to be Lord Carmichael, come all the way from England to find her.
Remembering what Clive had said about her assaulting the man, I could only guess she’d been the one to give him the scar across his face. He hadn’t just been hunting her because he’d wanted her… he likely wanted revenge.
“That’s our wife,” Clive said coldly, making Carmichael finally turn to look at us.
His lip curled up in a sneer as he looked us over, clearly unimpressed.
“Then you should be thanking me for taking this whore off your hands.” He barked a short laugh. “Although I shouldn’t be surprised, a harlot like her would end up with two husbands. Apparently, she could only change her ways so far.”
Anger bubbled up in my gut, roiling and seething, and if I could have done so without endangering Sassy, I would have thrown myself at him right then.
“He said, that’s our wife,” I responded, my tone lethal. “Give her back to us, and we’ll let you go quietly and forget your insults to her.”
The lord’s eyes widened with incredulity. “Are you threatening me?”
It had taken him long enough to notice.
12
Sassy
* * *
Voices stirred through the darkness as my throbbing head drew me back to consciousness.
“I admit she’s a good fuck, gentlemen, but she’s hardly worth dying over.”
I recognized that voice, and it filled me with horror and despair. My head throbbed harder, and I fought back a whimper. Maybe if I could fall back into unconsciousness, I’d awaken again to find this was all a dream.
“I’m glad you feel that way.” That was Clive’s rough voice. Clive was here for me? Even though… even though… Anguish filled me as I remembered his anger, his fight with William. That hurt even more than my head did. “Hand her over, and you won’t have to die.”
“Has it escaped your notice that you’re outnumbered?” Lord Carmichael’s voice hardened, and my breath caught in my throat. Oh, God… my husbands were going to be killed, and it was all my fault.
My eyes popped open as I began to struggle against the arms holding me. I was unceremoniously dropped onto the ground, knocking the breath from me. The sight that met my eyes did nothing to make me feel better.
William and Clive were both there, hands on their holsters, glaring daggers at the two men standing in front of me. I could see my husbands through their legs. I glanced up to see Carmichael on my right, glaring at my husbands. Carmichael’s face was horrifically scarred, and I gasped when I saw my handiwork, jerking my gaze away. Twisting my head around, there was another unknown man standing behind me, blocking off any chance of escape.
I peeked at Carmichael again.
No wonder he’d chased me across the ocean and into the west. I had ruined his face and one of his eyes. Likely ruined his chances of a good marriage. How would he have explained such a scar? Most women of the ton would have run screaming at the sight, although there would likely have been those who would hold their noses for his title… though he wouldn’t have wanted to marry any of the latter.
He’d been one of most handsome men in England, and I’d taken that from him. I’d done more than reject him and steal from him—I’d taken away his face.
He was here for revenge.
None of the men looked at me, not even Carmichael, disregarding me as unimportant. They were all focused on William and Clive, who both snorted at Lord Carmichael’s words.
“Last warning,” Clive said, glaring at Lord Carmichael. I clapped my hands over my mouth, not wanting to distract them.
“Kill them,” Lord Carmichael snarled. I screamed as rough fingers grabbed my hair, pulling upward. The pain in my head intensified, my scalp burning, and I lashed out, kicking hard as the sound of gunshots filled the air.
Oh God, they’re dead, and it’s all my fault.
Tears burned my eyes, from more than the pain, and I found Carmichael’s hand in my hair. I grabbed onto him, digging in my nails, kicking and screaming for all I was worth.
I knew he meant to kill me, too, but I wasn’t going to make it easy for him. I felt my foot connect and dug in my nails harder, sinking them into the flesh of his hand, scratching like a hellcat.
I heard him bellow, then felt the blow across my face that left my ears ringing.
Another shout, more gunshots, horses whinnied, and more shouting. I couldn’t take