Page 35 of An Inconvenient Duke

“Stay away from them,” she rasped.

“If they’re responsible for Elise’s death—”

“Then they’ll kill you, too.”

He stiffened at her warning, his body tensing beneath her hand as it rested on his waistcoat.

Under her fingertips, his heart beat strong and steady, and she couldn’t resist the urge to curl her fingers into the hard muscle of his chest. He was warm and alive, and she fully intended to keep him that way, no matter how many secrets she had to hide from him.

“Leave them alone, Marcus. They’re not the kind of men you want to bother.”

“I’m not afraid of them, Danielle.”

Of course he wouldn’t be. Not this man, who had charged into battles against the enemy in some of the bloodiest fighting the world had ever seen, repeatedly putting his life at risk.

Yet she warned, “You should be.”

His eyes flickered darkly, but she couldn’t tell if he would pay heed to her cautions or dismiss them outright. Marcus Braddock was just infuriating enough to do either.

“Just one more question,” he pressed.

Her shoulders sagged with exasperation. She pushed at him to shift him away, but he didn’t budge. “Marcus, please—”

“Have they threatened you?”

Her throat tightened at the concern in his voice. “No.” But then, why would they come after her? She admitted, so softly that her voice wasn’t even a whisper, “I’ve been cowardly enough to avoid them.”

“You’re not a coward.” He cupped her face between his hands. “You’re the bravest woman I know.”

Brave. She wasn’t that at all. But for this moment at least, with the heat and strength of him there for the taking, she could let herself believe that she was.

“You need to stop your work with Nightingale.” The firm warning was tempered by caresses of his fingers across her cheek and a brush of his thumb over her bottom lip. “Before you get hurt.”

“Never,” she countered breathlessly.

She closed her eyes, knowing he was going to kiss her. None of those half kisses either. This time, he would be just as hungry as he’d been last night, just as—

A scream tore through the house.

Fear seized her as she looked up into his startled face. “Claudia!”

Eleven

Marcus raced up the stairs toward the upper floors, taking them three steps at a time. The screams continued, chilling his bones with terror. Not Claudia—please, God, don’t let her be hurt!How would he survive losing another sister?

“Claudia!” he bellowed as he reached the second floor landing. His lungs burned as he sprinted down the hall toward the bedrooms in the east wing. The door to Elise’s room was open, the light from the hallway lamps spilling inside—

He halted, freezing in midstep as two forms emerged from the shadows…Claudia and an intruder who stood behind her, holding a knife to her throat.

“Marcus!” she cried, but the man held her by her hair and yanked hard to silence her. Tears spilled down her pale face.

“Let her go,” Marcus ordered. He widened his stance and balled his hands into fists, preparing to attack.

“Let me pass,” the man shot back as he dragged Claudia with him as he circled the edge of the room, making his way toward the door and escape.

“Don’t hurt me, please,” she whispered. “Please…”

With no other choice, Marcus stepped to the side. Helplessness seared the inside of his chest. Christ! He couldn’t do anything to help, not as long as the man held the knife to her. If he attempted so much as a small move in the man’s direction, he would slice her throat. All he could do was watch and wait for the exact moment to pounce.