Her right side still ached from the impact of hitting the house when she’d leapt from the roof.Purple bruises had formed on her shoulder and hip.The palms of her hands and soles of her feet remained sore and would take several days to heal completely.But this was not enough to stop her from witnessing Finn O’Leary’s demise.
In fact, after everything he’d put her and her family through, she wanted to stand before the bastard one last time — make him face the proof of his failure.
So she’d added more aloe vera, wrapped her hands and feet in fresh gauze, and put on a pair of gloves for extra protection.
Together with Adrian, she’d snuck out of Marsdale House unnoticed by climbing through the bedroom window and planned to return the same way.Alexandra, meanwhile, had been left with Emma, who’d accompanied them to Marsdale House after the fire, in case Samantha needed the extra help.
“Welcome, Mrs.Croft,” said Murdoch – the first of those gathered to greet her.He rose from the chair in which he’d been seated.
The rest of the men stood as well, all of them echoing Murdoch’s words.
“Thank you,” she said, allowing the situation at hand to distract from her own discomfort.“My husband tells me we’re in your debt.”
“There’s no such thing between associates,” said Ellis, the man who could play any part with conviction.“We merely did what was required and expect the same in return, should the need arise.”
“Of course.”She surveyed the group, her gaze briefly lingering on Murry before moving on to Aderlay, the forger.“Where is he?”
There was no question as to whom she referred.
“This way,” said Murry, already moving away from the table where the rest of the men had been seated.
Samantha and Adrian fell into step behind him, even though Adrian surely knew his way around the rickhouse, and must be aware of any other rooms located down here.
A door guided them into a stairwell, already lit by torchlight.
They descended the steps and arrived in a narrow space with only one door which was firmly bolted in place.
“This is it,” Murry said.“He’s in there, restrained by chains and hung from the ceiling.”
“Do you want to do the honors, my dear,” Adrian asked, “or shall I?”
Samantha considered the door and the iron bolt holding it shut.Beyond it, was the man who’d held her hostage, beaten her while she’d been with child, and threatened her with a fate worse than death.The same man who’d set her house on fire while she and her daughter slept.Who’d caused Susie’s death and longed to see Adrian killed.
The rage she harbored for Finn O’Leary was fiercer than any other.
She looked forward to making him suffer for what he’d done.
Extending her hand, she slid the heavy bolt to the left and felt the door ease away from its frame.A quick glance at her husband who stood to one side and she pulled the door open.The light from the torch Murry held swept into the space beyond, brightening the area immediately in front of Samantha while the rest of the room remained cast in darkness.
She stepped forward, felt Adrian’s presence at her back.The torchlight fanned out as Murry stepped out from behind them.
Samantha scanned the room with her gaze.“Where is he?”
No sooner had she formed the question, than she heard the raspy exhale of breath.The near silent scrape of a foot moving over the ground.
She knew the answer to her own question before Murry said, “I left him right there.”
In other words, the cur had somehow managed to move.
At least he was injured, which made it very unlikely for him to escape.Even if he made it past Samantha, Adrian, and Murry, he’d have to face the syndicate.
But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try killing someone.Shewould, if she were in his position.She’d certainly not let herself be the only casualty, and since death was inevitable, she’d have nothing to lose.The same was true of O’Leary.
“Toss the torch forward, toward the middle,” she whispered.As long as Murry held it, O’Leary would have the advantage since he could see them but they couldn’t see him.
Murry didn’t argue.The flame sputtered when the torch hit the floor, but the light held, illuminating the bottom part of a chain that hung above it.Considering the curse Murry muttered beneath his breath, Samantha guessed O’Leary had been dangling from it when he’d left the room last.
“We should spread out,” Samantha suggested, but when she stepped forward, Adrian blocked her path with his arm.
