Page 66 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

“I believe he waited,” Hector corrected. “Stalked him. Watched him until Evan gave him a reason.”

Ambrose tilted his head. “That sounds like Strachan.”

Hale nodded slowly. “It does.”

A pause settled between them. Hector felt it like pressure under the ribs.

“Strachan does not tolerate loss,” he said. “Especially not public loss. If Evan Lockwood beat him at anything significant, it would not simply have been about money.”

Hector’s eyes sharpened. “What then?”

“Control,” Hale said. “Reputation. Power. Men like Strachan do not lose and walk away unchanged. They wait until they can correct the imbalance.”

Ambrose let out a low whistle. “How philosophical of you, Hale.”

Hale shot him a look. “It is not philosophy. It is pattern recognition.”

Hector finally moved, stepping away from the mantel. “And Wynten?” he asked.

That made Hale hesitate again. Hector did not miss it.

“You mentioned Lord Wynten,” Hale said carefully.

“Yes.”

Hale exhaled slowly. “There have been… rumors,” he admitted.

Ambrose perked up immediately. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

Hector’s gaze narrowed. “What rumors?”

Hale looked between them both before speaking. “That Strachan has expanded his interests,” he said. “Beyond gambling. Beyond loans. Beyond the usual vices. He is beginning to involve himself in political leverage.”

Hector’s expression did not change. “And kidnapping?” Hector asked.

Hale did not answer immediately. That silence was answer enough. Ambrose set his glass down.

“Oh,” he said quietly. “That kind of leverage.”

Hale continued, carefully now. “If Lord Wynten is connected, even indirectly, Strachan would see him as a means to an end. A pressure point, a bargaining chip.”

Hector’s hands curled slightly at his sides. “I do not believe Wynten is involved in anything that would warrantthatkind of attention,” he said.

Hale put his hands up. “I am not saying he is guilty,” he replied. “I am saying Strachan would not need guilt. Only opportunity.”

The room seemed colder after that. Ambrose leaned back in his chair, studying Hector with a quieter expression than usual. “And Evan?” he asked. “Where does he fit into all this?”

Hector clenched his jaw. “Collateral,” he said, the word tasting wrong.

Hale nodded again, slowly. “It is possible,” he said. “Or he may have been the initial spark. A loss Strachan could not accept. And Lord Wynten,” he paused, “may simply have been caught in the fallout.”

Hector absorbed that in silence.Fallout. He hated that word; it made everything feel accidental. Like Evan’s disappearance could be reduced to something messy and unintentional.

Hector did not believe in accidents anymore. Not when it came to Evan. Not when it came to Strachan.

Hale watched him carefully. “I will make inquiries,” he said. “Quietly. Through channels that do not connect back to you.”

Ambrose raised his glass. “How very reassuring.”