Fi took the lead, crouching and sneaking a peek around the wall. The corridor opened into the milling area, which contained a half-dozen millstones used for grinding wheat. The apparatus stood some five feet tall and would provide some cover. Two armed men patrolled the open entryway, which framed the moonlit river just beyond. Fi spied a dock with two bobbing rowboats.
“I can get us past the guards,” Fi murmured. “But I need you to distract them, so they don’t see me coming. Once we’re outside, we’ll make a run for the boats.”
Lillian gave a nervous nod. Smoothing her skirts, she visibly composed herself before rounding the corner and approaching the guards. She greeted the men, her manner disarming; Fi had to admire the other’s acting skills. As Lillian managed to make the men laugh, Fi dashed to one of the millstones, taking cover behind it. To her delight, she found a shovel propped up against the equipment. She grabbed the makeshift weapon, moving stealthily between the millstones until she was mere yards from the guards.
Fi sized them up: large and muscular, pistols in their belts. She would need the element of surprise to best them. Seeing that they were both preoccupied with Lillian, she sprung her attack. She ran toward the nearest brute, whose back was turned to her. Before his partner could shout out a warning, she swung the shovel, hitting him in the head. He groaned, crumpling to the ground.
“You’re going to pay for that, bitch,” the other guard snarled.
He came at her. Fi swung the shovel again; he dodged. The weight of the shovel threw her off-balance. Before she could regain her momentum, he barreled toward her, yanking the shovel from her grip, throwing it aside with a loud clang. He tackled her to the ground, pinning her beneath his weight.
“Hoity-toity slut like you needs a lesson.” Leering, he shoved up her skirts, groping her thigh. “I’ve never swived a countess before. Think I’ll ’ave me some fun—”
Fi drew up her knee, hard. He bellowed, his face contorting in agony; his grip on her loosened. They tussled, but she gained the top position. Grabbing him by the shoulders, she slammed his head against the ground. Repeatedly, until he moaned and went limp. She patted him down for weapons, shoving his dagger into the pocket of her skirts and seizing his pistol. She went to Lillian, who’d remained frozen in place, her eyes wide.
Fi grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”
“I’m afraid you’re not going anywhere, my lady,” Sterling said.
Fiona backed away, pushing Lillian behind her. Sterling blocked their exit; beside him was Wilkes. The villains had a team of ruffians with them. Dash it, her battle with the guards had made too much noise, alerting the entire gang. There was no way she could take on all of them.
Bluff your way through.
She gripped the pistol, leveling it at Sterling.
“My friends will be here soon,” she said calmly. “Cut your losses and let us pass.”
“And be deprived of your charming company?” Wilkes drawled. “I think not. You will make a lovely addition to our band, my lady. I’ve grown tired of Lillian and could use a new friend.”
Wilkes’s predatory smirk sent a revulsed slither up Fi’s spine. Behind her, Lillian let out a sobbed breath. When Wilkes advanced toward them, Fi cocked her pistol.
“Stay back,”she commanded.
“Come, darling. You’re not going to shoot me,” he said confidently.
Would you care to wager on that?Fi’s finger trembled on the trigger. Her hesitation wasn’t over whether to shoot the bounder but her plan afterward. She counted a dozen men; after she used the pistol, she would have only a single dagger to protect Lillian and herself.
“She’s not going to shoot you,” a familiar voice said.
Fi’s gaze flew beyond the gang of villains.
“Hawk,” she breathed.
Her husband stood there, pistol in hand. His gaze seared into hers for a heart-stopping instant before he directed his attention back at Wilkes.
“But I am,” he said calmly.
He pulled the trigger.
Forty
Hawk shot Wilkes in his injured arm. The bastard dropped to his knees, howling with pain.
As chaos erupted, Hawk had only one goal in mind: get to Fiona.
With the Quorum and Angels behind him, Hawk led the charge. He discharged the second chamber of his pistol, taking down one of the brutes. When another came at him with a knife, he dodged, catching the man’s weapon arm, twisting it until the blade clattered to the ground. He plowed his fist into his foe’s gut; while the other doubled over, he landed a right hook. His enemy slid to the ground, unconscious.
“Look out,” Devlin shouted.
