She whirled around, shock slamming into her. Her father now held the pistol, she saw numbly…must have filched it from Harry as he left the cell. Now he aimed it at Grandpapa.
“Anyone moves and Black dies instantly,” Father said.
“What the bloody ’ell are you doing, Todd?” Grandpapa growled.
“I’m sick and tired o’ your blustering, you old fool. Almost died on account o’ you. Well, now the tables are turned,” Father gloated, “and I got the power now.”
“Father,” Tessa pleaded.
On her shoulder, Swift Nick bared his fangs.
“Shut your mouth,” he snapped. “Now all o’ you, drop your weapons and kick ’em o’er ’ere if you don’t want Black to die.”
With clear reluctance, Harry and Alfred did as her father demanded.
“You too, girl,” Father said.
Her hand trembling, Tessa tossed over her remaining dagger.
Her father waved Harry toward the cell. “Now get in. You too, Doolittle.”
When neither moved, he cocked the pistol. “Do it, or he dies.”
Tessa saw the conflict on her lover’s face, and her desperation mounted.
“Please, Harry, just do as he says,” she said.
Slowly, Harry moved to the cell. Alfred followed.
Swift Nick hissed—and, in a lightning-fast move, Father yanked the ferret from her shoulder. She cried out as he slung Swift Nick into the cage with such force that the creature’s long body slammed into the back bars. With a moan, Swift Nick slumped to the ground.
Harry rushed to tend to the animal as Father locked them in.
“I’m doing this for us, Tessa. Once I get rid o’ this bastard, I’ll be king.” His face shone with terrifying greed, an expression that made him a stranger to her. “When I’m in power, you’ll ’ave riches beyond your wildest dreams.”
“I don’t dream of riches.” Her voice hitched. “Don’t do this.”
Her father slowly circled Grandpapa, the gun steady in his hands. “This is what we’ll do. I’ll put a bullet in ’im. Then we’ll say O’Toole did it, and I killed O’Toole in revenge. Aye, that’ll make me a ’ero,” he said, chortling, “and Black’s natural successor.”
“No, Father. You know this is wrong,” she pleaded.
“Once I’m king, I can grant you anything you want. Even that bastard Bennett.” His eyes glittered. “I’ll let you ’ave ’im, Tessa: all you ’ave to do is back up my story.”
“She won’t lie for you, you bastard,” Harry growled, shaking the cell bars. “Neither will I.”
Her love: so strong, noble, and good.
“I love you.” The words flew from her lips.
The love in Harry’s eyes would have warmed her for a lifetime. “I love you.”
“You’ve made your decision, Bennett. Dead men tell no tales.” Malcolm Todd’s evil smile snuffed out her last flicker of hope.
While this man may have sired her, he was not her kin.
“What will it be, girl?” He addressed her brusquely. “If you’re with me, you leave the room while I take care o’ business.”
“I will not leave. Nor will I lie.” She stepped in front of her grandfather.
