Clara thought of Henry and the servants. She whispered, “You wouldn’t dare touch me. My husband would kill you.”
“My boss is much more powerful than your husband.” He stepped back, beckoning her to come out in the foyer.
She had to brush up against him as she walked by, and he grabbed her, pulling her up against him. Her body shook in revulsion. He chuckled. “I hope the boss lets me spend some time with you. I don’t think I have ever had a lady so fine.”
Clara jerked away from him, and he smiled evilly at her. They made their way out into the foyer and Clara eyed items she could use to defend herself. Her eyes fell on a candlestick, and she glanced back at him to see if she had time to grab it. As she looked back, she saw a little head peeking out from the landing on the staircase. Henry! Her heart sank, and she immediately gave up her plan. She stumbled as Henry stood up. The man grabbed her, annoyed. “Get up.”
When he wasn’t looking, she shook her head vigorously at Henry. He looked terrified and tortured. She turned back to face the door and prayed Henry would not reveal himself. She could not let him get hurt. The man dragged her into a carriage, throwing her on to one of the seats. He spat on the floor of the carriage and Clara’s stomach gurgled with disgust. “I can see why Dolan was willing to spend so much money to get you. You are one fine piece.”
“I am not one of his girls,” Clara snapped.
The man laughed. “No, well maybe you can be mine. Would you like that, my sweet?”
She recoiled into the corner of the carriage and the man chuckled even more. She needed to find a way to escape, but she didn’t even know where she was going. She looked at the window and wondered if she should scream. The man scowled. “Don’t even think about it. He said I had to bring you to him. He didn’t say what type of condition you had to be in.”
Clara glared back at him but remained silent. She was determined to escape but would bide her time until the right occasion presented itself.
~
Sam and Jack sat outside the room at the Den where the defiant man sat tied up. Sam heard Devons and Miller speaking with him in a hushed tone. The man laughed loudly, and Sam sighed. This was getting them nowhere. The man had no interest in telling them anything. The door was yanked open and Devons and Miller walked out.
Devons shook his head. “Dolan’s got a strong hold on this man. I have offered him just about anything, and he is refusing to speak.”
“I want to speak with him,” Sam said.
Devons shrugged. “I need to get out on the floor. Whatever you do, keep it down. We have a full club tonight.”
Sam nodded and entered the room with Jack and Miller.
The man smirked at them as if delighted to be there. It made Sam’s stomach queasy that this was the man Abigail had been held by. He didn’t want to think of what she had gone through. Guilt coursed through him. She was so young, and he had promised her she would be safe in Liverpool.
“What is your name?” Sam asked, knowing it already. It was Thomas Taylor. He and his brother were the ones suspected of kidnapping Abigail. The other brother hadn’t turned up yet.
The man smiled at him, revealing a row of jagged teeth. “Thomas is the name. I already told your other fancy friend; I don’t know nothing.”
Sam sat in a chair across from him. “You expect me to believe that. You bragged in a tavern last night how you got paid to do a job for some lord, allowing you to spend time with a pretty girl.”
The man snickered. “Aww…I was drinking, just making stuff up. Everyone knows you can’t trust a Taylor to tell you the truth.”
Jack grabbed the man by his throat causing him to squeak. “Do you know who I am?”
The man’s eyes widened, but he glowered at him, shaking his head. Jack released him. “Why would I know who you are?”
Sam leaned in real close. “Because he is a duke, and he can destroy you with the snap of his fingers. Not even your lord who you are protecting can save you.”
The man’s eyes darted around and for a second Sam thought he would cave. Then he shook his head. “Still, no idea what you are talking about.”
Sam and Jack walked to the door and the man yelled, “You can’t keep me here.”
They shut the door ignoring him.
“Maybe we let him go? See where he goes,” Jack said.
Sam nodded. “I agree but let him sit there for a bit. Let him worry about what we know.”
~
The man yanked Clara from the carriage. She pulled her arm away as she stumbled out. She looked around frantically and realized she was at an old, abandoned mill. She could see the lights from London, but they were out in the country. Fear filled her lungs and she forced it down. There had to be a way out of this. The man pushed her from behind, and she stumbled towards a door.
