Page 4 of Devil in Her Details

Dagger polished the steel harder, rage once again exploding throughout his body. Wringing that arse Deveraux’s neck would be a kindness.

Reaper reached over and nudged one blade askew with a finger. “Are you listening to me? I have someone to help you.”

Dagger paused to glare at his brother, nudging the blade back into formation without breaking eye contact. “Don’t touch my blades if you value your fingers.”

Reaper lifted his hands in mock surrender and sank back into the chair, entirely unbothered. “Just vying for your attention.”

Bloody annoying. But his brother wouldn’t stop until he’d said his piece. Dagger returned to his work, drawing the cloth along the blade with slow strokes. “Speak, then. Who is this man you are so determined to inflict on me?”

“A woman, not a man.”

Dagger scowled. “You do not want to test me today.”

Reaper tipped forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “I’m not testing you, frère. I heard about a new milliner’s shop opening on North Street, and the little bird in charge takes on interesting commissions.”

“No.”

His brother chuckled. “Not curious about these commissions?”

“It’s a milliner’s shop. Why the hell would I be curious?”

“Because a good chunk of her clients are men.”

Dagger lifted his gaze to Reaper’s shining ones. “We steer clear of North Street and that side of town unless we have to.”

“In other words,” Reaper drawled, “what the bloody hell was I doing there?”

Dagger lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. “Since you brought it up.”

“What can I say? Our enemies are cowering in those places we do not tread. And I am an expert at invisibility.”

“That’s bloody impossible, and you know it. No one is truly invisible. How do you even know about this shop?”

“Ah, well, I’m keeping my ear very close to the ground. That means building up my friendships in all areas of Brighton, even the Pavilion.”

This reckless fool. “Stay away from the bloody Pavilion.” The last thing they needed was unwanted attention that led to inquiries.

Reaper threw his head back and laughed. “I’m teasing, frère. You recall The Peregrine?”

Who among them didn’t? “Deveraux’s inn. The one we seized after his betrayal.”

“The very one. A couple is residing there. The wife is commissioning something decidedly female for her husband.”

Dagger arched a brow. “You are eavesdropping now.”

“I’m always eavesdropping, frère.” Reaper flashed his teeth. “You always learn the most interesting things.”

“I don’t see how a woman making things for men has anything to do with me. Would she even be able to create what I want? If nothing else, I’d draw attention to myself.”

His brother nodded thoughtfully. “I did mention they are staying at Peregrine’s.”

“You did.”

A go-ahead-and-guess brow lifted.

“I can’t read bloody minds, Reaper. What am I missing?”

“The couple are nobs. An earl and his countess. Peregrine’s is not the sort of place attracts people of their ilk.”