Page 89 of The Duchess He Couldn’t Resist

He quickly assessed the situation. There were twelve of Johnny’s men strategically scattered around the room. The room itself was open, with no hidden areas, but Brandon noticed that there was a door to another room right behind Johnny.

Brandon knew that there would be more men outside or around or even at the top of this building, but he was confident about the Dark Hand, and he knew that staying on course was the only way to secure the success of this mission.

“Come on, Johnny,” Brandon said, somehow having managed to shed all of his gentlemanly behavior. “You don’t want this to escalate because that’s going to cost you.”

“You think your little games are going to cost me more than you?”

Brandon held his ground. He just needed to buy more time for his fellow Fingers to get in position.

“What I do know, Johnny, is that you are cornered,” Brandon dared. “It would take a considerable amount of effort and time, but we both know there is a high chance I could kick you out of these docks.”

Johnny raised an eyebrow, but other than that, there was no other reaction. He seemed overconfident, and Brandon knew that this man had been reigning on the docks for years unchallenged. He was at the top of the food chain for too long and regarded himself as the apex predator in the area.

And yet, it was not only this. There was something in the way that Johnny looked at him that made Brandon uneasy. They had just met, and he expected Johnny to be reading him, trying to find his weaknesses, but Johnny looked at him as if he had already figured him out.

“Lucky for you,” Brandon kept distracting Johnny and his men, “I am a man that values both my resources and my time. I don’t want to waste either, so this little war you are pushing for is ineffective.”

“You’re right,” Johnny said with a terrifying smile. “A war would be completely ineffective. Especially when there are other ways to get the upper hand.”

Brandon felt an uneasy feeling crawling up his spine. Johnny was too sure of something, too confident. And he had the distinct notion that he and his men were stalling. They were waiting for something. They had something up their sleeves.

Brandon decided that they were in too deep to change course now and that he had to show trust to the other Fingers. He threw one glance at Owen, and he could tell that his friend also saw that there was something wrong in this whole situation.

Brandon felt his heart rate quicken, and his mind raced through all the possibilities. His eyes drifted to the door to that back room. Perhaps Johnny had gathered all his forces there and was ready to unleash an attack on them.

This notion made him feel uneasy. Perhaps Johnny was determined to wipe them out, not wanting another gang of smugglers in his area, and he decided to take the drastic way out.

And yet, in front of this threat, all Brandon could think was that he would manage to get out, and he thanked his lucky stars that Marigold was safe at home. Nothing could touch her in the Verdant House. He even chuckled, thinking that Duck would be by Marigold’s side no matter what. All he needed to do now was stay safe, eliminate the threat, and if he got a little wounded, Owen was right. He would enjoy having Marigold play the nurse with him.

A warmth spread to his heart at her thought. It was as if every single moment he had lived with her came to him all at once. The first time he saw her, the night he came to his house, their wedding, the way she melted in his arms, her with dirt on her face, the honey of her eyes and the smoothness of her voice, the tenderness of her touch, and the naughty gasps.

Standing in front of what was for him the endgame of his life, finally facing his nemesis, all Brandon could think was that he was desperately, irrevocably, deeply in love with his wife, his Marigold. And he realized what was missing from the talk they had last night. It was this confession. He loved her. And he needed to get this over with, so he could run and tell her.

“I am not here to play games, Johnny,” Brandon said with renewed determination. “I am here to make a deal. So, are you ready to discuss?”

“In any good negotiation,” Johnny said, tilting his head, “one must have something of leverage so that he can claim a higher price.”

Brandon tightened his jaw. It was plain for anyone to see, Johnny was stalling. The trap was closing in on them.

“I don’t mind saying,” Johnny leaned forward, his elbows on the table, “in our case, I happen to have the better leverage.”

Brandon frowned as he tried to read Johnny’s look.

“I am sure you will soon agree with me,” Johnny smiled wickedly.

Brandon knew in that moment there was something afoot that was dangerous, but he didn’t know what.

CHAPTER 27

WELL-LAID TRAPS

A few hours before…

Marigold barely had any time to react when Donny grabbed her. She didn’t even have time to question how she happened upon this man on this side of the city. Something was not right.

“Hold still, little rabbit,” Donny said, and one of his goons handed him rope.

“I will not.” She decided to fight.