Chapter 11
Simon found it difficult to breathe. Bile rose in the back of his throat. They had failed. De Roux had taken Belle and he’d do unspeakable things to her—was likely already doing those things. The images his mind conjured terrified him, numbed him. Somewhere, deep in the back of his awareness, a voice admonished him that it was not the time to dwell on such things, that he had to stay strong and find her. No matter what.
“Simon, we will find her.”
His expression blank, Simon stared at his sister.
They had all failed her; she had believed herself safe under their protection. She’d placed so much trust in these pair of brothers, so much trust in them all.
Simon looked away way from them, not able to stomach their presence. He wanted to lash out at someone, but the blame did not only lay with Shaw. He should have fought harder against them. The plan had not been solid enough. They’d not taken into account that De Roux might retaliate so swiftly, that he might find a way to avert the trap. All of them were at fault. The bastard had been one step ahead of them since the start.
Simon leaned against the nearest building when nausea overtook him. In short order, he cast up his accounts. A gentle hand attempted to comfort him, patting his back. By nature, he wasn’t a mean person, but hewouldmake it his personal mission to destroy Derek Shaw’s life if they did not find Belle in time.
The sound of hooves drawing closer drew his focus away from his churning stomach and to an approaching rider. His released a stifling groan.
Grey stopped a few paces away.
He took in Simon, crouched against the wall, probably deathly pale and Shaw standing guard before his steely gaze landed on his wife’s tear-streaked face.
Simon watched his Grey’s mouth pressed into a hard line before he jumped from his horse. Of course, Grey had forbidden Evelyn to get involved.
Grey walked over to Simon. “We will get her back,” he murmured, then cast a murderous glance Shaw’s way. “Won’t we, Shaw?”
Derek nodded.
“Get St. Aldwyn,” Grey ordered.
“There is no time for this,” Derek bit out. “We must find my brother; he followed them.”
“And St. Aldwyn is the only one who can snap Westfield out of his shock,” Grey snapped back.
Still hunched over, Simon rather took offense to that, but perhaps Grey had a point. After all, why wasn’t he speaking? It was as if his tongue had seized all movement.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Shaw hesitate, and in that moment, lucidity reigned. Simon turned a murderous glare on Derek Shaw. “I told you not to involve her. If anything happens to her, I will skin you.”
Derek only nodded, his eyes grim. “If Lady Belle dies, I will let you.” Then he turned and left, taking Grey’s horse.
A few minutes later a carriage rolled up and Grey directed Evelyn toward it, depositing her inside before he came back for Simon, who followed him on numb limbs.
“Matthew,” his sister started to stay to Grey.
“I told you not to get involved; it’s too dangerous,” Grey’s soft voice, harsh with emotion, made Simon happyhewasn’t married to Grey.
“Belle is my best friend.”
Belle. Was she even still alive?
Grey’s foul curse snapped Simon’s head up. He cast a frown at his friend.
“You are carrying my child, Evelyn. I cannot believe you’d endanger him or her.”
“I am not!”
Simon’s ears perked up, though his thoughts were still lost in misery. Trust his sister not to realize she was with child.
“Yes, Evelyn, you are. Your body has started to round and you’re devouring everything in sight. That is what happens when you are expecting.”
Evelyn’s mouth formed a silent “O” and she glanced down at her figure, patting at her middle before groping her own breasts, no doubt trying to feel the roundness her husband was referring to.
