Dark Deceptions: A Regency and Medieval Collection of Dark Romances(95)

The carriage hadn’t even drawn to a stop when Adam opened the door and leaped to the ground. He faltered but was on his feet in moments and running toward the factory. The three men followed in his wake.

The crack of a gunshot split the mundane street sounds and his body jerked to a stop so suddenly that someone crashed into his back, nearly sending him pitching forward.

The echo of the shot danced around his mind. Stars dotted his vision.

Georgina!

*

Georgina knew particular things with complete certainty. The sun rose every morning. The sun set each evening. Men were driven by avarice and greed.

Adam had walked out on Georgina, abandoning her to Jamie’s evil and, as Jamie tugged her through the empty warehouse, she faced another absolute certainty—her life was forfeit.

Jamie stopped, shoving her down atop a wooden crate. “Sit.”

Then like an evil spirit materializing through the fog, Father appeared. He didn’t so much as utter a greeting, and Georgina knew enough to remain silent and draw as little attention to herself as possible while Jamie and Father conversed.

The occasional name reached her ears. They mentioned France several times and Georgina knew they were plotting their escape. She wasn’t so foolish as to believe they’d so freely talk in front of her. That is, unless they didn’t plan on her being alive much longer.

Georgina used the time they spent in distracted conversation searching for anything with which to arm herself, focusing on survival, because if she didn’t, the hurt of Adam’s abandonment would destroy her faster than a bullet to the heart. Except the thought had crept in and there was no shaking it free.

How easily he’d believed the worst in her. Just like everyone else in her life, he’d only seen her failures and shortcomings—in this case, her greatest crime was the blood in her veins. As much as she loved Adam, as much as she would fight the devil himself for him, she meant nothing to her husband.

“You’ve disappointed me, daughter,” Father called out.

Georgina’s lip curled, and she remained seated, hands folded atop her lap. “That is nothing new, Father.”

He tipped his head in acknowledgement. “Your grandmother died at the hands of those English monsters. They took turns raping her and, even with that, you would betray me with the British. You would marry one of those bastards.”

Pain lanced her heart. “What those men did to your mother was unpardonable, but not all Englishmen are like them. My husband is not like them.”

He roared and made a grab for her, but Jamie stayed his efforts. “You slut.” Her father’s lip peeled back in a snarl, giving him a look of a beast frothing at the mouth. “All these years stealing information and sending it to the British.”

Georgina sucked in a breath and she flicked her gaze about the room in search of escape.

Jamie continued to restrain him. Father fought against his hold but at his age, he was no match for Jamie’s strength. “Do you know what the best part is, daughter?”

She met his gaze. “No, but I suspect you’ll tell me.”

He licked his lips like a dog savoring a tasty morsel. “You aren’t even married to the bastard.”

The ground went out from under her. She shoved herself to her feet. “Liar.”

“You stupid chit.” A black, ugly laugh bubbled past his lips. “You married him before you were twenty without my consent.” He gave a mocking bow. “And I’d sooner send the both of you to the devil than consent to my whore daughter marrying an Englishmen who is trying to destroy the Irish republic.”

Georgina folded her arms across her stomach, every muscle in her body tight with the ugly truth of his words. She’d never been married to Adam. She closed her eyes. How very glad he would be when he found out.

Jamie cried out. “No!”

Georgina’s eyes flew open and her heart froze. Her father leveled his pistol at her breast.

“How does it feel knowing you spread your legs for the enemy, all without the benefit of marriage?”

She’d always known he would eventually kill her but had hoped she would be brave when the time came. A shudder wracked her frame. Then another. And another.

In spite of all the misery she’d known, she would always choose life. She wanted to live, to see Adam one more time, to smell the salty Bristol sea air. She didn’t want to die alone on this warehouse floor. She held out a hand. “Please, Father.”

He slapped her across the cheek.

Georgina landed hard on her knees. Blood trickled from the corner of her split lip. She scrambled away, attempting to put distance between them.

Father laughed and kicked her in the small of her back.

Georgina’s body screamed with agony. She bit down hard on the inside of her cheek refusing to beg this man for mercy.

Adam. God. Anyone.

Father pressed the pistol against her temple.

She closed her eyes, scenes playing out in her mind like the one Drury Lane production she’d seen in her life: Adam twirling her about his cell. Around the ballroom. Adam laying her tenderly on the bed, his eyes and body for her alone.

The crack of a gunshot filled her ears.

She touched her fingers to her head. There was no pain. Or blood.

Her eyes flew open.

The gun slipped from Father’s fingers as he crumpled to the floor. Georgina’s gaze fixed on the small round hole in his head.