Page 27 of A Raven Repents

“Are you sure that’s still true?”

He nodded. “It’s been made very clear to me that you are no less of a partner.”

That was hard for him to believe. He lowered his forehead into his palms and rubbed the heels of his hands against his eyes. “I’ve been an utter failure in a lot of things recently. But none more than with my wife.”

“Are you sure you only want me? I can have a whole team put together in just a few minutes.”

“You’ll be more than sufficient. I could probably handle it on my own but…” He wasn’t sure what to say.

“But you’re emotionally involved.”

“I would have said incompetent, but we’ll stick with yours.”

“Do you know what we’re walking into?”

“Not exactly. I assume it will just be her father. But I don’t know yet if Christina is a willing participant or a victim.”

Allister raised his brow. “If she is a participant, will she be safe with you?”

The question was like a punch to the gut. “Yes. I know I’ve been a wretched husband, but I would never abuse her. You have my word on that, Allister.”

Allister assessed him for a moment and nodded.

When the butler opened the door to Mr. Pelham's townhouse, Allister yanked him outside. They stepped through and locked it behind them.

They found Christina's father sitting behind his desk, a mostly empty glass in his hand.

“Where is she?” Giles demanded.

The man stood and sneered, braver than he ought to be. “I’m surprised you turned up. She says you’ve been nothing but horrible to her. I wasn’t sure you’d even want her back.”

“She’s my wife,” he growled.

The man had the audacity to chuckle. “If you had actually made her your wife, you wouldn’t be in this predicament right now, would you? But if you want her back, give me the money I asked for, and I’ll tell you where you can find her.”

“I told you before, I will not pay your debts again.”

“You will if you want her back.”

“I know you think I’m just a mollycoddle, and perhaps I am, but I have friends.” Giles stepped to the side allowing Allister into the room.

In barely a second, Allister had the man on his knees with a yelp, a razor against his throat. “Mr. Henderson asked you a question,” he said quietly. “If you don’t answer it within five seconds, I will remove your left ear. One, two, three.”

“She’s upstairs,” he said in a panic. “She’s in her bed. She’s safe, I swear!”

“She’d better be,” Giles said as he turned for the hall.

She was asleep, looking perfectly peaceful. Thank God. He rubbed the back of his fingers over her cheek. “Christina. Wake up.” But she didn’t. He shook her shoulder, gently, but still nothing. The bastard must have sedated her.

Giles threw back the blankets and scooped her up. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, even though she couldn’t hear him. He carried her down the stairs and into the study.

“What did you drug her with, you son of a bitch?”

Allister pulled the man’s head back a bit more. “It was just laudanum,” he said frantically. “She’ll wake in a few hours and be fine. I swear.”

“If she isn’t, God help you.”

He looked at Allister. “Will you get your own cab?”