The man patted his chest. “Right here.”
She let out a shaky breath. “Then let us make the exchange.” They exited the carriage one by one, Oliver offering a hand when it was her turn. She accepted it, not questioning how he only withdrew his hold after they entered The Raging Stag where they’d all first met.
She had hoped never to return here.
However, now that she was here, she steeled herself, and the first thing she saw was the man called Maxen Fury seated at the bar on a stool. Another man, similar in looks, stood behind the counter, leaning over and conversing with the lone occupant. The same smoky scent filled the dusky space, even though not a single cheroot was lit.
Her gaze flicked over the empty tables, landing on a small boy who had looked up when they entered. His eyes lit up when they met hers across the room.
Leo leaped to his feet and rushed over. “Sister!”
All her anxiety melted away with that one exclamation.
The men didn’t stop him, and soon she hugged her brother tightly, not forgetting to shoot a nasty glare at the two men who watched with infuriating indifference.
She grabbed Leo’s cheeks and inspected him. “Are you all right? They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
Leo shook his head furiously. “I’m not hurt.”
What a relief. “Were you very afraid?” Louisa asked her brother, searching his gaze for any sign of terror masked as bravery.
He shook his head again.
Her brows furrowed. “You weren’t?” She stared at him more intently. Dare she believe him? They hadn’t locked him up, and though she hated to admit it, they seemed to have given him most of his freedom.
“No! I knew you and your gardeners would come for me!”
“Honestly, you are hopeless.” She straightened, not forgetting to shoot another glare at the men at the bar for good measure. “This is why I don’t like powerful men, fortune hunters, andcriminals.”
“Can I resent a part of that statement?” Oliver remarked in a low voice from the side.
Louisa, feeling much better now that her brother was back at her side, murmured back, “You’re a duke, aren’t you?”
“And yet I have felt powerless ever since the moment you jabbed a knife at me.”
Helgate cleared his throat. “Is this the time for this?”
Louisa averted her gaze. Probably not.
“You’ve reunited with your brother,” Maxen said in a low drawl. “Are you not going to allow us to reunite with ours?”
Mr. Helgate turned back to the door and to a man who stood there. Louisa hadn’t even noticed him until now. She hadn’t given much thought to the Fury that Mr. Helgate had apprehended, but now, grim satisfaction curled in her breast. That’s right—they had the ledgeranda brother. However, the feeling didn’t last long. Indulging that sort of satisfaction felt very much like she was engaging in the very thing she loathed in powerful people.
She nipped it right in the bud.
A short moment later, he reentered with a lump of man on his shoulder, striding over and unceremoniously dumping the unconscious figure at the feet of his brother.
Dear God, was that Reaper?
The outspoken ruffian had turned into quite a pitiful sight.
Maxen Fury stared at his brother before lifting his hard gaze back at them. “Was this truly necessary?”
“Was it necessary to snatch a young boy from the beach?” Louisa snapped, unable to hold herself back upon hearing that vexing question in that equally vexing tone.
“We treated your brother like royalty,” the man said calmly.
Louisa’s fingers twitched. “Isthisyour castle, then?” she challenged. “You are the ones in the wrong.”
