“What will you do with those men?”Samantha asked a few minutes later when Croft escorted her and Hazel to their carriage.
“Make sure they pay.”His manner, so warm when he’d asked about her well-being, was now cold and steely.He helped her into the carriage.“I regret what happened today.My only hope is that the next time we meet, it will be under more pleasant circumstances.”
“Likewise.”
Stepping back, he shut the door, then ordered the driver to take her home.
* * *
There was no escaping the heavy regret weighing on Adrian’s shoulders.Those men might have come after him, but they’d done so publicly this time, disrupting other people’s lives in the process.Their thoughtless use of those pistols could have resulted in tragedy.
And then there was Miss Carmichael, whom Scarface would have deliberately murdered had Murry not shown up at the right time and neutralized him.Adrian himself had been too busy fighting Chubbycheeks, whose weight had continued to pin him down.
It was a damn miracle no one had died.
“I’m sorry this happened,” he told Mr.Reed who was sweeping glass off the floor when Adrian returned.“I’ll naturally pay for the damage.”
“Thank you, but there isn’t much besides the broken lamp.”
“I’ll have it replaced.”When Mr.Reed nodded and went back to sweeping, Adrian glanced at the scoundrels who’d ruined everyone’s day.Their wrists had been tied behind their backs, their mouths gagged with lengths of fabric.Disgusted by their behavior, Adrian turned to Murry.“Let’s get them into the carriage.”
The journey out of town seemed never ending.Jaw tight, Adrian kept his eyes on the captives who sat on the opposite bench, his loaded pistol on Scarface while Murry directed his at Chubbycheeks.
Anger curled in his gut, spreading through every limb until the rigidity pained him.It wasn’t just caused by the attack or by thoughts of what it could have led to, but by what he was now forced to do.
He had no choice even though it stood in direct opposition to what he’d hoped to achieve.But the truth was he’d already made a mistake by letting them go the first time they’d attacked him.A decision that nearly cost Miss Carmichael’s life today.
For her and any other innocents these men might harm, he had to act with unforgiving force.
Of course, there was also the issue of his reputation.If he showed additional mercy now and word got out, it would be destroyed.
Not an option.It was time for him to send a message to anyone foolish enough to cross him – to those who thought him weak and incapable of living up to his father’s notoriety.
31
Samantha marched into Harlowe’s office as soon as she got back to Clearview.She planted her palms on his desk and leaned forward, her gaze meeting that of the man who’d provided her with a home.
“Did you send those cutthroats?”
“What cutthroats?”
“The men who attacked Mr.Croft at Reed’s.I need to know if you were involved.”
“Of course not.Why would you think such a thing?”
“Because they wantedhis files.”She sank into one of the two leather armchairs that stood across from the desk.“My guess is they’re after the same thing as us.”
“I swear, I had nothing to do with any cutthroats.”He regarded her seriously.“Looks like they might have attacked you too.”
“On the contrary, it was the other way around.I tried to help Croft fend them off.”
“Not by revealing too much, I hope.”
“You needn’t worry.It looked like he truly feared for my safety.”What she would not confess was that one of the thugs had managed to get the best of her.It shouldn’t have happened.And it wouldn’t have if she’d been able to use all her skill.
Harlowe chuckled.“Go clean yourself up and have one of the maids bring you a slab of meat for your bruises.”
She’d do so as soon as she’d dispatched a message to Kendrick, asking if he was involved.
