Page 87 of Juliet's Touch

“I will see every one of you hanged,” Riley said in a nasally voice.

Fletcher’s goons chortled as they pointed at Riley.

“Sounds like he got kicked in the bollocks,” one of them said.

“I think the big guy broke his nose,” the other declared. “Either that or he’s been castrated.”

“Deserves to be castrated,” Fletcher said.

“Go to hell,” Riley growled.

Since Riley’s new voice was rather humorous, Eric couldn’t help but chuckle, which unfortunately called attention to him.

Riley spat a loose tooth onto the carpeting. “I will tell the entire world that Knight Roamer is the son of a whore and lives in a brothel.”

Eric’s laughter died a quick death.

A figure wearing a silk gown and red slippers dashed past Eric. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things because he’d swear Abigail was in front of him. But she couldn’t be. Unless …

“Abigail,” Flynn called.

Before Eric could fully process what was happening, Abigail bent down and grabbed the pistol from the floor. Standing tall and her hand shaking, she aimed the weapon at Riley.

“I tried to stop her,” Flynn said.

“I hate you, Lord Riley,” Abigail said. “So much so that I dream about your death.”

“Ridiculous little whore,” Riley spat. “You aren’t going to shoot me. There isn’t a thought in your silly brain that I haven’t put there.”

Abigail cocked the pistol and steadied her hand.

“Miss, put the gun down,” Fletcher said. “I’m taking him to the magistrate.”

“No.” Abigail’s gaze remained glued to her target. “He is an aristocrat, so he will get away with it all. No one cares what he does to us. We are justridiculouswhoreswho can’t think for ourselves, after all.”

“I mean to see that he pays for his crimes,” Fletcher said.

“Would you have even cared enough to stop him if he hadn’t abducted a lady?” Abigail asked.

Eric swallowed hard. Abigail was correct on all accounts. No magistrate in London would punish Riley for hurting women, be they whores or daughters of barons. If Abigail shot him, she’d be sent away to a place that made her life at a brothel seem as though she’d been living in a fairy tale. If Eric killed him, he’dbe sent to Newgate, never to see Juliet again. And if Riley lived, he would destroy the Knight Roamer and continue to torment Juliet and Abigail.

Ironically, the no-win situation provided Eric with insight into his own nature. He’d become an avenger due to his anger about the lack of a system in place to protect the people he loved. The mask provided anonymity and shielded Eric from punishment as he righted the upside-down world. He had no other choice. Tonight, he would have to don his disguise, break into whatever building Riley happened to be in—hopefully a jail, but probably not—and end the man’s life.

“Pretty lady, put down the gun,” the tall man said as he extended his arm and slowly moved toward her as if trying not to scare a terrified child.

“Abigail, please give him the pistol,” Eric said.

Abigail looked over her shoulder at Eric and gave him a bittersweet smile. “He won’t hurt any of us ever again.”

“He isn’t worth the punishment you will receive,” Eric said, repeating Juliet’s convincing argument. Luckily, they would have to catch Knight Roamer to hold him accountable, and he would not allow that to happen.

Eric let go of Juliet to reach for his friend, but Abigail had already returned her focus to Riley.

“This is for every woman, make that every person you've ever hurt,” she said.

Thunderation, she was going to shoot the heir to an earldom. Eric lunged, but he was too far away to keep Abigail from pulling the trigger. Thebangfrom the gunshot echoed.

Riley grabbed his chest. His hand over his heart didn’t hide the red patch staining his shirt. His eyes widened as his demise hit him. Then he toppled over, hitting the ground with a resoundingcrash.