said now. âI didnât believe it myself, but Derring was convincing. And now that I see you for myself, thereâs no doubt.â
Flynn nodded. He had to take Lady Emma home. In all the urgency, he had come to Bath without even considering where he would stay. He could stay with his mother, but he could hardly bring this manâa man who had abducted Ravenscroftâs sisterâto the Royal Crescent. Nor could he leave the man here. Now that heâd found Robert, he was not parting with him. âThis isnât over,â Flynn said. âYouâre coming with me.â
The door behind him swung open slowly, and Flynn turned, training his pistol on the three men who filled the door. A large man with long black hair streaming out from under his dirty hat stood in front. His shoulders were broad enough that they would have blocked out the other men if the two of them had not been so tall.
âSatin,â Robbie breathed.
âAm I interrupting?â the man in front asked. âYou didnât send word your guests had arrived, Robbie.â He reached a dirty paw for Emma. âSuch pretty company too.â
Emma shrank back, and Flynn pulled her closer. âWe were just leaving.â
âWere you now?â Satin asked with a crooked smile. His teeth were yellowed, and bits of food were stuck between them. He met Flynnâs gaze directly, and Flynn noted one of the manâs eyes was blue and one green. âI donât think so.â
âI think maybe we ought to let them go, Satin,â Robbie said, spreading his hands in an appeasing gesture. âKeeping them is dangerous.â
The man called Satin moved with lightning quickness for a man of his size. Flynn barely blinked before Satin had Robbie shoved against the wall, a hand at his throat. âWhen I want your opinion, Iâll ask.â
Flynn started for the door, propelling the wooden Emma with him, but the two men blocked their way. âGo ahead and shoot,â one said, eyeing Flynnâs pistol. âYe canât kill all of us.â He held out his hand for the pistol, and Flynn cursed under his breath. He was tempted to shoot one of them and take his chances with the other two, but there was more than himself to think of. As soon as he fought one man, the other would grab Emma. It might be better to wait for another chance.
He slapped the pistol in the manâs outstretched hand and hoped he hadnât made a mistake.
âThere now,â Satin said from the other end of the room, where he kept Robbie pinned to the wall. Robbieâs face was turning an alarming shade of purple. âYou see, Robbie, your brother can be reasonable. And Iâm going to let him and your lady friend go free, too, but first I have a job for you.â
Robbieâs gaze met Flynnâs, and in it there was regret and apology. âAnd if I do the job, youâll let them go?â
âOf course.â Satin turned to his thugs. âBoys, I want a word alone with Robbie. Take them two to their temporary accommodations.â
The thug who hadnât yet spoken said, âWhereâs that?â
âThe flash ken, you numskull,â the other thug told him, smacking him on the back of the head. âTake herââhe indicated Emmaââand Iâll make sure this one donât give us no trouble.â
The first thug yanked Emma away from Flynn, and he had to let her go. He would kill Robbie for this. Kill Robbie and Satin, too, for allowing the man to touch her. As though she heard his thoughts, she turned and gave him a determined stare. He knew sheâd been frightened, because heâd felt the rigidity in her body, but she looked calm and serene. Her gaze told him she trusted him to save them.
He was determined that the faith she had in him would not prove to be misplaced. The thug ushered Emma away from the door, and Flynn followed with a little coaxing from the thug