“I’m going to kill him,” Wei snarled.
Rothwell made a choking sound, his eyes bulging. Then Papa, Winslow, and Greaves were there. The three of them barely managed to wrestle Wei away from Rothwell.
Rothwell sagged against the wall, wheezing.
“Calm your bloody self, Chen,” Papa bit out. “Before I summon the police.”
Wei struggled against their hold. “My family is dead because of Rothwell. He deserves to die.”
“How is Mr. Rothwell involved?” Glory asked, stunned.
“I don’t know what the scoundrel’s talking about,” Rothwell said hoarsely. “He’s mad—or maybe he’s an opium eater. Around the stuff enough, isn’t he?”
Wei let out a bellow of rage.
“Uncle, get to the carriage.” Winslow was panting, his brow sheened with exertion. “We cannot hold him back much longer.”
Rothwell staggered out the door.
Growling, Wei wrestled with his captors, including Glory’s father.
“Papa, don’t hurt Wei,” she pleaded.
“You’re worried about him?” Papa shot her an incredulous look as he tried to twist Wei’s right arm behind his back. “He’s lost his bloody mind—”
At that moment, Wei shook off Winslow, swatting him aside like an annoying fly. Glory gasped as he struck out wildly with his free hand. He hit Papa in the chest, the latter stumbling backward.
“Rhys, darling!” Mama dashed toward him.
Glory moved to stand between her parents and Wei.
“Stop it!” she cried. “What are you doing?”
Wei’s gaze swirled with blind fury. “Rothwell is behind my family’s murders. He paid Kray and was in cahoots with Li. Back then, he was an opium trader and went by the name Erasmus Trimble.”
“The man’s a liar.” Dusting himself off, Mr. Winslow glared at Wei. “My uncle has never even been to China. I have visited the bloody British factory and never heard of anyone named Trimble.”
“Glory, get away from that madman,” Papa growled.
“Wei is not mad.” Her mind spinning, she tried to explain. “He’s been hunting down his family’s killer for years. We found a cutthroat named Kray who committed the crime, but now it sounds like he was paid—”
“Devil take it, what has the bastard involved you in?”
Papa made a grab for her, but Glory found herself pulled in the opposite direction.
Wei’s arm circled her waist, holding her tight to his side.
“They won’t listen, Glory.” He circled his gaze around the room as if all its occupants were his enemies. “Their kind never do. Leave with me now.”
“My father will listen,” she said desperately. “You just have to explain.”
“There is no bloody time for explanations,” Wei snarled. “I will bring Rothwell down, no matter how long it takes. No matter the cost. And you swore to heaven and earth to be with me no matter the path before us.”
“Release my daughter this instant,” Papa thundered.
Seeing that Papa meant to lunge for her, she twisted free of Wei’s grip. Backed away, swinging her gaze wildly between their hostile faces. She was torn, helpless to stop the violence brewing between the two men she loved most, her worst nightmare coming true.
Through hitched breaths, she said, “If you would just listen—”
