Chapter Twenty-Five

C hapter T wenty - F ive

T he burst of sound in the silent warehouse was not something that any of them within were expecting, and Lucy jolted upright from her laying position on the floor. She hadn't been pretending to sleep for some time, but there hadn't seemed any point in sitting with her hands and legs bound as they had been. No one had been speaking with her or to her since her arrival, and there were only four or five men in the building at any time.

She might as well have been part of the furnishings of the place, except it was clear she was part of something larger. It was simply not happening yet.

But this…

Whirling creatures with knives came in through the east doors while charging men exploded in from the west, taking the few men in the building completely by surprise. Two of the guards immediately started towards Lucy, but the four men had them surrounded in short order, and guns were dropped to the floor. Soon it became clear that the creatures from the east were not creatures at all, but women, who looked dangerous beyond belief and had the other two men against a wall and deprived of weapons.

No one else was left in the warehouse to resist them, which made Lucy frown.

There had definitely been five men the last time she'd looked, and the one who was not here now had been the least imposing by appearance, but the one the others had deferred to.

"So we meet again," a warm, familiar voice said close to her as the gag around her mouth was released. "I didn't even have to threaten anyone this time."

Gasping, Lucy whirled and beamed into Hunter's grinning face. "Hunter!" she cried, her voice hoarse. "But how did you…?"

He leaned in and kissed her quickly, turning her unfinished question into a hum of relief and delight. "I didn't trust your father," he said simply as he slashed through the linen at her hands and feet. "I had someone watching the house and told Pond… Anyway, when you were taken, I was notified. So here we are."

"Who's we?" she asked as she began rubbing her wrists.

"You don't recognize a few faces?" Hunter pointed at a tall, dark-haired man, who was watching them and smiled when Lucy looked at him.

"Trace," she breathed, returning his smile. Again, he had done something for Hunter on a moment's notice. That spoke to the man's honor and integrity as much as Hunter's.

"And over at the wall…" Hunter whistled and one of the women looked over, waving with a quick grin at Lucy.

Lucy sighed and shook her head, smiling still. "Briar. How in the world did you manage this?"

"To be fair," Hunter said as he leaned back, putting his arms around Lucy and lifting her up into them, "I only managed Trace's bunch. The ladies had their own ideas when they heard about you, so we decided to share the efforts. I think it worked out fairly well, don't you?" He winked and turned, starting for the nearest door. "Anything you need to say to your new friends here?"

Lucy shook her head, looping her arms around Hunter's neck and leaning into him. "No. They barely said a word to me anyway. They only spoke with the other one. He must have slipped out when they came in."

"There was another?" A man she hadn't noticed before was walking beside Hunter and now looked around him to inquire. He was tall as well, golden haired, and full of some unspoken authority even she could recognize.

"Yes," she said at once. "He was not a very intimidating a figure, but he was clearly in charge. Lanky fellow, ginger haired, and I think they called him Key."

Hunter stopped in place and stared at the other man for a long moment.

"Can you get there alone?" the man asked Hunter in a low voice.

"Yes," Hunter assured him. "Find him."

The other nodded and turned back. "Rogue, Trace, with me. You two, secure the prisoners with the agents."

Hunter began to walk away from them all, but Lucy looked over his shoulder at them, curious about the now hurried conversation in lowered tones. She ducked her head as they exited the warehouse, though it really wasn't necessary, and gave Hunter a strange look.

"You don't need to be part of what they're doing?"

He shook his head. "I do not."

"It sounds important," she pressed.

"It is," came his simple response. "Which is why they are going to take care of it."

Lucy frowned at that and laid her head against his shoulder. "You feel like you need to take me home because of our connection and leave them to do the ugly work. But really, Hunter, you could trust anyone to take me home. I know you'd rather be part of what they're doing instead of—"

Hunter stopped again, his eyes searching hers. "Let me make something very clear to you, Miss Lucy Allred," he told her, his voice no more than a growl. "The only thing I want to do right now is get you out of here and to a place of safety. I don't care what they do back there, important though it is. The most important thing to me, right now and ever, is you. So I would rather be taking you away from danger than leaving you to someone else and throwing myself into it. Is that clear?"

Lucy could only gape at him, her heart weakly bouncing off of ribs and various breathing apparatuses within her, creating a cacophony of sensations that made her head swim.

"Well?" Hunter asked, clearly expecting a response.

Steeling herself, taking that shred of hope from before in both hands, Lucy swallowed. "I love you too," she whispered.

Hunter's eyes widened, and then he was kissing her again, fiercely and with a hunger that had clawed at her ever since they had parted. "You heard me," he rasped against her mouth.

She nodded, clinging to the back of his neck, brushing her nose against his. "I was half-asleep, but I heard. And I cannot tell you how many times I've replayed it in my mind these last few days."

Hunter groaned and kissed her again, starting to walk once more. "Me too. And just for clarity, while we're both fully aware and in possession of our faculties—I love you, Lucy."

She sighed and rested her face against his neck. "It sounded even better that time."

"I hope it will sound better every time I say it." Hunter chuckled and held her closer. "Provided you wish to give me the opportunity to do so."

"You can say it whenever you like," she quipped. "No one else is, and I only want to hear it from you."

Hunter groaned a little, pressing his lips to her brow as he cradled her, starting over the bridge now. "Escorting you to safety while we have this conversation is one of the more challenging experiences of my life."

Lucy snorted into his shoulder. "I am sure we can find a way to make things easier on you eventually."

"Tell me about life at your father's house," Hunter suggested. "Tell me what I don't know."

Curious at his interest, Lucy thought back. "I've decided to tell my father that I am going back to the school right after Christmas. We have spent no time together since being reunited, and he has shown no interest in my presence whatsoever. Why should I let him continue to control my life when I am clearly in my majority, and he has no care for anyone but himself? I would appreciate the distance, if he insists on cutting me off, and there is no dowry to speak of, so what hold does he have over me anyway? The whole thing is utterly ridiculous, and I would have been better served to stay at the school for the holidays."

She was rambling again, she could hear it through her own ears this time, but Hunter was only smiling.

"What?" she asked when he seemed to be laughing to himself. "My rambling?"

"No, not at all," he answered with a chuckle. "I love your rambling. I just find it amusing that you think you would have been better served staying at the school. Had you done that, we would never have met."

Now that was a harrowing thought. Lucy stared at him, even while his attention was fixed straight ahead of them. What if she had never met Hunter? What if she had never known that this sort of love existed? What if…?

"Would it entirely inconvenience your life to marry me?" Lucy asked in a rush, suddenly terrified this could all be taken away from her yet again.

Hunter's smile was so swift and so bright, she was half convinced it was dawn. "No, not entirely," he teased. "I believe something could be arranged, if that is what you'd like."

She exhaled with so much relief, she fully sagged in his hold. "I would like," she insisted. "If you would like."

The hand at her back pressed her closer, and he kissed her again, this time long and lingering and thorough. When she was breathless and delirious, he pulled back, somehow still walking.

"I would like," he breathed, his stubble creating delicious friction against her cheek. "Thank you for asking."

Lucy snorted a laugh and covered her mouth, now leaning back in his hold. Hunter laughed as well, winking at her and striding with a touch more pride, if she did say so herself.

He was surely going to get tired of holding her, if they were walking all the way back to her father's house. He was a strong man, there was no question, but the distance with her as an added burden…

Lucy sobered a little, even as her heart soared with the prospects ahead of her. "Do you know why I was taken? The first time and this time?"

Hunter grimaced a little, then nodded. "I do. How much do you want to know?"

"Everything," she said at once. "I want to know everything."

With that, Hunter launched into the explanation of everything her father had done and been a part of. It ought to have shocked her, but, sadly, none of it did. Of course her father had used her as a pawn in his attempts to recoup his losses and regain some sort of perceived respectability, at least for himself. Lucy had only ever been some sort of tool or asset in his arsenal of life. The only real question she had was if he was in any way genuinely concerned for her during this actual abduction, or if he was more concerned about the loss of his particular benefits from the arrangement.

"I'm sorry," Hunter sighed as he finished. "I really had hoped…"

"Don't be," Lucy told him, patting his chest. "I stopped hoping where my father was concerned a long time ago. It will be a pleasure to never have to return to his house. When can we marry?"

Hunter hadn't laughed at her question, which had been her whole aim.

She gave him a cautious look. "Hunter?"

"I need to tell you something, my love," he murmured, keeping his voice very low. "The answer to the question you haven't been able to ask me yet." He inhaled a little, then released the breath in a short burst. "I'm a spy. An operative for the Crown."

Lucy blinked at the revelation. "Well… that certainly makes more sense than anything I was conjuring up in my mind."

Hunter paused a step, laughter erupting from him again. "That is all you have to say?"

"What else would you like me to say?" she retorted defensively, but grinning. "Your sister told me your life was all about duty and that it was dangerous, and you cannot imagine what I've tried to create as an explanation for that. I must say, I am quite impressed. And incredibly proud of you. So have you done this ever since you disappeared from Society? I presume you truly are the heir to a viscountcy, which my father will adore, unfortunately, but how can they let an heir to a peerage risk himself in such a way? Is that not rather reckless of them? Or do you have confidence in the next heir to—what are you laughing about now?"

Hunter had been positively shaking from laughter as they walked, and Lucy wondered if he would need to put her down.

But he only adjusted his hold on her and gave her the most adoring look that had ever been given through peals of laughter. "You, my love. I am blatantly and totally laughing about you."

There arose an immediate argument of banter between them, right up until they arrived, not at her father's residence, but at Hal and John's house. Hunter approached, and the door swung open before he could even knock.

Thad was there and said nothing as he stepped back, letting them in.

"We're expected?" Lucy murmured for Hunter alone as they moved to the nearest sitting room.

He nodded, all seriousness now. "We had word sent. I wasn't going to take you to your father's house after what you've been through there. This is much safer." He set her down on a chaise and took the seat beside her, taking her hand in his.

Hal and John entered a few moments later, both dressed simply, Hal's long hair plaited over one shoulder, and John in his dressing gown. Hal came to Lucy at once and kissed her cheek before taking a seat at the foot of the chaise.

Then a new figure entered the room, this one making Hunter stand from his chair. "Weaver."

Weaver, whomever he was, was tall, dark, and as imposing a figure as Lucy had ever seen without looking like a criminal. He bore all the regal airs of a duke, with all the energy Hunter's street persona exuded, and was clearly not a man to be trifled with.

He silently acknowledged each of them in turn, then set his eyes on Lucy. He came towards her and bowed politely. "Miss Allred, I am delighted to see you well and unharmed. I have Thad bringing you some sustenance shortly, and I recommend you have a thimble of brandy as well as some Madeira. You don't seem to need calming, but take it from me, it can be a trifle delayed."

Lucy nodded hastily, ready to accept any instruction or insight from this man that he felt necessary.

He nodded and gestured for Hunter to come with him. Hunter kissed Lucy's hand, then followed, the pair of them moving to the corner of the room.

Lucy strained to hear with all of her might, and found her efforts rewarded, but it was only a summary of what had taken place in the warehouse, along with what Hunter had told her about her father's involvement. Weaver did a great deal of nodding and not much conversing, but then he clapped Hunter on the back and left the room.

Hunter returned to his seat beside Lucy and took up her hand once more.

"Is he in charge of everything?" she whispered to him.

"Not everything, but close." Hunter smiled rather flatly. "He's also Henrietta's godfather."

Lucy looked at Hal in surprise, and Hal's smile rather resembled her brother's. "For my sins. Or his." Hal exhaled slowly, sputtering. "I hate waiting."

"Easy, Ange," John murmured, putting a hand on his wife's knee. "It will be soon enough."

"What will be?" Lucy whispered to Hunter, confused.

"Debrief," Hunter told her, rubbing her hand. "As soon as the others get here." He looked across her at his sister. "Did you send word to Lucy's father?"

Hal nodded once. "He should know by now. If it matters." She snarled softly, making Hunter chortle.

"Down, girl," he teased.

"You should talk."

"I am in control."

"Says the man who came here instead of there."

"Oh, why don't you—"

The bickering siblings went silent as the door to the house opened again, and the trickle of men from the warehouse entered one by one, including Weaver.

Thad followed with the promised tray of food for Lucy, brandy and Madeira to one side. He set it down on the table before her and nodded once before going to stand by the door, his back to it. As though he anticipated a barrage of attack in response to what had taken place.

"Prisoners secure," the blond man from before told Weaver. "Iris has them. Martin was apparently there but slipped out with our entrance. We did a search of the area and found nothing. No sign of him."

Weaver nodded once, then pursed his lips. "I think it would be best if Miss Allred went to bed."

Lucy blinked and looked around, wondering how she had been thrust into this conversation. "I what?" she asked softly.

"She stays," Hunter said firmly. "She may not know everything, but she's been put in the middle against her will for far too long. She can hear everything."

Lucy squeezed his hand hard, thanking him and confessing her love in one grip.

Weaver stared at Hunter for a long moment, then nodded before giving the entire group a shrewd look. "He was there," Weaver ground out. "He was there, and you let him slip away?" He rounded on Hunter in particular. "You had one assignment, Trick. One. We trusted you with one assignment, and the moment you have the opportunity to achieve it—"

"How was he supposed to know Martin would be there?" Trace retorted defensively. "We were just after Dawn, nobody knew he was involved!"

"You're always telling us to value innocent life," the curly-haired man added in a rougher voice. "Should we have ignored her?"

Weaver shook his head. "If you had entered with more care, if you had surveyed with caution…"

Another dark-haired man began nodding sagely. "Oh, so the man should have waited to pay any attention to Dawn until we were positive no traitors were about. Particularly the traitor that only he has even come close to nabbing? Leave the woman he loves on the floor and in danger?"

A sandy-haired man who looked a trifle like John shook his head. "Pot, kettle. Kettle, pot."

Everyone in the room looked at him in surprise. Lucy wasn't certain why anyone else was, but she was exceptionally curious as to his reference.

He returned everybody's looks with outright bewilderment. "Come on… am I the only one who read the reports on this man when he was Fox?" He pointed at Weaver, and Weaver's eyes went wide.

"That's a top-secret ledger," he said in a low voice.

The sandy-haired man sniffed once. "I know that. Now." But then he took on a daring look and remained silent.

Weaver exhaled very slowly. "Fine. I take back my recriminations. No one could have foreseen this. Trick, take care of the complications quickly, and write up a report as soon as possible. We need to try and intercede in this plan before someone else is subjected to what Dawn has endured." He rubbed a hand over his hair and turned from the room, leaving them all to mull over the events of the evening on their own.

The sandy-haired man cleared his throat. "Complications?"

Hunter rolled his eyes, surprising Lucy. "Her father, Rook. His involvement. And Dawn—sorry, Lucy's—available hand."

"Not that available," she reminded him. "You did agree."

Hal snorted a laugh, quickly clamping a hand over her mouth. Rook grinned at that and gave Lucy a rather grand nod of his chin, for whatever reason.

"That's true," Hunter mused, winking at her. "If Weaver thinks we need to make haste, perhaps a special license is in our future."

"Can Mr. Mortimer return to Society so easily?" John asked him. "Your reputation was rather in tatters when you left, even if you have, as they believe, spent time on the Continent rehabilitating yourself."

They all went quiet to think on that a moment.

"What about a duel?" the curly-haired one suggested. "Not a real one but staged. Between Mr. Allred and Mr. Mortimer. After Mr. Mortimer is slightly wounded, he agrees to the marriage. Then it gradually becomes evident that Mr. Mortimer's wife is a delightful influence on him, and he becomes rather devoted to her."

Lucy looked at Hunter with some speculation, the wild desire to grin bubbling up inside of her. "Well? Am I destined to be a delightful influence?"

Hunter's eyes were lowered in thought, and then he straightened, turning to her, his smile rather sweet. "I believe you are. The trouble will be pretending not to love you from the start, but shooting at your father will help, even if I cannot succeed."

"I can be a rather quick influence," Lucy suggested, kissing his hand. "And I don't care if you shoot my father a little successfully, so long as we can send him to the Continent afterwards."

The entire room laughed at that, and Hunter rose, coming around to kiss her soundly. "Then let it be the plan, my love. It is high time I came out of the shadows and embraced your light."

Lucy smiled rather dreamily at him. "Don't leave the shadows entirely behind. I rather like being with you in them."

Hunter quirked his brows, his smile turning almost salacious. "Well, well, well… from Dawn to Dusk, eh?"

A few of the men groaned at the bad joke, and even Hal made some comment or other about it, but Lucy paid none of them any mind as she pulled her intended in for another kiss, just to prove to him that the girl from the cèilidh in the streets was very much still here, and his for the taking.