“My dear. It’s time for us to leave,” the baron said, approaching her.
Willow suddenly growled and scrambled away from Serafina, leaping at the baron.
He gasped and reared back. “You damn mongrel. This time, I’ll make certain to be rid of you for good.”
He slipped on his gloves and reached for Willow.
“You’ll have to get to me first,” Serafina yelled as she gripped her scissors and rushed forward, placing herself in front of Willow.
“Oh, I will get to you in good time, Miss Davies. Now step aside, I don’t have time to waste. As it is, we’ll have to leave by way of the underground tunnel. But that mutt is not coming with us. It has plagued me since I first laid eyes on it behind your uncle’s blasted club.”
Suddenly, everything made sense. Willow was probably a stray that had gotten in the baron’s way as he was spying on her.
“You tried to hurt this dog,” she said. “You’re a monster. That’s why she hates you.”
“She’s a nuisance. And I will do away with her. Now move.”
“No, she’s mine. And you can’t have her.” Serafina withdrew the scissors and held them out.
“So, you plan to attack me…with those?” He burst into laughter. “Very well, you can keep her. For now. But we must go,” he said, grabbing Serafina’s left arm. When he did, Willow lunged out from behind Serafina and latched onto the baron’s leg, sinking her teeth into his flesh, making him scream. He stumbled back, trying to shake off the dog, but Willow growled even more as she kept a firm hold of his leg.
Taking her chance, Serafina ran forward and, holding the scissors like a knife, drove them down into the soft flesh of the baron’s belly. The baron shrieked in pain.
Serafina rushed forward to try to stab him again, but he flung her off, and Serafina stumbled back, the scissors still in her hand.
He lurched at her, but she lashed out and managed to stab his hand.
“You bitch! You will pay for this,” the baron screamed. By now, blood was oozing from his belly, his leg, and his hand.
“Willow. Come here, girl,” she ordered, worried he would hurt her.
Willow quickly let go of his leg and scampered into Serafina’s arms.
“Do you really think I’d let you go after all the trouble I’ve gone through?” the baron spat, advancing on Serafina. He rushed forward and pushed her against the wall. Willow yelped and slipped from Serafina’s arms. The baron knocked the scissors from Serafina’s hand, then his hands wrapped around her throat. Serafina tried to pry his hands off her, but his grip around her neck was too strong.
Willow lunged for his leg again, and the baron kicked out, sending her flying against the wall with a thud. The pup whimpered and then went still.
Tears flowed from Serafina’s eyes as she desperately tried to fight off the baron. But he was too strong, even with the wounds they’d managed to inflict. His face was red and mottled, his eyes full of a maniacal fury as he strangled her.
“I wanted to take you, my lovely. Perhaps I still will.” He cackled as he reached for his trousers, keeping one hand firmly around her throat.
Julian, please help me. Please find me!
Suddenly, she heard footsteps running and the door burst open. And then she heard a battle cry the likes of which she’d never forget.
A moment later, the baron was lifted off her and tossed across the room.
Serafina gasped for breath and slid down to the floor, her legs too weak to stand.
“Serafina.” Julian knelt and reached for her. “Can you breathe, love?”
She nodded. Then she screamed a warning in a raspy voice. “Julian, behind you!”
The baron had picked up the scissors and was about to stab Julian in the neck.
In a flash of movement, Julian kicked his leg up and sent the baron flying again. He kissed Serafina on the cheek. “I’ll be back.” Then he got up and, dragging the baron up by his collar, he delivered a bone-crunching punch to his jaw, sending the man crashing against the wall, where he slid to the floor.
“You’re finished, Grimsby,” Julian said.
