“Althea tried to find you. But the orphanage where you were last seen had burned down,” Grandpapa said. “She was told that you were dead. For years, she wept at the thought of you.”
“I escaped that hellhole, have made my own way in the world since I was fourteen, and I have done things that would make you, a murderous cutthroat, quake in your boots.” Ruthven’s laugh had Tessa reaching for one of her daggers. “All the while, the thing that drove me to survive was the thought that one day I would avenge my family. Then Fate finally smiled upon me. Handed me a title and fortune and the means to destroy everything you hold dear.”
“You didn’t do this alone.” Harry’s voice was calm, reasonable, and Tessa knew he was trying to keep Ruthven talking, to buy time. “How did you recruit De Witt and O’Toole?”
“In order to have my vengeance, I had to take everything from Black. Not just his life, a pittance compared to what he owes me, but his empire too. I chose O’Toole because he is Black’s strongest enemy. Or was, rather.” Ruthven’s voice dripped with contempt as he glanced at his dead partner. “No matter. He served his purpose. As for De Witt, I encountered him at a gaming hell. He was drunk, desperate, told me his sad tale of how he had the most powerful substance known to mankind, and no one wanted a thing to do with it. And I knew I’d found the missing piece.”
“Why did you use the hellfire on The Gilded Pearl?” Harry asked.
“The Pearl was a test. And a way to shake the foundations of Black’s power. To show that those under his protection were not safe, that his strength and rule were coming to an end.”
“I ain’t done a thing to you. I demand to be set free,” Father declared.
“In the name o’ revenge, you’ve shed the blood o’ innocents,” came Grandpapa’s gravelly voice. “This must stop. Kill me if you must, but let the others go.”
“You will not get off so easily.” Ruthven laughed again. “Why do you think I convinced O’Toole not to kill you at once and keep you alive? My men will soon have your precious daughter and granddaughter, and you will watch as they die by my hand. As I take awayeverythingfrom you as you have done from me.”
Has the bastard captured Mama?Trembling, Tessa knew she had to stay focused.
“But first, I will rid myself of your present companions. They are annoyances,” Ruthven said.
Terror struck Tessa’s heart. Ruthven was raising his gun at Harry.
She had to act—now.
As Alfred tensed in readiness beside her, she gripped her dagger. In the next heartbeat, she leapt into the room, took aim, and let her blade fly.
Ruthven cried out in pain as the steel sunk into the shoulder of his weapon arm. He dropped the gun, and Harry dove for it, grabbing it, then spinning around. The earl snarled, trying to reach the knife embedded in him, but Alfred grabbed the hilt, tearing it loose. He held the bloody blade while Ruthven howled with rage.
Swift Nick darted from her pocket to her shoulder, hissing at the villain.
Harry aimed the gun at Ruthven. “Doolittle, tie him up.”
“You’re dead,” the earl shouted as Alfred tucked away the dagger and withdrew a rope. “All of you. My men have yours surrounded—”
“Be’er stuff that gob o’ yours, too,” Alfred muttered and gagged the villain.
Tessa ran to Harry. “Are you all right?”
“You’re supposed to be on the boat.” He looked at Swift Nick. “You, too.”
The ferret grinned.
“Never mind that. Let’s get everyone free,” she said. “Where are the keys?”
“O’er ’ere.” Alfred retrieved the keys from Ruthven, tossed them over.
Harry caught them. Tucking away his pistol, he went to open the cell.
Grandpapa came out first, and Tessa threw herself into his arms. “Oh, Grandpapa!”
“Later, my brave Tessie,” he murmured. “We ain’t got time now.”
“Yes,” she said tremulously, “they may have Mama—”
Harry’s curse startled her.
As did her father’s calm words. “Move away from him, Tessa.”
