John ground his back teeth so hard his jaw ached. One small slice at the jugular. Or one tiny nick at the femoral vein and this worthless piece of shit’s life would be over. John didn’t usually enjoy killing, but he’d make an exception for Sudworth.
“Where. Is. She?”
Sudworth lifted one shoulder. “Girls like that, who can tell? Without the protection of a man, a woman out on the streets at night doesn’t last long.”
Robert stilled John’s hand. He hadn’t even realized he’d palmed his dagger until his brother stopped him from using it.
“My men can find her,” Sudworth continued. “Whether they find her unharmed, well, that is up to you.”
Sutton rested his fist on his hip, his hand a quick distance to the pistol John knew he kept at the small of his back. “Our men are exceptional at searching out lost people. We’ll find her. And when we do, those that have her will be made to pay.”
“That sounds like an accusation.” Sudworth tutted. “Your men must already have my properties under observation, so where could she be?” He tapped his index finger against his lips. “For our last game, I propose a different set of stakes. You win, I’ll tell my men to deliver little Netta when they find her. I win, you deliver her sister. Her father has already signed the contract. There’s nothing you can do to stop this wedding.”
A bead of sweat slid down his temple. It felt like his veins were filled with fire instead of blood. The absolute nerve of this man. He actually thought John would deliver up a small child if he lost. That John wouldn’t kill him where he stood once he’d found Netta.
Sudworth must think himself invincible.
“Of course, if you’d rather play for the deed to Robert’s estate instead of the woman, I’m open to that, as well.” Sudworth drummed his fingers on the table. “It depends on what means more to you — recovering your wealth, or Miss Agnes Evered.”
John shook his head, trying to rid his ears of the faint ringing echoing inside. It grew louder. Netta or his steel production. How bloody ironic. He’d only come to know Netta because she was helping him save his fortunes. And now he was going to lose it all because he couldn’t live without her.
“New deal.” His voice was raw, his words sounding like they were dragged over gravel. “I won’t play games, not for Netta.” Even with his loaded dice, he couldn’t risk it. Risk her. “But I will trade.” He swallowed, his next words sticking in his throat. “My letters patent for Netta.”
Robert hissed in air. He knew as well as John that giving that away would truly be the end to the House of Summerset. At least for many, many years. Until John developed a new formula, discovered new products to rebuild their coffers.
It would hurt giving away his prized discovery. Taking his income back down to nigh on nothing. But he’d have Netta. And with her by his side, he’d rebuild, get back in the laboratory as he should have done years ago.
She had a bad licorice habit he’d need to pay for after all.
Sudworth steepled his fingers. “Now that is an interesting proposition.” He stared at John a moment. “And one I accept.” He stood and stretched out his hand.
John was loath to take it. He didn’t know how he’d restrain himself from yanking the man down until his nose made sharp contact with the table. But he was making a gentleman’s agreement. His stomach twisted as he shook Sudworth’s hand. Though there was nothing gentlemanly about it, the formalities needed to be observed.
John made to release Sudworth’s hand, but the man gripped him tighter. “I didn’t think you’d make such a poor choice. Don’t you know that with money you can buy another woman?”
John yanked his hand free. “There isn’t another woman like her.” He made eye contact with Sutton and his brother, giving them small shakes of his head. They wouldn’t be fighting it out in this room. Not when there was a chance Netta would be hurt. “The letters patent are in the vault at my bank. I will need until tomorrow to retrieve them.”
“Of course.” Sudworth took his jacket from the back of his chair and shrugged into it. “My house, tomorrow night. I’ll have the girl brought there.”
“Without a mark on her,” John growled.
“Who can say what will have happened to a woman on the streets of London?” Sudworth’s men flanked him, forming a solid wall. “She will be as unharmed as possible.”
Sutton grasped one of his arms. Robert clasped his shoulder. They obviously thought they needed to hold him back.
They should have known him better. John’s first objective was to retrieve Netta. That required playing nice now. His vision tunneled until he saw only Sudworth’s face. But John would avenge any and every mark on her. Sudworth’s screams of agony would be the music John listened to as he made him pay, cut for cut, bruise for bruise.
“I believe I’ll pay a call on Liverpool.” Sudworth adjusted the cuffs of his jacket. “It’s time we had a chat.” He dipped his chin to look at John. “You didn’t truly think I’d end up in prison, did you? Men like me never do.”
John’s nails bit into his palm. Sudworth should hope he ended up in jail. The other alternative was much less pleasant. He turned in place, watching as the men filed out of the room.
Sutton stepped to his side. “We’ll find her, John.” His words were quiet, and with as much assurance as was possible. But both Sutton and John knew. Sometimes, right didn’t win. Sometimes innocents got hurt. Killed.
John pressed his hand against his thigh to hide its quiver. “Yes. We check all his properties again. Press all our informants. Netta is somewhere in London, and we need to find her.”
***
“If he wants me, use me. Tell him you’ll give me to him if he gives us Netta.” Eleanor crossed her arms over the front of her over-large night dress and paced in front of the fireplace. It had been three hours since John had returned home, and the commotion caused by the news of Netta’s disappearance had roused the whole household. Her aggravating sister included.
