The man stood, rather slowly and carefully. “The Earl of Sinclair, at your service.” He gave a stiff bow.
“You’ve given him a nickname in keeping with the rest of us?”
Vice held up his hands. “Hear me out, chap. With Daring, Effing, and Malice all married, we need help. Bad has had to work the floor every evening for the past fortnight at least.”
Exile grimaced. That was a good point. “Yes, but no one has sold their share. Ye need to ask the group first before you go inviting new people into our secret. If it still is a secret.”
Vice winced, rubbing the back of his neck. “That’s fair.”
“Worry not.” Sin held up his hands. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Exile crossed his arms, still holding his short sword. “I’ve heard that before.”
“And so far it’s been true.” Bad pushed back further in his chair.
Exile pivoted to stare down at Bad. “Perfectly respectable women are being attacked in their own homes and behind our club since learning our secret.”
Bad shrugged. “That is not my problem. Sin isn’t a woman, he won’t need our protection. I, however, could use some help, and we can’t stop talking about the Chase women long enough for me to actually ask for it.”
Grimacing, Exile dropped his arms. “Ye’ve a point there. But next time, write a missive first, before inviting in someone new.”
Vice cleared his throat. “The attack in the alley. Do you think it had anything to do with our lady enemy?”
A wave of shock coursed through him. Why had he not thought of that? Should he have stayed with Diana? Was she at this very moment in danger? Darlington was likely passed out cold. No man could match a Scot in his drinking. “Bloody hell, I shouldn’t have left her.”
Bad rolled his eyes. “Come on, then. We’ll lock up and check on her. But I was right to bring Sin in. You’re six steps from the fucking altar.”
“I am,” he answered truthfully. “But no’ how ye think. Matrimony won’t change my involvement in the club.” Just thinking about his faraway fiancée made him churn with dread.
“Sure. That’s what they all say.” Bad set his glass on the table. “Let’s go, in the wee hours of morning, to check on the woman you are definitely not marrying.”
Sin coughed. Was the new guy laughing at him? He looked over at the man, who was even more pale.
“Are you coming, Sin?” Vice asked. Then he noticed Exile’s stare. “He’s my family. We can trust him.”
But Exile ignored Vice, his eyes narrowing. His distrust of Sin intensifying. “You’ve a stain on your coat.”
Sin looked down, his hand covering the dark spot. “Someone must have spilled their drink on me.” Then he cleared his throat. “Much as I’d love to learn the details of what you’re discussing, I should take myself off to bed.”
Vice narrowed his gaze. “You’re going to have to improve your drinking.”
Sin gave a nod. “Clearly.”
Exile gave the man one last look then decided he was another day’s problem. What he needed to do now was make sure that Diana was safe.
Diana woke to a noise, but she’d been so deeply asleep, she couldn’t remember what the noise had
been.
“My lord,” the butler said. Was he just outside her door? “You can’t go—”
The door banged open and Diana rose up, blood pumping through her veins even as her head spun with the sudden lurch.
“Diana,” Exile’s voice boomed through the room.
She swayed again pulling the covers up over the night rail that Minnie had allowed her to borrow. “What is it?” Bad and Vice came skidding in behind him and then the fogginess in her brain cleared completely. “What are they doing in my bedroom?” Yanking the covers from the bed, she wrapped them about her and stood. Being in bed made her feel vulnerable.
Exile looked back at both of them. “Out!” he boomed.