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He jabbed at Nathan’s head at the knife. Nathan jerked his head sideways, only to be punched in the face. He staggered back and Eric came after him. Nathan stumbled and fell, grabbing at Eric’s coat as the man practically fell on him. He acted on instinct and got his feet between them. He kicked upwards as he landed, and Eric went over his head, landing on the carpet with a gasp and a grunt.
Scrambling to his feet, Nathan lashed out, his fist catching Eric in the face as the other man tried to get up. Eric went down again, rolling onto his back. Eric snarled and slashed at Nathan, the air moving as the blade narrowly missed his face.
Then Eleanor was there, bringing a vase down on Eric’s head. Nathan jerked away as the vase smashed. Eric’s snarl froze, his eyes rolling back in his head. He slumped to the floor.
Nathan’s heart was racing. He looked up at Eleanor, who was standing over the unconscious man breathing heavily. Her cheeks were flushed.
“I... I’ve never hurt anyone like that.” She murmured.
“And I’m grateful for it.”
Hands shaking, Nathan plucked the knife from the man’s hand and backed away. He stared at the knife, very much like his own. Was that blood?
He was the one who killed Matthew Leyton. He had to be.
“Is…” Eleanor swallowed. “Is he dead?”
“No, he’s just unconscious. But not for long.” Nathan tucked both knives into his belt and went to her. “Go and find Mason. Get someone to go for the constable. The magistrate himself lives around the corner. And then get Stewart and Reeve to guard the door.”
“All right.” Eleanor bit her lip. “Forgive me, Nathan. I didn’t know.”
“I know.” Nathan kissed her head. “Now go. I’ll talk to Mother.”
Eleanor hurried off. Nathan closed the door and turned to Vanity, who was sitting huddled in the corner of the couch. She looked terrified, shaking with a whimper. Nathan went to her.
“You’re not hurt, are you?”
“No, he didn’t get a chance.” Vanity was staring at the unconscious body. “He...he was going to kill me.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because I…” Vanity gulped. “I told him I couldn’t do this anymore.”
That didn’t make any sense. Nathan took his mother’s arm and helped her to her feet. Then he led her to the window, as far away from her would-be murderer as possible.
“Sit down, Mother.” Nathan urged Vanity into a chair before standing with his back to the window so he could see the imposter. It was unnerving seeing his face momentarily looking back at him. “Who is he, Mother? And why did he want to kill you?”
“He…” Vanity took a deep breath, her lower lip quivering. “His name’s Eric. Eric Black.”
Nathan stared. This was Eric Black. Now he knew why people acted strangely in the criminal underbelly whenever Nathan tried to talk to them.
“How do you know him, Mother?”
Vanity’s face whitened. She closed her eyes.
“He’s my son.”
Chapter Thirty
It took a moment for the words to sink in. Eric Black was Vanity’s son. He was Nathan’s brother? How was that even possible? It made sense looking at him, but at the same time it didn’t.
“You had another son? But...I thought you couldn’t have a child after me.”
“You’re twins.”
“Wait, what?” Nathan stared. “Twins? We’re twins?”
Now he felt like he was in a nightmare. Nathan had grown up believing that he was an only child, and that Vanity had never had any other children due to a traumatic birth. How could she have kept this from him for so long? Nathan could feel himself swaying and he sagged onto the window seat. He had a twin. And the twin was a criminal.
