Page 91 of A Relentless Rake

Alec climbed to his feet and stood over the beaten man with clenched fists, his head bowed and his chest heaving hard from exertion. Sir George wisely remained on the floor. If he moved, Olivia feared Alec would kill him.

“Alec!” She ran forward and threw herself into his arms, to save his soul as much as Sir George’s life.

He embraced her and buried his face in her hair.

Sobbing openly with relief, she swayed as the fear of the last few moments finally overcame her, and her knees buckled beneath her. Alec caught her as she slid toward the floor, scooped her into his arms, and gently lowered her to the ground. His strong arms never loosened their hold around her.

The young man hobbled from the room, dripping a trail of blood across the floor.

Reed started after him. Alec stopped him with a raised hand.

“Let him go,” Alec ordered quietly in response to the questioning glance Reed threw at him. “Scepter hired him for brute muscle. He won’t know anything about their plans.” His eyes narrowed furiously on Sir George as he writhed in pain on the floor. “We’ve got the man behind the bombing.”

“No, you don’t,” Sir George protested even as Reed pulled his arms behind his back to pin him to the floor. “I don’t know anything about that.”

Olivia’s heart tore. If Sir George wasn’t part of the assassination attempt, then he didn’t have access to Henry.Dear God…where on earth was her brother?

Reed pressed his knee into Sir George’s spine, digging it hard into the man’s back. Then he ordered in such a calm, even tone that Olivia shuddered, “Explain.”

“Go to hell!”

Reed glanced at Alec. “He’s not willing to talk. That’s a shame.” His face was stoic. “Guess we’ll have to hurt him, then.”

Alec shrugged impassively. “I don’t mind. Do you?”

“Not at all. May I go first?”

“Be my guest.”

Sir George’s eyes widened at the strange exchange between the two half brothers, who possessed the same low timbre of voice and deadly expressions.

Olivia grabbed for Alec’s waistcoat to keep him close. They were threatening to torture Sir George if he didn’t cooperate. She knew they would never stoop so low, that it was all an act.

But Sir George didn’t, and he shook with fear.

Reed pulled a knife from his sleeve. The blade flashed in the lamplight as he brought it toward Sir George’s face—

“Don’t hurt me!” he begged quickly. “I’ll tell you everything I know!”

The knife stilled at the man’s cheek as Reed ordered, “Go on.”

“I was blackmailed,” Sir George choked out. “A street urchin showed up at my door this morning, told me I had to kill Olivia Everett, here at midnight. If I didn’t, my life would be ruined, my reputation destroyed in scandal.”

“Who sent the message?”

“Who do you think?” Sir George gave a strangled laugh. “Scepter.”

“Who in Scepter?”

“If I knew that, do you think I’d be here?” he snapped.

“Why does Scepter want Miss Everett dead?” Alec interrupted calmly, still holding Olivia in his arms. But beneath her hands, she felt his muscles tighten with anger.

“Don’t know, don’t care.” Spittle and blood trickled from the corner of Sir George’s mouth. “It was her life or mine. I chose mine.”

Olivia buried her face in Alec’s shoulder and shuddered at how close she’d come to dying tonight.

Reed pressed, “What is Scepter planning next?”