Muttering their assent, the brutes stepped back and sheathed their steel.
“As for you.” Scott aimed his gaze at Glory, who was peering around Wei’s shoulder. “You will clarify your last statement, or I will let my guards have their way with you. In whatever way they choose.”
“Leave her out of it,” Wei warned. “This business is between you and me. I want to know about the other man who shares that tattoo with you. In exchange, I will provide you with information concerning a problem in your gang. Your ship has sprung a leak; if you want to keep it afloat, you will listen to what I have to say.”
Wei knew his plan—or Glory’s, rather—hit home when Scott’s eyes thinned. Despite his outward arrogance, the cove wasn’t a fool. He likely suspected there was trouble afoot in his domain. He just didn’t know if he could trust Wei and Glory.
“We’ll go first,” Glory piped up. “As a show of good faith. But perhaps you would like to have this discussion in private?”
She gazed pointedly at the guards.
By the gods, is she trying to get us killed?
Scott’s smile was humorless. “I trust my men more than I trust your Chinese friend here and his lethal fists.”
As Wei had surmised, the man was not stupid.
“You have my word that I will not use force of any kind,” Wei said. “Unless it is to defend against attack.”
Scott cocked his head, raking his fingers idly through Beauregard’s fur.
“You are dismissed.” He waved at the guards. “Close the door behind you.”
“But, Wolf,” a beefy ruffian protested. “The bastard could be playing a trick—”
“I said leave.”
Grumbling, the guards shuffled out, aiming threatening stares at Wei and Glory.
When the door closed, Scott arched a brow. “Well?”
Wei looked at Glory, who gave a nod of encouragement.
“A member of your gang has been running a dognapping scheme,” Wei said. “He is using your name and the reputation of your gang to carry it out. I assume you are unaware of this.”
Scott sat up straighter. “Dognapping? What the devil do you mean?”
“He steals pets from unsuspecting owners,” Glory burst out indignantly. “A friend of ours was out shopping, and a pair of scoundrels grabbed her dog, a bull terrier by the name of Sir Barkley. Then another fellow named Farwell, who said he was acting as a middleman, began to extort her. He came by regularly to collect her money, claiming the payments were ransom for her dog. But our friend began to fear that she might never see her pet again and sought our help.”
“Why you?” Scott asked bluntly.
He regarded Glory with skepticism, and even worse, interest. Stiffening, Wei had to force himself not to interfere. To let Glory carry out the plan, for he could not deny she was doing it well.
Scott quirked a brow. “Do you belong to some lady’s society for the protection of animals?”
“Something like that.” Glory’s gaze shone with sincerity. “As a pet owner myself, Mr. Scott, I know that the bond between animal and human is sacred. As strong, and I daresay sometimes stronger, than bonds between people. Thus, I could not stand by whilst a lady and her beloved companion were ripped apart in the name of greed.”
“Wolf.”
Glory tipped her head. “I beg your pardon?”
“You may call me Wolf,” Scott said silkily. “As my friends do. And what should I call you, little dove?”
Wei could stand it no longer.
“We are not here to make friends,” Wei clipped out. “This is business.”
“But pleasure makes business much more palatable,” Scott drawled.
