe. She couldn’t sit by and see the man that she loved be in danger. She would have to find a way to save him, even if it cost her life.

CHAPTER 28

HELL BREAKS LOOSE

Brandon could tell that something was afoot here. Something bigger than he and the Dark Hand had ever planned for. Still, he forced himself to remain calm. His heart was pounding, but his face was still stone. Whatever games Johnny had in mind, he was not so prone to play. And even if he were to play, it would only be to win.

“Are we here to make a deal? Because I do not have time to waste,” Brandon said. “You keep dancing around something, and I do not like it. If you didn’t want to cut an agreement, then you just wasted my time, and my time is precious.”

“A deal.” Johnny leaned back in his chair, his cold eyes fixed on Brandon. “If I were completely honest—which I rarely am, but on this occasion, I will make an exception—I would have you know that there is no deal to be made.”