Free Viscount of Vice by Shana Galen Page B

said now. “I didn’t believe it myself, but Derring was convincing. And now that I see you for myself, there’s no doubt.”
    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 man—a man who had abducted Ravenscroft’s sister—to the Royal Crescent. Nor could he leave the man here. Now that he’d found Robert, he was not parting with him. “This isn’t over,” Flynn said. “You’re coming with me.”
    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.
    â€œSatin,” Robbie breathed.
    â€œAm I interrupting?” the man in front asked. “You didn’t send word your guests had arrived, Robbie.” He reached a dirty paw for Emma. “Such pretty company too.”
    Emma shrank back, and Flynn pulled her closer. “We were just leaving.”
    â€œWere you now?” Satin asked with a crooked smile. His teeth were yellowed, and bits of food were stuck between them. He met Flynn’s gaze directly, and Flynn noted one of the man’s eyes was blue and one green. “I don’t think so.”
    â€œI think maybe we ought to let them go, Satin,” Robbie said, spreading his hands in an appeasing gesture. “Keeping them is dangerous.”
    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. “When I want your opinion, I’ll ask.”
    Flynn started for the door, propelling the wooden Emma with him, but the two men blocked their way. “Go ahead and shoot,” one said, eyeing Flynn’s pistol. “Ye can’t kill all of us.” 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 man’s outstretched hand and hoped he hadn’t made a mistake.
    â€œThere now,” Satin said from the other end of the room, where he kept Robbie pinned to the wall. Robbie’s face was turning an alarming shade of purple. “You see, Robbie, your brother can be reasonable. And I’m going to let him and your lady friend go free, too, but first I have a job for you.”
    Robbie’s gaze met Flynn’s, and in it there was regret and apology. “And if I do the job, you’ll let them go?”
    â€œOf course.” Satin turned to his thugs. “Boys, I want a word alone with Robbie. Take them two to their temporary accommodations.”
    The thug who hadn’t yet spoken said, “Where’s that?”
    â€œThe flash ken, you numskull,” the other thug told him, smacking him on the back of the head. “Take her”—he indicated Emma—“and I’ll make sure this one don’t give us no trouble.”
    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 she’d been frightened, because he’d 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