“I can’t worry about you and Reggie, Eva, do you understand?”
She didn’t want to but she nodded and then allowed him to push her behind him.
It was unlucky for the Winchcombs that the first sight Daniel had, when he opened the door, was of Reggie taking a fist to the stomach from Bartholomew Winchomb.
“Release him now!”
Montgomery Winchcomb, who’d been holding his brother, lifted his hands straight up in the air and took a step backwards, leaving Reggie all alone. He then looked at the large, angry beast that was his brother-in-law and started sweating profusely. Quickly, he stepped sideways until he stood beside his father and brother.
“Reggie!”
Eva’s cry was from the heart as she took in the battered and bruised sight of her brother, and even though Daniel knew it cost her a great deal, she did not take a step toward him. She understood the situation was volatile and one wrong move could harm Reggie further.
Daniel felt Simon move to stand to his left.
Reggie still stood, but Daniel guessed by the way he weaved, only just. One eye was partially closed, one cheek swollen and his lips were split and never had Daniel wanted to punish anyone more than he did Spencer Winchcomb. The boy had arrived in London a thin, beaten young man and left for Edinburgh confident and smiling. Looking into Reggie’s eyes, Daniel now saw a mixture of both. His father had not quite managed to reduce the boy to what he once was and Daniel would make sure he did not finish the job.
“Come here, Reggie.”
“Stay, Reginald!” Spencer roared.
Reggie didn’t hesitate. Giving his father one last look, he then walked on unsteady legs to meet his brother-in-law. They were, perhaps, the hardest steps he had ever taken and when he finally stood before Daniel, he offered a small smile and then fell forward, his legs giving way.
Daniel heard the sigh as he held the boy briefly, his battered face resting on Daniel’s chest.
“You are safe now.” Daniel felt a lump form in his throat as Reggie looked at him.
“I knew you would come.”
Daniel gave him a gentle squeeze and then pushed him into his sister’s arms.
“You are dead to me, Reginald Ransom Hibernians Cyrus Winchcomb,” Spencer declared.
Daniel couldn’t be sure but thought he heard the words, ‘Thank God’ coming from both Reggie and Eva.
“Hardly surprising he didn’t leave years ago with a name like that,” Simon drawled, intent on taunting Spencer.
“Stratton, what is the meaning of this?” Spencer Winchomb bluffed, his face flushed with color. “How dare you enter my house uninvited.”
“I came to discuss the matter of blackmail and attempted murder, Winchcomb.”
Daniel watched fear chase across Winchcomb’s face.
“She lies!” His eyes were wide as they swung from Daniel to Eva.
“I have a note with your handwriting, Winchomb. Do you deny that also?”
“My father does not answer to you, Stratton. So go home with your pathetic little wife,” Bartholomew Winchcomb said. The man had always been the dumbest of the pack.
Daniel took the two strides necessary across the room and punched him in the face. The man’s head snapped backward and when it righted itself, blood was streaming from his now larger than usual nose.
“Oww!”
“Do it again, Daniel!”
Glaring his bloodthirsty wife into silence, Daniel said. “You will never speak my wife’s name in such an insulting manner again.”
“How dare you come into my home and abuse my son!” Spencer howled, handing Bartholomew a handkerchief.
