Desire (Notorious 3)

coast.”

“I suspect he would have seen your patrols, but Jack is quite resourceful. He would have contrived a diversion so he could slip in to fetch the gold.” Grayson looked pointedly at the pistol. “You had best get on with it, so you can take Brynn away from here. Jack has threatened more than once to kill her. Every moment you delay only endangers her.”

Lucian felt a muscle flex in his jaw. “You’re suggesting I shoot you in cold blood?”

“If you would rather not, I can perform the task myself-that is, if you would trust me with a weapon. I give you my word of honor I will see to it.” His mouth twisted in a bitter smile. “My word once meant something. Before this, I was an honorable man.”

Grayson was deadly serious, Lucian knew; he meant to take his own life.

“Or perhaps,” Grayson added, “all you need do is wait. Jack will be more than eager to put a period to my existence when I can’t deliver the gold. You could leave me a weapon. I promise you I would attempt to take him with me.”

“You would be willing to turn on your cohort?”

“More than willing. Jack isn’t my cohort. He’s the bastard who threatened to kill my family…” Grayson’s features contorted in a grimace. “Why do you think I gave in to their demands? Nothing else could have induced me to commit treason. But I doubt you could understand such weakness, Wycliff. You have never cared for anyone as much as your honor. You would have been stronger, had you found yourself in my place.”

Would I have been stronger? Lucian wondered to himself. I would have fought back, certainly. I would have mobilized all the private resources at my disposal, all the government forces at my command. But Grayson had few resources and fewer government contacts. And still there would have been a risk to Brynn…

Lucian shook his head, knowing he was lying to himself. He would have sacrificed his honor for Brynn’s sake. He would have done anything to save her.

Was he really so much better than her brother?

Just then Brynn took another step toward Lucian. She didn’t utter a sound, but the plea in her green eyes was wrenchingly eloquent. She might hate him if he killed her brother.

“Your sister is right,” Lucian said slowly, thinking hard. “There may be another way. For her sake, I might consider making you an offer.”

“An offer?”

Lucian glanced at Brynn. She had pressed a hand to her mouth, as if not daring to hope. “I want Caliban, Sir Grayson. But I would need your help in exposing him.”

The hope that had flared in Grayson’s eyes was quickly extinguished. “I would be more than happy to help, but I’m afraid I would be of no use to you. I’ve never seen Caliban.”

“But you’ve seen his confederates. You know his methods.”

“That won’t solve my dilemma-the threat to my family. I would rather die than see my sister or my brothers harmed. You can’t protect them from Caliban, my lord. At least if I’m dead, my family will be safe.”

“Your death could be arranged…” Lucian replied, his mind working furiously.

“No!” Brynn exclaimed in horror.

Lucian turned his attention to her, prepared to offer an explanation, but he caught the faint scrape of boot soles on rock. His glance flew at once to the far end of the cavern.

A figure moved out of the shadows into the open- a man dressed in black, holding two pistols cocked and aimed. One was directed at Grayson, the other at Brynn.

“You severely disappoint me, Sir Grayson,” the newcomer declared with the barest trace of a French accent. “I thought we had a bargain.”

Grayson’s features took on a sneer. “Jack. I have no compunction about reneging on a bargain with the likes of you.”

“Jacques, please. Jack is so… English.” The Frenchman turned to Lucian. “Lord Wycliff.” The softly spoken name held a wealth of satisfaction.

“Do I know you?” Lucian remarked, cursing himself for his inexcusable negligence in allowing the Frenchman to slip in undetected.

“No, but I know you.” The cold, black eyes moved over him. “Lord Caliban has recently put a large price on your head. You have proved to be too painful a thorn in his side.”

“Obviously not painful enough.” Lucian flashed a cynical smile. “So your spineless employer is in the business of assassination as well as treason?”

“Lord Caliban is hardly spineless.”

“Yet he sends his lackeys to do his vile work.”