Page 34 of Devil in Her Details

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait!” she called, a sheepish look crossing her face. “Out of curiosity, how many daggers do you have?”

“Sixty-seven.”

She gasped. “That many?”

The corner of his lips lifted. “It’s not that many.”

She gave a light scoff. “We can agree to disagree on that score. Did your brother find you after we parted yesterday?”

He ground his teeth at the reminder. He’d remained in the room after she’d left for a good long while, and Reaper had dogged his steps for hours after he’d finally hunted him down and made his complaints known. Maxen and the others had been gone by the time his brother had practically hauled him downstairs. The only reason he’d succeeded was the daze that had still gripped Dagger. He wasn’t sure it had let him go yet either.

“He found me.”

She smiled. “Brothers can be quite overbearing, can’t they? Mine blusters from time to time as well.”

Surprised she’d revealed that much, Dagger fished, “He’s here in Brighton with you?”

She shook her head, a small, affectionate smile forming. “Unfortunately not.”

“Why didn’t he join you?” Seemed that a brother ought to be protecting his sister, not allow her to run off alone with a man like that Calvington in pursuit of her. Dagger wanted to shake the man and ask him if he’d lost his damn mind.

She leaned against the surface of the counter. “You’re asking that because of my previous problem, aren’t you? The one you handled.”

“Only natural to presume that your family would want to protect you.”

“My brother is rather indulgent, and I, well I had this idea that I would be safe here in Brighton. So did my brother.”

She’d thought she could hide from the marquess here. “Nothing is ever truly hidden.”

“No,” she murmured, her eyes turning hot. “I’m learning that.”

Dagger found himself drawn in by that heat when the front window shattered with a violent explosion. A second blow struck the door. Every muscle in him tightened in an instant, and in one swift motion, he snatched the dagger, caught Lilly’s wrist, and dove around the counter, pulling her down with him. She lost her balance, breath catching, and he tugged her against him to steady her, cursing viciously.

That damn marquess. This could be no one else but him. She had been right to be concerned. He would have applauded her instincts if he weren’t busy damning his own.

“Stay put,” he commanded, his voice brooking no argument. “Do not move a damn muscle.”

Another window shattered.

She gasped.

Dagger rose to his feet, murderous intent boiling in his blood, ready to deal with the blackguards.

A hand caught the leg of his trousers. “Where are you going?” she hissed urgently. “Are you leaving me here alone?”

“I’m not leaving you. I’m dealing with our problem.”

“It’s dangerous.”

He rested his hand lightly atop her head, offering her a brief smile. “I’ll be fine. Stay put.”

She hesitated, but then let go of him, urging, “Be careful.”

“Always.”

Dagger turned and strode over to the three men grinning at him, faces half-hidden beneath grime, each holding a length of wood. Heh. Calvington . . . How bloody quaint. Sending men after me. I’m touched. And he had no doubt this message was meant for him.