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Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

C yn's heart was beating hard inside her chest as she followed Leo. Clutching her pistol, she hoped all her staff were safe.

Leo kicked the door open and stepped into the room.

"Back away from the woman at once." His words were cold, voice hard.

"My woman," a voice said.

"You do not own her, as you do not own any of the women who are unfortunate enough to work for the Baddon Boys," Leo said. He stepped to the side, and Cyn could point her pistol at the man now.

Leo started circling him, taking the man's eyes with him and away from Mary and Clara, who were huddled together in a corner. Where is Lewis?

"Well now, that was easy," a voice said behind her, and then she felt the tip of a blade press to her neck. "Step away from my man, Lord Seddon."

Cyn couldn't see who was behind her.

"You've caused me a great deal of trouble, Lady Lowell, and bringing a lord here has made things difficult also. But I am a powerful man and not without the resources to clean up the mess we are going to have to make."

"Let her go, Wolf," Leo said.

"If you move one step, my lord, I will plunge this knife into your beloved's neck, and she will not survive."

Leo's face was a mask of rage and fear.

"Leave the women. We have plenty more. Lock the door. We must depart at once in case they alerted others. The boys are waiting outside, and as much as it would be easier to murder him, that would mean I'd have to move to another country."

"I won't let you hurt her," Leo said, his voice deadly.

"Shut the door and lock it."

The door was slammed before Leo could move, and then Cyn was thrown over a shoulder, and they were running up the steps.

Where is Lewis? Have they hurt my friend? How was she to get out of this? At least Leo, Mary, and Clara were safe. Thoughts tumbled through her head as they ran out the front door and down to the street.

The thunder of hooves greeted them. Cyn tried to see who rode those horses, but from her position upside down, it was difficult.

"Who the hell are they?" the Wolf demanded. "Hurry, we must leave. There are too many of them!" His voice sounded desperate now.

She was jostled as they ran, but the sound of breaking glass stopped them. Cyn was dropped to the ground at the loud roar. Looking up, she saw Leo climbing down the roof.

The thunder of hooves was getting closer. Someone was coming to save them; she was sure of it.

"Shoot him," the Wolf called.

Cyn leaped to her feet at the words and ran at the man with the gun now pointed toward Leo .

"No!" she screamed, launching herself at him.

The gun discharged, and she felt a burning feeling in her arm, and then she was falling.

"Cyn!" she heard Leo roar.

"I-I'm all right," she said, staggering back to her feet.

The horses arrived, and all hell broke loose. She saw Leo's uncle and Alex. Also Gray, his cousin, and Ellen. How had they all known to come?

She stayed upright even though her arm was throbbing with searing pain. Leo ran at the Wolf, swinging his cane. The fight was deadly, as the man still held his knife. Leo lashed out with his foot, and the knife flew free. He then launched himself at the man.

Easing around the fight, Cyn made it to the steps, as she would only be in the way and useless in her current state. She heard footsteps behind her.

"Dear Lord, you are bleeding, my lady," Mary said, crouching beside her.

"H-how did you get out?"

"Clara picked the lock." Cyn's arm was then raised, and she yelped at the pain. "I need to see," Mary said.

"Soon. Wh-what is happening?" She tried to focus, but her head felt light.

"Lord Seddon is punching the Wolf. Good shot, my lord!" Mary called.

"The others, who I don't know, are doing well too. The Baddon Boys are being subdued," Clara said, clapping.

Cyn heard thuds as fists met flesh.

"It's over," Clara said finally, what felt like a long time later. "We won." As that meant her side, Cyn knew relief. Leo was alive and safe, as were Mary and Clara.

"Lewis?" she whispered.

"I'll find him," Clara said.

"Cyn!" Leo appeared before her .

"I-I am all right," she whispered, looking up at him. His expression was savage. "It's just my arm."

He didn't acknowledge her, as he was busy taking off his coat and wrapping it around her. She then heard a ripping sound as he tore open her sleeve.

"Get me something to bind it," he ordered. "And any spirits also."

"Here." A flask appeared, and Cyn thought a mouthful of that would be most welcome about now.

"Has it gone through?" Alex asked.

"Yes," Leo gritted out.

"I am quite w-well." But that was a lie. She was feeling odd now. Almost detached.

"Be quiet. You are not quite well and are bleeding excessively," Leo snapped.

"Oh dear, am I?"

"Don't look."

"I'm not bothered by blood," Cyn said. Her voice sounded weak and distant.

"I am when it's yours."

"Let me look," Uncle Bram said.

"He shot her, Uncle." She heard the desperation in Leo's words.

"I am not b-bothered by blood," Cyn whispered again.

"I found Lewis. He is all right, just a bit groggy," Clara called.

"This will hurt, Cyn," Leo said.

"What?" She looked down at her arm and watched as he poured what was in the flask directly on the bullet wound. Cyn shrieked as fire raced down her arm.

"We need to stave off infection," Leo said.

She squeezed her eyes shut as he bandaged her arm, fighting back the tears that wanted to leak out of her eyes. The pain was terrible. "Flask," she rasped .

Bramstone held it up to her lips. "Just a little now, Cyn. Sips, that's it. Good girl."

"Thank you."

His smile was so gentle, it made her cry. "I would have liked an uncle like you."

"Well now, how handy that soon you will have one, sweetheart." Leo's uncle then leaned down and kissed her cheek softly. "It will be all right now, Cyn. We'll look after you and your children."

She sobbed then. Deep sobs coming from that place inside her that wanted to be loved.

"Stop making the woman I love weep, Uncle," Leo said. "It is done now, Cyn." And then he was there, kneeling in front of her. His worried brown eyes were inches from hers.

"You are hurt and sobbing, so I will save the yelling at your reckless actions until you are better," he said gently.

"I-I would be grateful," she whispered. "But my actions were not reckless. I was s-saving you," Cyn hiccupped.

"And got yourself shot by flying like Boudica at a large man with a gun!"

"I thought you weren't yelling at me," Cyn whispered.

"He could have killed you." His hands cupped her face. "Do you understand that? You could have died tonight, and I would have been destined to live a life in hell without you."

"Perhaps you can bare your souls later, as she needs attention, and we will be once again waking Mr. Greedy from his beauty sleep," Uncle Bram said.

Leo kissed her softly and then lifted her into his arms. Minutes later, she was on a horse before him. His arms held her close.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too."

"But I'm still angry with you."

Her shoulder burned, and her children didn't know him. In fact, there was a great deal of uncertainty in her life. But right now, she just wanted to close her eyes and enjoy being held by Leo, which was exactly what she did.

She woke when he carried her into the house. Not her house, but his uncle's. She was stripped to her chemise and placed on a soft bed, which felt wonderful.

Warm water was then brought, and she was washed, which was not wonderful, as it hurt her arm. Leo stayed at her side the entire time; it was no matter that his aunt had tried to get him out of the room.

He held her hand, and his eyes stayed on her face the entire time. When she winced in pain, he leaned over her and kissed her gently, telling her how brave she was, and when she was well, he would yell at her some more.

"I'm here," a jolly voice said. She knew that voice. It was Mr. Greedy. "Well now, what have you done to yourself, my lady?" he said, appearing above her. "Let me see that arm, but first, I'll give you something for the pain."

Foul-tasting liquid was held up to her nose, and she gagged. Leo held her nose until she opened her mouth, and Mr. Greedy poured it in.

"Was that n-necessary?" Cyn gasped as the liquid burned down her throat.

"I simply expedited matters," he said. "It works with my siblings, so I thought it would with you."

Leo held her arm still as Mr. Greedy poured something that felt like fire onto it, and then he stitched the bullet hole together. Finally, her torment was over. The old man then patted her cheek and said he would be back tomorrow.

Cyn closed her eyes and fell into an exhausted sleep. When she woke, the sun was filtering through the curtain.

"You're awake." Leo was in the doorway, looking tired and rumpled, carrying a tray. He lowered it to the side table. "How do you feel?"

"Sore," she croaked. He helped her up and then gave her a drink, which she gulped down.

"I sent word to your household, alerting them to what happened," Leo said, sitting in the seat beside her bed. "The Wolf is in a cell, as are his henchmen. Everyone at the Phoenix Agency is in high spirits and, as we speak, moving back into it."

"Thank you."

"I nearly lost you," he said slowly. "And I realized that to ensure that doesn't happen again, I will need to live at your side, Cyn." He took the hand she held out to him in both of his and kissed her fingers.

"I'm all right, Leo."

"I know, but I want to say something."

She nodded.

"I didn't ask you properly last time. The young fool that I was left it until it was too late. Had I asked you to marry me sooner, perhaps I would have gone through what I did with you at my side."

"No." She touched his lips. "We needed to change and grow, no matter how much that has hurt us in different ways."

"Will you marry me, Cyn? Be my love and my life. I want to help you raise your children and be a family with them and you."

"You don't know my children," she said.

"I will get to know them and love them as you do. Marry me, Cyn."

"Yes," she whispered, reaching for happiness. "Yes, please."

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