Dueling With the Duke (Brotherhood of the Sword) by Robyn DeHart Page A

closet.
    “Where is the girl?” a man asked, his voice deep and gravelly.
    The interruption gave Gabe enough impetus to end their kiss.
    “I do not know.” It was Mr. Hazleton who had replied. This was obviously the other meeting he’d mentioned. It seemed logical that Isabel was the girl in question.
    “What do you mean you do not know? What happened to her?” the deep voice asked, a voice that Gabe recognized, though he could not put a name or face to it. He knew he’d heard it before, likely on more than one occasion.
    “Her aunt came and retrieved her. I believe for her uncle’s funeral.”
    Lilith gasped. Gabe put his hand to her mouth to quiet her.
    “We’ve already checked Thornton’s townhome in London. The girl was nowhere to be found. We have paid you quite handsomely to keep the girl here so we could know her precise location. Why did you not prevent the Lady Thornton from removing her niece?”
    “I was not here when she came to retrieve her,” Hazleton said.
    “That is unacceptable,” the man said.
    “Oh, please, sir, don’t. I have a family.”
    “You should have thought about that before.” Then a gunshot.
    Lilith’s eyes widened. Gabe’s hand still rested against her mouth and muffled the shriek she released.
    Hazleton coughed and sputtered. “Why?” he asked.
    “Not only are you an exceptionally annoying man, but I cannot afford to have you alive and able to tell people of my plans.”
    Another cough and then silence.
    Several moments passed before she looked up at him, grabbed his hand to remove it, and whispered, “You must help me keep Isabel safe.”
    “Yes, of course,” he said.
    “Promise me.”
    “Yes, I promise,” he found himself saying, but he couldn’t help wondering if he was any different from Hazleton, manipulated and controlled with the promise of Lilith’s touch.
    …
    “What do we do now?” Lilith whispered after they’d waited for several moments. “Should we not try to help Mr. Hazleton?”
    “He’s dead, Lilith. There is nothing we can do.”
    She reached for the door, but Gabriel’s hand stopped her.
    “You wait here,” he said.
    “Are you mad? I’m not leaving your side!” she hissed.
    “Lilith, I will not put you in danger. I must see if I can find that man, bring him into custody.”
    She grabbed both of his hands. “Please don’t leave me in here alone.”
    He released a breath, and his shoulders sagged. “You stay behind me.” He pulled a pistol out of the back of his trousers.
    Her heart thundered, but she nodded in agreement. Gabriel opened the door to the storage room and peeked outside, and then he opened the door wider. She followed right behind him as he left the storage area. Mr. Hazleton’s body lay behind his desk, his eyes opened wide, but they held no life. A large bloody spot stained the front of his shirt. Lilith stopped, unable to look away.
    “Don’t,” Gabriel said, pulling her closer to him. She allowed herself to melt into the strength of his arms. “There’s nothing to be done for him now.”
    They moved silently through the rest of the offices. Lilith passed a small stack of books with the note she’d written earlier placed on top. Isabel’s books. She grabbed them and followed Gabriel quickly outside, but the streets were quiet and empty.
    “I recognized his voice. The man who shot Hazleton,” Gabriel said.
    “Who is he?”
    “Recognized as in I’ve heard him speak before,” he said, shaking his head. “I could not place him.”
    “Perhaps it will come to you later,” she said.
    “Perhaps.”
    And then they were in the carriage and on their way back to Ellis’s townhome.
    Gabriel moved from the seat across from her to sit next to her and grabbed her hands. “You’re shaking.”
    She looked down and found her hands trembling. “I’m cold.”
    He rubbed her hands between his, and warmth immediately permeated her skin. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
    “I am, too.” She shook her head