“And I will accept your promise of his return as proof enough. What do you know of Paul Wilmore?”
Once more, Sutton sneered. “That he is a son of a whore and ought to be beaten to death with a sack of his own shit.”
Well. That was certainly…honesty. Devil could work with that.
“What if I were to tell you I know far more about him? That he is the man who is behind not only the fires at your hell but The Devil’s Spawn as well, and that he has been paying men to cheat at our hells, steal from our patrons, and shoot at innocent ladies?”
“I would tell you no lady is innocent,” Sutton said, his countenance guarded. “But then I would also tell you I want to know more. And I want evidence that what you say is true.”
“I have one of his men,” Devil said. “He will tell the tale better than I can, if you will but see him.”
After he had returned Evie to her chamber that morning, he had been restless, unable to sleep. Despite the fact he had managed no slumber at all, his body had reached the point where his lack of rest no longer mattered. When he had discovered the truth about Paul Wilmore the night before, he had been elated. And then, when he had comprehended the full extent of the sins the bastard had committed, he had been outraged. His fury had taken him to the matches Wilmore held.
His opponent had been no match for Devil’s fury. He had beaten him to the point of unconsciousness, and then he had made certain he had learned everything there was to know about Wilmore. Including the efforts he had recently been taking to undermine both the Winters and the Suttons. Devil had dragged the bastard back to The Devil’s Spawn himself, where he had been under guard until bringing the man to Jasper Sutton so he could play the bird and sing.
Like a man possessed, Devil had returned to the townhome expecting to formulate his strategy. Instead, Evie had been awaiting him. But after her desires had been slaked, there had been no sleep for Devil. No rest. There had only been the burning urge to do what he must. To sever ties with Evie and see that Wilmore got what he deserved, whilst leaving Evie forever safe.
As safe as she could be.
But time and distance from Dom, Devil, and the rest of the East End Winters would give her that. Especially after she became Lady Denton.
At the notion, he bit his lip so hard, the metallic tang of blood invaded his mouth. Christ, he had wounded himself.
At long last, Jasper Sutton gave a short, jerky nod of approval. “Bring him to me.”
It was only then Devil realized he had been holding his breath.
He inhaled, the rush of air making his lungs burn. It was the most he had felt since leaving Evie for good earlier that morning.
Chapter Eleven
In the end, Evie wrote Lord Denton a letter, crying off.
It was not the manner in which she had intended to deliver the news of her change of heart. However, Addy was adamant that it remained unsafe for Evie to traipse about London. Seeking Denton out was impossible and scandalous, and as he believed her rusticating in the countryside in aid to her mother and grandmother, her sudden reappearance would spark confusion and, with it, the resulting wagging of tongues.
Addy had proven the voice of reason, urging Evie to accept Blade Winter’s protection and traveling with him to The Devil’s Spawn. In veils, of course. No one must recognize her once she arrived, were she to be observed by any of the lords who patronized Addy’s husband’s establishment.
And so it was that she found herself being transported to a gaming hell in the East End in the midst of the day, accompanied by a man named after a weapon.
Blade Winter was quiet, seated opposite her, idly toying with a dagger that appeared terrifically sharp. And yet, he ran his thumb over its edge as if it could do him no harm.
“Is Blade your true Christian name?” she asked at last, curious, and also seeking some distraction.
Her heart and mind were at war. And she was terrified Theo would reject her. That he would once more push her away as thoroughly as he had on nearly every occasion they had been alone. Every occasion save last night, of course. The reminder made her belly clench and