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“So you’re a fraudster,” he said flatly.

Better than a murderess, she supposed. “I have no choice.”

“Making money the honest way never crossed your mind?” There was something almost mocking in his tone that ignited her temper.

“You don’t understand,” she said, straining against her restraints in agitation. “I’m not working for those men of my own free will. They have my little brother.” Her voice cracked. She decided to lay all her cards on the table and pray that Mrs. Hill was right—that mentioning an innocent boy in peril would compel Gideon to help her. “They’re holding him hostage, and if I don’t do what they ask, they will…” She swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence. “Let’s just say what they would do to him would be worse than death.”

His expression changed immediately, the coldness melting into something that might have been sympathy. “And you’re saying these men aren’t part of the Brotherhood?”

“I don’t know what this Brotherhood of the Scarlet Palm is—”

“Crimson Fist.”

“What?” she asked irritably.

“It’s the Brotherhood of the Crimson Fist—not—never mind.”

“Whatever they are called, they don’t refer to themselves that way in front of me. So I don’t know if we’re talking about the same group. They keep everything close to their chests, but I know enough.”

“For example?” He raised an eyebrow.

“I know who their leader is—they call him the Cardinal.”

He went completely still. “The Cardinal is what they call the leader of the Brotherhood.”

She froze as well. So it was true. She was working for the same men Gideon swore to eradicate—the people who killed his family. She shouldn’t have been surprised, and she wasn’t. But she was desperate. He might not be as forgiving or helpful if he thought she had been doing their bidding for over a decade.

“I didn’t know that. They don’t tell me things. I’m not a member of their group; I’m a prisoner, just like I am here. I was young and vulnerable, with no recourse against powerful men when they found me. I’m as much a victim as the people they make me rob. Even more so, because their losses are only monetary, while I’m losing my soul little by little each time. And I’ve been doing this for over a decade.”

“For over a decade, you were unable to escape them?”

“You saw the house. I’m under constant watch. My windows are nailed shut, so I can’t leave without them knowing. When I do go out, it’s only with their approval, their escort, and under their orders.”

“You’re not under their watch now,” he pointed out.

“Yes, well, I’m not in much better condition, wouldn’t you say?” She tugged at the restraints.

“That’s not my point.” He sat down on the edge of the bed, causing the mattress to dip. “If I could take you away without them noticing, you could have escaped if you really wanted to.”

“And gone where?” Her voice rose with desperation. “Do you think I have any funds? Do you think I have any friends? I’m all alone in this world. The only other person I have is my little brother, and they’re keeping him from me. If I leave, his fate will be worse than mine.”

“I’ve seen the house,” he said slowly. “There’s no one living there aside from you and the servants.”

“Those aren’t just servants; they are my watchmen. I am under constant watch by dozens of guards, but they know I won’t escape without him. Emir—my brother—doesn’t live with me. They keep us apart for the very reason you just mentioned: we could run away together. I see him often; he visits me when I’m not on an assignment. But that’s how they keep me focused. He is always guarded and lives under the Cardinal’s roof. He receives an education and he is not to be touched. Once he turns fifteen, which is soon, I was promised that we could go free, although I don’t believe they would honor that promise.” Actually, they promised to let him go free once this mission was over—once Wolverstone was eliminated. But she omitted that part.

The truth was, she wished she could get her brother away from the influence of these men as soon as possible.

She believed the only reason they even spared him was that he was a boy. He could become one of them once he was grown. Or perhaps he could be of use to them in other ways. Whatever they wanted with him couldn’t be good. She needed to get him out.

Gideon was quiet for a long moment, processing this information. Then he stood and began pacing again, his movements restless. She watched him, trying to read his expression, but his face had become unreadable.

Finally, he stopped and looked up at her. “If you’re telling the truth—”

“I am,” she interrupted fiercely.

“Then I can help you save him. I can save him and free you from the brotherhood.”

Was he serious, or was this another trick? She had encountered many men who used this very tactic before, offering help only to extract something in return while ignoring their part of the deal.