Men died last night.
That had been a shock to learn from the police, though finding out it wasnotFinn had been such a relief, she’d been left feeling lightheaded.
Reed had left her at his office with strict instructions to wait for his return. He’d headed straight for The Parisien, divorce papers in hand and determination in his expression. However, when he’d returned unsuccessfully from his mission and told her Finn was once again not there, Rose withheld a promise not to visit her husband herself.
Instead, she’d waited precisely an hour, browsing in the nearby shops, and then entered the dimly lit restaurant. Rushing up the back stairs to Finn’s room, Rose heard voices before she even crested the top step. Finn and ... William!
As she came into view, William’s gaze swung toward her. He stood in the hallway facing Finn, who was standing in his own doorway, arms crossed. Both men looked heated, angry.
“What areyoudoing here?” William asked her, irritation lacing his voice.
She stopped in her tracks. Before she could answer, Finn spoke up.
“Don’t speak to her that way.”
William’s full attention returned to Finn. “You shut up,” he ordered in clipped tones, sending him a baleful glare. “Rose ismyfiancée, and I will speak to her however I see fit when I find her sneaking up to another man’s room.”
“To herhusband’sroom,” Finn pointed out unnecessarily.
William offered a hollow-sounding laugh. “In name only, or so she tells me.”
Finn paled, and both men looked to Rose again, each one wearing an expression of betrayal.
She ignored the insult to Finn’s manhood. It was not her concern at the moment.
“I came because I have more information. One of the men who tried to abduct me the other night has turned up dead. He was shot and his body dumped in the harbor.”
“Christ!” Finn said.
William stared at her as if he didn’t know her.
“Do you hear yourself? Is this the life you want to lead, talking of men being murdered and bodies in the harbor?” He shook his head in wonder. “And then you came directly here, to the center of all the danger in your life. For God’s sake, Rose, why?”
She swallowed. No, William was wrong. She wanted the peaceful life that she’d had before Finn’s return, filled with nothing more than cooking and music, and being with William and her family. It was all she wanted. However, she couldn’t have any of that until the threat had passed.
“Reed thinks that some important person was worried that his identity would be traced through one of those — what did you call them,” she turned to Finn, “thosegoons. I thought it important to tell you. The other one was most likely killed as well and perhaps his body went out to sea.”
Rose glanced nervously at William since she had started talking about dead men again.
“You should have sent someone in your place,” he said, his tone still sharp. “I’m sure your brother doesn’t know you’re here as he would have gladly come in your place.”
True on both counts. Reed would be livid, and she should not have come. However, Rose had yet to be able to refrain from seizing on each opportunity to see Finn in the flesh. It was still a miracle every time she saw him, as if he had truly arisen from his grave, hale and hearty.
“Reed did come here first,” she looked at Finn, “but you weren’t here.”
“I was at work,” Finn said, surprising Rose. Immediately, though, he directed his attention back to William.
“The lady can come see me whenever she likes,” Finn stated, obviously trying to get under her fiancé’s skin.
“You say that because you’re a selfish bastard,” William practically growled. “What about her safety?”
Finn tilted his head. “When she’s with me, I keep her safe.”
William made a sound of disgust. “She’d have been better off if you’d stayed dead.”
Rose gasped. “You’re both speaking as if I’m not even here.”
“Better for you, maybe,” Finn retorted, ignoring her words and still addressing William. “It’s harder to take someone’s wife when that someone is still alive.”
