Page 56 of Surrender

“Because you’re not going back into the East End again. It’s too dangerous for you now.”

“And whose fault is that?” she accused in a sharp voice.

In the next breath, she drew in a hiss of breath between her teeth. He wasn’t saying he wouldn’t let her return to the East End.

“Wait, you can’t take me out of the field, only C or Val can do that. And if you even try to have me removed, you’d better be prepared for me to point out that you were the one who made it impossible for me to go back to the Fox and Hound. I’ll make sure you aren’t allowed to go back either.”

In the back of her mind, she found herself hoping that would happen. If being forced not to reenter the East End the meant he couldn’t either, she could live with that, even if meant not finding Peter’s killer. Her brother would have wanted her to keep Theo out of harm’s way. Keeping him out of the East End would protect him from Simpson, unless the man learned who he was and ventured outside his normal territory.

“We’ll see,” he said flatly.

The remainder of the trip, no one spoke. Genevieve imagined Teasdale remained silent because he’d realized the evening’s events could only be settled between her and Theo. When the three of them entered the safe house several minutes later, Genevieve followed Theo down the hall and into the small parlor. Teasdale didn’t hesitate to disappear upstairs. Jamie and Vincent were seated in front of the fire, drinks in hand, laughing as the two of them entered. As Theo went straight to the liquor cart, Vincent sprang to his feet, a worried frown creasing his forehead as Jamie rose from his seat too.

“What’s happened?” her brother demanded. Her hands flying, she signed her reply to Vincent while speaking out loud for Jamie.

“Theo made a huge scene at the Fox and Hound and threatened Simpson. He told the man he was to stay away from me,” Genevieve huffed. “Now, I’ll never be able to pry more information out of Freddie because of tonight. Not to mention the man’s switchblade came close to slitting this bawbag’s throat, before he broke Simpson’s wrist.”

“Good God,” Vincent exclaimed in a voice soft with fear and anger as he looked at Theo, who was still at the cart with his back to them.

Theo threw at least three fingers of brandy down his throat before pouring another and doing the same. As he poured himself a third glass, he picked it up and turned to face them. His face grey and ashen, Theo nodded toward Genevieve.

“She forgot to mention the man had his hand under her skirts.” At Theo’s harsh words, Genevieve flinched.

“I was handling it,” she said softly, all too aware of what could have happened if Theo hadn’t come to her rescue.

“Not from where I stood. I could tell by the look on your face you were terrified, and God almighty, Genevieve. You were doing nothing to stop him.”

There was a note of fury and horror in his voice that made her cheeks grow cold as she felt the blood drain from her face. Genevieve hadn’t realized until now that Theo had seen what Simpson was doing. It explained why he’d come to her rescue in such a wild fury.

And dear God, he’d put his life on the line to protect her, and now Simpson was out for blood—Theo’s blood. Genevieve flashed a look at her brother, and Vincent met her gaze with an ‘I told you so’ expression.

Worst of all, every part of Theo’s description of the moment was true. A shudder raced through her as she remembered trying to fight off the past, while trying to keep Simpson from touching her even more intimately. Nauseated by the memory, she knew that if Theo hadn’t been in the pub, Simpson might have dragged her upstairs—she shut down the horrible image and swayed on her feet.

“That’s it,” Jamie snarled. “I’m going to see to it that C and Val pull you out of the East End.”

“No, you’re not,” she objected angrily.

“Yes, he is, and I’ll support him,” Vincent said sternly. “Jamie’s right, Genevieve, and you know it. You can gather information just as well at social events. We all know Ansbach and Warrington are connected. At least you’ll not be alone with either of them. There will be a lot more Rockwoods to keep you safe.”

“Theo’s already ordered me to stay away from Warrington,” she protested with suppressed vehemence.

“I’m going to lock her up in her room at Chester Square for the next year,” Theo said harshly as his gaze met hers.

The anger and horror reflected in the depths of his dark blue eyes made her mouth go dry. With a muttered oath, Theo gulped down the last of his brandy and turned back to the liquor cart. Genevieve didn’t like admitting the three of them were right, but she didn’t want Theo going back into the East End. It would be no different than him signing his own death warrant.

“Fine, if I’m out of the East End, so is Theo. If he goes back in, he’ll end up just like Peter,” she said firmly. “Simpson has already said he’ll kill Theo the next time he sees him. And as the future Earl of Melton and the role of Rockwoods patriarch, he cannot be allowed to put himself in harm’s way.”

Genevieve heard the fear in her voice as she looked in Theo’s direction. She saw his back go rigid the moment she spoke. In a slow, deliberate movement, he put his glass down and turned to face her.

“You seem to forget, Genevieve, that I have a brother who can take on that role if something were to happen to me,” Theo said in a quiet, icy voice. “The Melton title will not die out, despite what you might think.”

Genevieve swayed on her feet as she met his wintry gaze. She’d never seen him look at her so coldly in the entire time she’d known him. But it was the fact that he’d not mentioned the possibility of sons of his own that horrified her. It meant he was going back to find Simpson and settle things. When she remained silent, he jerked his head in her direction with an abrupt nod and started toward the door. As he reached the parlor doorway, Genevieve raced after him and caught his arm.

“Please, Theo, I know what you intend to do,” she whispered fervently “You can’t go back into the East End. Simpson will kill you, and I…I ...”

“What are you trying to say, Genevieve?” There was a bone-weary note in his question that made her squeeze his arm tighter.

“I don’t want anything to happen to you. It will devastate your parents—the entire family. It’s insane to put yourself in harm’s way like this.”