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I regarded her carefully, the moment heavy with expectation. Charlie was probably choking on his tongue that someone questioned one of my orders. Normally I wouldn’t tolerate it, but Belle was special. “Why not?”
“You can’t fault him for trying to do better by his men.”
Yes, I certainly fucking could.
I braced an arm on the side of the carriage. “That meeting was an insult. I can’t tolerate insults.”
“But it doesn’t mean you have to kill them.”
Oh, my sweet, sweet girl. Better she learned now the type of man I was. “I’m a bad man who does bad things, sweetheart. This ain’t no surprise, yeah?”
“Yes, but is it necessary to do this particular bad thing?”
Charlie muttered, “Bax, we need to know what to do.”
I kept my eyes locked on Belle. “Why should I spare their miserable lives?”
“Because it’s the decent thing to do. Please, Bax.”
Begging. I liked it. Just how far would my naughty widow go to save these men? As far as she’d go to save her father?
“Bax,” Charlie said impatiently. “They’re trying to leave.”
I stared directly at her as I ordered, “Lock them in and burn it down.”
She gasped. “No, don’t! Please. I’ll show you the other thing. From earlier. The matching piece.”
Her red corset.
My heart thumped hard as I considered it. I wanted to see her slowly disrobe, willingly remove every item of clothing for me until she reached her corset and chemise. Fuck, that was a performance I could savor for hours. But was it worth leaving Walsh alive?
The answer was obvious.
“Let them go,” I said.
Charlie knew better than to question me, so he merely nodded. Just for him, I added under my breath, “The package I have stashed? I need you to fetch it and bring it to Lisette’s.”
“Now?”
“Yeah. I’ll meet you there when I’m finished.”
Charlie saluted and hurried off, taking a few of the men with him. I glanced at Matty and the other guards waiting nearby. “I need to see Miss Kelly home.”
Matty nodded once, her eyes flat and serious. “We’ll follow in a second carriage.”
I climbed inside my carriage and shut the door. The dim lighting did nothing to hide Belle’s flushed skin.
When I settled on the opposite seat, I gestured to her bodice. “If you think I am too gentlemanly to collect, think again. I want what you promised and I want it now.”
She licked her lips. The pulse in her throat pounded beneath her skin, and I longed to put my tongue there, feel that throbbing heat with my mouth. But there was time enough for that later. This was something else entirely.
“I don’t have enough room here.” She folded her hands in her lap. “It’ll have to wait.”
“No, no, no. I’ve paid for my ticket, widow. Therefore, I demand the show. Take off your clothes—and do it slowly.”
“But . . .”
“The corset, Belle. No stalling.” I stretched my legs, settling in.
