Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Chloe nearly bit into his staff as he cried out his declaration of affection. Her heart answered, I love you too .

Her mouth, however, was a bit busy.

Because a moment later, a moan ripped from Ryker’s chest, his body spasming as hot liquid filled her mouth.

Slowly, she pulled away, looking up his body at his half open eyes. “Ryker?”

“Yes, love?”

Part of her wanted to ask if he’d meant the words. But now was not the moment to be insecure. It was the time for strength. “I feel the same.”

“How’s that?” He tossed an arm over his eyes not moving.

She was glad he’d not seen her grimace. Did he not remember? Not want to admit he’d said them too.

Was she about to be crushed? She drew in a deep breath. “I love you, too.”

He looked up then, his arm falling away, his head picking up from the table. “You shouldn’t.”

“Why?’

“Because I’m a selfish prick.”

Her brows lifted as her heart skipped a beat. Was this the part when he told her that he was too selfish to ever really love her?

“But I’m going to do better.”

She wasn’t certain what that specifically meant. Was he not going to send her away? Not marry her? But rather than ask, she lay her head down on his stomach. “Me too.” Because if she were honest, trying to make him jealous didn’t exactly seem loving or caring. Not that she’d gotten that far in her plot. But still, that was only because he’d outplayed her.

He shook his head, pushing up as he cradled her head in one hand. “Love. You don’t need to do better. You are practically a saint?—”

But a noise out in the hall cut off his words. She sat up, Ryker off the table in a second, pulling up his breeches. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered as he crossed to the door, silently opening the panel and looking out into the hall. She stood too, furiously attempting to stuff her hair back in its pins.

Who was in the hall? Just a servant? Another guest?

The door pushed open again. “Is everything all right?” she asked but then gasped when it wasn’t Ryker who filled the door but another man. Scars slashed across his cheeks, his teeth bared as he stalked toward her.

She let out the very start of a scream, but in a moment, the man was on her, a cloth over her mouth and nose, his other hand like a vise around the back of her neck.

She only fought for a moment or two before the world went dark…

* * *

Ryker made his way down the dark hall, checking the shadows until he’d reached a dead end.

Turning back, he started toward Chloe, knowing there was so much more to say. He needed to tell her about how he wanted to give her a real future, not just his name. But he didn’t know how to really give so freely, and he was afraid to repeat his father’s mistakes.

But as he rounded the corner, from the kitchen, a man stepped into the hall. “Hello, good sir,” the man slurred. “I’ve lost my way.”

Ryker sighed. He had no time for drunks. “That way and up the stairs to reach the assembly room.”

“Which way, now?” The man looked down both directions, his brow furrowing.

Ryker let out a growl, not wanting to leave Chloe any longer. “That way.” And he started to move past the man who promptly bumped into him, attempting to send Ryker off course.

Ryker didn’t move, the other man bouncing off of him instead.

“Watch it,” he barked back, continuing down the hall. He rounded the next corner, his blood running cold.

Because, by the light of the moon in the open door to another alley, he saw Chloe’s limp form, her arms dangling, hanging over a man’s shoulder.

He ground his teeth and broke into a run.

The other man turned, looking back at Ryker, who recognized him instantly. “Adam!”

Pushing through the door, Adam started down the alley. Chloe’s weight slowed him, as Ryker closed the distance between them.

But just when he thought he’d reached them, he realized that Adam was running straight toward a parked carriage.

The villain reached the vehicle and practically dumped Chloe inside. “Go!” he yelled, the driver snapping the reins. Ryker pushed himself faster, diving for the carriage, just missing the back, as the vehicle lurched forward.

Hanging by the handle, Adam swung himself into the carriage as it started down the street, picking up speed, the wheels rattling over the cobblestones.

Ryker, vaulting himself up from the hard stone street, sprinted behind, following the carriage from the quiet alley onto the main thoroughfare.

But he knew he’d never reach the carriage, not even on the more crowded London streets.

Turning this way and that, he spotted a hack pulled to the side. “Hey!”

The driver looked at him.

He didn’t hesitate. “Twenty shillings to follow that carriage.”

“Twenty!” the man crowed. “Get in!”

Ryker waved for the man to go, hopping into the carriage after it had begun to roll. He’d only just told Chloe he loved her. There was no way he was losing her now.