“Not after we have given our word,” Devil countered. “We have our honor.”
“And a whole lot of different whores for mothers.”
Devil shrugged. Insults to the woman who had birthed him affected him not. “Mayhap. No different for Suttons, is it?”
The Sutton family was larger than the Winters. More brutal. Their lineage questionable at best.
“Take care. Won’t be good for me to get crabbed.” Sutton’s lip curled. “You’ll get no help from me if you can’t be civil, Winter.”
Devil raised a brow. “I respond in kind. An eye for an eye and a twat for a twat, isn’t it?”
Jasper Sutton appeared distinctly unimpressed by his attempt at a joke, even after he had just insulted Devil’s ability to take one. “You’re a bold one, sauntering into my territory, needing my help. Thought you said you had a square thing for me.”
“I do, but first, I need your promise that you will help me.”
Sutton nodded. “I promise.”
“Not good enough.” Devil knew Jasper Sutton. They had been battling for far too long. The man’s word was worth less than a bob. “I need proof.”
“Fuck.” Sutton’s eyes narrowed once more. “Fine. I’ll return the little shite what’s been haunting my alleys and filching all the coin and watches from the pockets of every nib who leaves my hell. He says he belongs to you Winters anyway. Glad to get him off my hands.”
Surprised filtered through Devil. “Davy?”
He hadn’t had an inkling that the troublesome young pickpocket his brother had taken in and brought to The Devil’s Spawn had been missing. But then, he supposed the time he had spent with Evie had isolated him from his world and his family more than he had realized. Almost a fortnight, and it had changed every bloody thing.
“Aye, that’s the scamp’s name. A slippery one, that. Tipped us the Dublin packet many a night until we caught him. You can have him back if you promise to keep him where he belongs.”
Hell.
Of course, Dom would want the little bugger back. He was an honorary Winter now, despite the reckless hellion’s rebellious nature. His brother was overtly fond of Davy, but then, he was also soft as a pie since he’d gone and fallen in love with Lady Adele.
Then again, Devil could not blame him. He was similarly soft over Lady Evie.
“I will take the lad with me,” Devil allowed. “And I will accept your promise of his return as proof enough. What do you know of Paul Wilmore?”
Once more, Sutton sneered. “That he is a son of a whore and ought to be beaten to death with a sack of his own shit.”
Well. That was certainly…honesty. Devil could work with that.
“What if I were to tell you I know far more about him? That he is the man who is behind not only the fires at your hell but The Devil’s Spawn as well, and that he has been paying men to cheat at our hells, steal from our patrons, and shoot at innocent ladies?”
“I would tell you no lady is innocent,” Sutton said, his countenance guarded. “But then I would also tell you I want to know more. And I want evidence that what you say is true.”
“I have one of his men,” Devil said. “He will tell the tale better than I can, if you will but see him.”
After he had returned Evie to her chamber that morning, he had been restless, unable to sleep. Despite the fact he had managed no slumber at all, his body had reached the point where his lack of rest no longer mattered. When he had discovered the truth about Paul Wilmore the night before, he had been elated. And then, when he had comprehended the full extent of the sins the bastard had committed, he had been outraged. His fury had taken him to the matches Wilmore held.
His opponent had been no match for Devil’s fury. He had beaten him to the point of unconsciousness, and then he had made certain he had learned everything there was to know about Wilmore. Including the efforts he had recently been taking to undermine both the Winters and the Suttons. Devil had dragged the bastard back to The Devil’s Spawn himself, where he had been under guard until bringing the man to Jasper Sutton so he could play the bird and sing.
Like a man possessed, Devil had returned to the townhome expecting to formulate his strategy. Instead, Evie had been awaiting him. But after her desires had been slaked, there had been no sleep for Devil. No rest. There had only been the burning urge to do what he must. To sever ties with Evie and see that Wilmore got what he deserved, whilst leaving Evie forever safe.
As safe as she could be.
But time and distance from Dom, Devil, and the rest of the East End Winters would give her that. Especially after she became Lady Denton.
At the notion, he bit his lip so hard, the metallic tang of blood invaded his mouth. Christ, he had wounded himself.
At long last, Jasper Sutton gave a short, jerky nod of approval. “Bring him to me.”
