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At least in King’s world, he was feared and respected for being a beast.
“It could be the maid,” Tracker murmured. “Or one of my spies—”
“How would they know my name?” he shot back.
Something sparked in his chest but he smothered it. He didn’t want to hope, for if he was wrong— “Who is it, girl?” he demanded. “Who’s looking for me?”
She shook her head. “I-I don’t know.”
“Where is she?” His voice rose in a growl that made her flinch.
“I-if you please, sir, I—”
“Don’t scare the poor girl, Beast.” King’s low drawl cut through the shadows as he entered the room from a side door Beast hadn’t even known was there. That was how King worked. In the shadows. Forever on the sidelines watching. Waiting. Plotting. Scheming.
The poor girl in question looked even more terrified now that the most powerful man in her small world had entered, but Beast didn’t point that out.
“Where is she?” he asked King instead.
“I told my men to have her brought to my office.” Whatever he saw in Dane’s face, it had his brows hitching up as he added, “Safely. They won’t touch her.”
“Is it her?” he demanded. Even he was surprised by the gruffness of his tone. The already scratchy voice was that much rougher as emotions filled his chest and made his every muscle tense.
“I’m not certain.” King stalked toward him, not quite as tall as Dane, but a formidable man with a broad jaw and a cruel smirk to his lips. But he wasn’t smirking now. For once he was serious. Grim, even. “She won’t tell us her name.”
Dane was already moving past them toward the giant brownstone structure that housed King’s gaming hell and his offices up above.
It might not be her.
It couldn’t be her.
It had to be her.
“Where’d she come from?” he asked as King fell into step beside him out in the alley. Tracker had stayed behind, no doubt to question the servant girl.
“The General found her,” King said. “He sent word to me and he had that girl bring the message directly to you. I take it word’s spread that you’ve been looking for a girl.”
“A lady,” he muttered.
Lillianwasa lady. She had no place here in Vestry Lane.
“The General found her,” he repeated, his pace was quickening along with his heart, the blasted organ seemed intent to ignore his brain which was telling him over and over that it could be anyone. One of her servants or someone from his former life.
“We’re lucky he did,” King said. “Word has it she’s a pretty one. It’s a good thing it was the General and not some thug who thinks only with his cock.”
Dane’s hands clenched. But King was right. If anyone in this godforsaken neighborhood had to come across his Lillian it was best it was the General. Dane wasn’t even certain if the man truly had been a general, but hehadbeen an officer in the British army, and his useless leg was the evidence. But he was retired now, and for reasons of his own, he’d chosen to live here, of all places, amongst the outcasts and the criminals rather than the gently bred folks who’d have welcomed him as a war hero.
But no matter where he lived, everyone knew him to be a gentleman—honest, fair, and forthright. He was respected as much by the noblemen who snuck down to Vestry Lane for the gambling and the whores as he was by the whores themselves.
The General held such respect, King himself had called upon him more than once to peacefully resolve conflicts.
Beast was who he called upon when peaceful resolutions were no longer an option.
When they reached King’s quarters, Dane rushed ahead, ignoring the stares and the whispers of the servants as he plowed through the oak-lined halls toward King’s office. He threw open the door and froze.
Lillian.
Her eyes were wide with fear, but she made no move to back away as he entered.
