Page 69 of Devil in Her Details

“I know. Their way of going about it is what vexes me.”

“Do they know another way?” Lilly asked, her smile turning rueful when he paused. “You all look like a rough bunch. You could use some finesse in conflict.”

“We don’t do finesse.”

“So I gathered.” Lilly thought for a moment. “Do you want me to send them away? I have my ways, you know.” That earned her half a smile, and the tension that had gathered in her shoulders eased. “Don’t believe me?”

“Believe.”

Her grin widened. “So, they’re afraid that I’ll kidnap you back to London?” she teased, hoping to smooth all the tempestuous lines on his face. “They must be really scared if they came together, and all the way here.”

Dagger sighed and joined her on the bed. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, and stared at nothing in particular. She didn’t know what mad impulse possessed her, but she wanted to reach over and pinch his cheek between her fingers. Just to see what he’d do. Perhaps he’d even smile, though the chances were better that he’d broodily pout. Well, perhaps pout wasn’t right either. How many expressions could she coax from this man? Her curiosity was strong enough to consider taking on the challenge.

“I don’t walk away from missions,” he said after a moment.

“And I am your mission?”

His head turned to her. “Aren’t you? Should have kicked me out if you didn’t want me.”

Hah! “You’re the one who said you’ve set things in motion you can’t take back! You’ve placed yourself firmly into my boat.”

The corner of his lips lifted. “I did do that.”

“All part of the mission, I suppose.” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “I’m starting to get a clearer picture of how you operate.”

“Do tell.”

Lilly thought about her words. “You don’t simply take on a mission, complete it, and you’re done. You become your mission. You become it so fully you couldn’t detach yourself even if you tried. That’s why you can’t detach yourself from me.”

His eyes seemed to burrow their way into her. It was so clear to her, this part of him, but by the look on his face, he’d never recognized this about himself before.

“Then it’s useless,” he said slowly.

Lilly blinked. “What?”

“My brothers wanting me to return. It was useless before, but it’s even more useless now.”

Her words caught in her throat, and she had to avert her gaze to say, “Then what do we do now? Have your brothers move in? I can’t imagine them leaving you behind.”

He shook his head. “They’ve got hard backs. If they want to stay, they can sleep outside.”

Lilly shook her head, chuckling. “Are you ready to return to the drawing room and face them?”

He nodded and rose to his feet. “Thank you.”

She waved his thanks aside, following suit. “We seem to be attached to each other while we sort this Calvington business out. It’s only natural to have each other’s backs.” She jabbed a finger at him before he could open his mouth. “And don’t you dare say it’s more natural than I think! Sometimes allowing people their idle fancies is a kindness.”

A dry chuckle slipped from him. “Noted.”

Lilly gave a nod of approval and beckoned him after her. She opened the door to find Saint leaning against the other side of the wall, his black gaze fixed on them, sliding from her to the man behind her.

Well, that’s my cue to run.

Some confrontations simply weren’t meant to be witnessed.

*

Dagger’s mouth flattened into a hard line even as he forced out a tight breath. Of his brothers, Saint was the most watchful. They were all men of few words, except for Reaper, and perhaps Drake, but this brother was the most selective about what he shared.