Earl of Exile (Lords of Scandal 3)

“Callum,” she called, waving again. “Hurry before he wakes.”

“Did she…” Bad started, his head cocking to the side.

“She did,” Exile said, a large grin spreading across his face. Pride expanded in his chest. “She rescued herself.”

Diana rolled closer just as the door to the carriage snapped open and Sin tumbled out onto the cobblestone.

The man pulled himself from the ground, stumbling as he held his side and made his way back down the alley. Baring his teeth, Exile kicked his horse and started after the man. He’d pay for what he’s done.

Sin moved faster but Exile gained on him and he raised his crop ready to strike. The man had attempted to steal his life away, the same way that thug at the tavern had taken his cousin. He wished he’d made that man pay but now he had the chance to see this wrong righted.

“Stop,” Diana shouted, holding up her hand.

He yanked the reins. “This bastard deserves a good beating.”

“Trust me, I took care of him.” She fired back. “Now draw your pistol and tie him up.”

Exile looked at her through the haze of anger clouding his sight. He wanted to hurt the man.

Bad drew up next to him. “Let me by,” he yelled, even as he pulled out his derringer. “Stop, Sin, or I’ll be forced to fire.”

Exile shimmied his horse to the side as Bad raced passed him, easily subduing the man on foot.

Sin raised his hands. “Please. Please don’t kill me. She’s depending on me.”

Vice made his way by as well, jumping from his steed to help Bad tie the other man’s hands.

“Who?” Exile barked, getting down from his horse. “Abernath?”

“No.” Diana hopped down from the seat of the carriage, looking as though she’d done the task every day of her life. “His daughter. Abernath is blackmailing Sin into helping her by stealing his child.”

Exile stopped, some of the fog clearing. “What?”

Diana touched his arm. “Try to understand. What would you do if someone stole away the person you loved?”

He looked at her. How did he tell her that he loved her? And his heart had nearly broken when he’d discovered her gone? What was more, this wasn’t the first time. “I’d do almost anything.”

She touched his arm, smiling up at him. “I know. Me too.”

“He tried to hurt ye,” Exile answered, not happy with standing here watching Bad and Vice do the work.

Not that Vice looked happy either. His face was twisted in pain. “How could you betray my friends? I trusted you.”

“Sin’s secret is out.” Diana lightly massaged his arm. “He can’t make good on his attempt to take me. But we can gain access to Abernath through him, Callum. We’ll need him awake to get information out of him.”

He shook his head. “Ye are ridiculously smart. How did ye overcome him?”

She blushed a bit. “He thought my hands were tied. I used his walking stick.” Then she started. “Oh. And I left the driver somewhere on Somerset Street crumpled in a ball.”

Exile grabbed her then, pulling her against his chest. “Ye knocked out two men?”

She looked up at him, her eyebrows cocked. “Don’t hurt my feelings, Callum. I’m not a woman to be trifled with.”

He laughed then. “I can see that, love.”

“Love?” she asked, her fingers spreading out on his chest.

“Yes. Love,” he answered as he swooped down to take her lips in a kiss. “I was so frightened for ye.”