The Runner's Enticement (Men of Circumstance Book 2)

by Addie Jo Ryleigh

“We must stop meeting like this.”

  Anna couldn’t decide what was worse; Mr. Rollins’ unsavory tone or his general off-putting appearance. Though it hardly mattered since there was nothing she could do about either.

  Let me help you.

  Of course Nate’s words had to haunt her, now when she was once again about to betray her father and surrender another piece of his revered collection. The man couldn’t leave her in peace, even in her mind.

  “What do you have for me this time? I hope it is enough to cover the current debt. I’d hate for you to lose your precious school.”

  Mr. Rollins’ voice cut through the darkness. No longer attempting to be a gentleman, his evilness was open for all the world to see. Unfortunately, he currently directed it at her.

  Not about to cower, she kept her voice strong. “It is.”

  “I will be the judge of that. Let me see what you have.”

  With only the faint moonlight, the small item she held in her hand didn’t look like much. But Anna knew all of her father’s pieces held a wealth of value.

  Instead of removing it from her hand, Mr. Rollins snatched her wrist with his icy fingers and pulled it close for his inspection. In light of his bold behavior, she was glad she’d taken the extra risk of discovery and set their meeting place so close to the house. Doing some detective work of her own, she knew Nate had retired for the evening and currently all of his men were positioned on the other side of the house.

  It had taken her two nights to work out the timing of their rounds. In the end, the sleepless nights had been worth it.

  Mr. Rollins’ thumb slid along the inside of her wrist and under the cuff of her sleeve. Knowing he waited for her reaction, Anna squelched the wave of repulsion and managed to suppress her flinch. She needed to be done with this before Nate’s men changed post.

  “Are you satisfied?” she ground out the question between her teeth.

  “Lady Annabel, you’ll know when I’m satisfied.”

  Anna would rather have ants crawling over her body than the disgust of his words. Before she could wrestle her hand back, he gave a loud sigh, captured the trinket in his free hand, and released her.

  “This will appease me for now. But I’m growing tired of our deal and I’m calling in the debt.”

  Blood rushed from Anna’s head and she swayed on her feet. No, this can’t be happening!

  “You promised if I kept current on payments, I’d have adequate time to pay off the debt.”

  “That was before I had a Runner chase after me.”

  Nate. She ought to have known. She should be infuriated but with her current level of despair, she couldn’t summon the emotion.

  Mr. Rollins didn’t give her the chance to argue. “We knew how this was going to end. Even if I allow you time to make payments, you’ll eventually lose heart in extracting artifacts from your father’s collection and renege on the debt. I’m merely saving us both the time and you the anguish.”

  He was toying with her. She could hear the smile in his voice and knew he gleaned pleasure at her distress. She would not aid his amusement.

  “How much time do I have?”

  A single eyebrow arched. She’d surprised him. Good. He’d had his way for far too long. She might be dying inside but he didn’t need to know that.

  “I commend your pluck but we both know your attempt will be futile.”

  “Then you have nothing to worry about. How much time?”

  “Very well. A fortnight. No more. Since it would take half of your father’s collection to pay off the debt, there will be no point. You might as well cede your school now and save yourself the trouble.”

  She refused to believe he was right . . . even though he was. She couldn’t fail in her attempt to save the school. To make it better. To give it a purpose her mother would be proud of.

  “A fortnight, Mr. Rollins. You will have your payment.”

  Anna didn’t wait for a reply before she escaped to the safety of the house.

  The next day, as Anna sat in her office at the school, Mr. Rollins’ words swam around her head. A fortnight. Fourteen days. She ran her fingers across the same desk her grandmother had occupied—the one her mother should have had the chance to use. Unless she found her fairy godmother, it could all be gone.

  A deep voice invaded her grief. “Something troubling you?”

  Even more annoying than Nate’s initial conceit was the quiet caring he’d developed.

  “Other than you constantly hovering in the corner of my office?”

  After his last attempt to get answers from her, their dealings had been strained. He’d returned to his usual Runner behavior, apparently forgetting he’d felt every curve of her naked body.

  She, on the other hand, couldn’t forget. Not about their night together and not about his gentle request for her to put her trust in him and allow him to help her. At the possibility of being saved, she’d had to bite her tongue to keep from blurting out every last secret she held.

  His chuckle pulsed through her. At least they hadn’t resorted to their usual level of hostility. That would taint the memory of their lovemaking and she wasn’t prepared for that.

  “I see your sunny demeanor has returned,” he remarked.

  “Better to have lost and retrieved than to never have possessed to begin with.”

  A knock on the doorframe kept him from answering, but not before his warm laughter filled the room and wrapped around her.

  Intent on ignoring the feelings he provoked, she turned to the visitor. Shock at seeing Foxmoore standing in the doorway pushed past unwanted thoughts of Nate.

  “Lady Annabel, I hope I am not interrupting.”

  She rose to greet him but Nate spoke first. “I thought you were in London.”

  “I was, but I have some information pertaining to the artifacts. Lawson also wanted me to inform you of some developments regarding another one of your cases.”

  Foxmoore’s voice held a serious note. Whatever the news, it wouldn’t be good. She could only hope it didn’t include her role in the thefts.

  “Let's step outside.” Nate shuffled his friend to the door and Anna saw her opportunity to gain information disappearing.

  “Wait.” Both men stopped at her outburst. “There is no need to leave. Since it involves my father, I have a right to know any developments. As well, I don’t wish for any of the students to overhear you.”

  Silence reigned. Prepared to battle Nate, instead he surprised her when he nodded at Foxmoore before reentering the room. To ensure their privacy, the earl closed the door.

  Without being asked, Foxmoore started to share what he’d discovered as she stood frozen . . . waiting for the axe to fall. “Upon returning to London, I contacted some collectors I’m familiar with. The ones who had the best chance of knowing if anyone was offloading Egyptian artifacts. While none had been involved directly, two heard of some items recently becoming available.”

  She held her breath, certain he would implicate Mr. Rollins and therefore seal her fate.

  “However, no one actually knows who holds the items or what the exact antiquities are. It appears most information is based on rumors and talk.”

  Even as she started to breathe once more, Foxmoore added, “The only useful clue I’ve obtained is whoever has the objects, is residing in this area. Hence my return. If there is any way to learn more, it will have to be done locally.”

  Nate grumbled, “We are nowhere closer to knowing anything useful.”

  For entirely selfish reasons, she failed to see the problem.

  “Not exactly,” Foxmoore answered. “I have eliminated most of the collectors in my circle and any of their acquaintances. Which indicates whoever has the stolen items is new to collecting. Probably someone who
became involved due to opportunity.”

  Anna remained silent as Nate considered the possibility. She could envision his Runner intuition working inside his head.

  “Do you think you will be able to find out anything else? Do you have any local connections?”

  Foxmoore smirked, his enjoyment at playing detective apparent. “I’m an earl, I have connections I don’t even know I have.”

  As Nate smiled at his quasi-in-law, Anna couldn’t help thinking it didn’t bode well for her. It was enough having Nate determined to solve the mystery of the thefts. She couldn’t contend with Foxmoore’s renewed dedication. Between the two, her role in everything was bound to be uncovered.

  Even with her future in question, she couldn’t summon the proper level of distress. Maybe she was ready for full revelation. Particularly since the truth would come out in the matter of a fortnight anyway.

  Thoughts of Mr. Rollins’ unreasonable order scattered her attention and blocked out the conversation occurring before her. What a complete turnabout from the man who’d so gallantly offered to help her save the school. She wondered if this had been his plan all along. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed possible. He had been the one to suggest using her father’s collection when funds from the school had become inadequate to make payment.

  No matter the reason, it made little difference. He held all the power. Beyond stealing most, if not all, of her father’s artifacts, she hadn’t the money to pay the debt in full. Wouldn’t it be better to admit defeat now and lay her sins at her father’s feet, begging his forgiveness?

  Her stomach twisted at the realization she wasn’t ready to surrender yet. She wasn’t prepared to sever her relationship with her father.

  “About that other matter—”

  Anna’s mind registered Foxmoore’s words when he shared a questioning look between Nate and her. Whatever the other news, he seemed hesitant about speaking further in her company.

  Nate took a moment as if weighing the options. How bad could his other cases be? Was there truly something she couldn’t be privy to? After all, she didn’t know much about his job.

  Her lack of insight left her wanting to learn more. Nate’s acquiescing nod to Foxmoore made her breathe a sigh of relief.

  Even with Nate’s consent, Foxmoore appeared hesitant when he continued. “Lawson wanted me to inform you that The Viper escaped.”

  The sentence held no meaning for Anna but the color draining from Nate’s face spoke for itself. Whoever The Viper was and whatever his escape meant worried him.

  With Nate at an obvious loss for words, the earl continued, “He was awaiting his hanging at Newgate when he disappeared from the prison.” Foxmoore pinned his eyes on Nate and Anna suspected there was more to the story. “In his place they found the body of Mr. Johnstone.”

  She hadn’t thought it possible but Nate grew stiller, the only movement the tic of his jaw under its light stubble.

  “Since the two hadn’t been housed together at the prison, Lawson felt it more than a coincidence your latest capture had disappeared and the body of the man who’d blackmailed your brother, and inadvertently arranged my sister’s kidnapping, appeared. What link there is remains a mystery but there is no mistaking the possible implication.”

  Nate’s eyes narrowed. As the lines of his body turned rigid, she watched him take control. “My brother must be informed.”

  She thought it impossible but somehow Foxmoore seemed more hesitant, though he nonetheless replied, “He already knows. He immediately removed Lizzy and the children to Frenton. Lawson has extra men guarding the estate. Your brother won’t allow anything to happen to them.”

  “He knows everything?” Nate asked tentatively.

  Foxmoore nodded. A deep quiet settled over Nate and the room. Unsure what was happening or what he was feeling, she found herself longing to go to him and offer some kind of comfort.

  Following the conversation was a mystery in itself. One too difficult to unravel. Why was Nate so concerned with his brother becoming aware of the situation? Certain he had forgotten she remained in the room and afraid he would dismiss her if reminded, she kept silent.

  Foxmoore’s voice cut into the quiet. “It isn’t Gabe who Lawson is worried about. Frankly, neither am I.”

  There was no mistaking the knowing looking Foxmoore sent Nate. They thought Nate to be in danger. Her chest squeezed at the possibility. Somewhere between him being an overbearing guard and then becoming a spontaneous but sensual lover, she’d come to care for him.

  Drat. As if she didn’t have enough to contend with. Now she had to find the time to deal with unwanted feelings for the very man who would probably be transporting her to prison within a fortnight, the accusation of ‘thief’ looming over her. Perhaps sooner, if Foxmoore managed to track Mr. Rollins.

  “If The Viper is free, no one is safe. The man is an unrepentant killer. He’ll allow no one to stand in his way,” Nate said through gritted teeth. “Gabe should have taken Elizabeth and the children to the continent. Even if Gabe’s blackmailer is somehow responsible for the madman’s escape, I have it on good authority Gabe is no longer the only target.”

  Foxmoore flicked his eyes to her before returning to Nate. “Perhaps we should save this conversation for later.”

  Oh, no. She couldn’t miss the rest. The more they talked the less she understood but for some reason, she desired to know everything. To understand what danger Nate was in.

  Quickly she spoke up. “Truly, Foxmoore, there is no need. I can handle whatever it is. If danger is about to knock on my father’s door, I think I should be prepared.”

  As if reminded of her existence, Nate turned toward her. Anna sucked in a breath at the intense blue eyes peering at her. Since day one she’d seen many facets of Nathaniel Frederickson. Never had she witnessed the level of concern he now directed her way. Their night together notwithstanding, it was as if caring was now mixed with his aversion to her.

  Stunned by what it meant, she lost the ability to object when Nate severed all talks of the mysterious Viper and Nate’s possible endangerment.

  With nothing else to discuss, Foxmoore took his leave after promising to report back to Nate within a few days.

  Alone with Nate and her newly discovered feelings, she didn’t know how to revert back to the way things had been left between them. She’d experienced less awkwardness facing him after their night together.

  Thankfully, Nate seemed distracted with his own thoughts and failed to see her inner turmoil—despite her suspecting it was displayed across her face. As she remained standing behind the desk, he used the available room to pace. She didn’t think he realized his restless shifting.

  She took the opportunity to study him, comparing the man before her to the man who had so easily dismissed her upon their introduction.

  As before, he was impossibly handsome. Though ‘handsome’ should be reserved for someone not as striking and thrilling as Nate. Someone less arousing. His appearance was more sensual and tempting.

  His eyes, when given the opportunity, could flash from charming to inviting. The ever present shadow of a beard remained a slightly deeper color than the shorter than fashionable hair on his head.

  But now, as he continued to tread the floor, the arrogant man who’d called her an overindulged, spoiled brat had vanished. Instead, his brow crinkled as he battled some manner of inner demon. She doubted it was his safety that concerned him.

  Observing his restlessness after Foxmoore’s revelations, she sensed Nate needed to act. Staying with her at the school where his actions were limited to sitting and waiting did him no good.

  She’d take pity on him. “I’m ready to leave.”

  At least he’d stopped wearing out the floor with his incessant pacing, but when he turned her way, his eyes were
vacant as if still distracted, his mind locked on something.

  For the life of her, she didn’t know to reach him.

  Chapter 25

  “What do you want us to do?” Grant asked.

  Nate studied the men gathered around him. He often worked alone but when situations called for someone to have his back, he never thought twice about placing his life in any of their hands. They’d been through a lot together and it pained him to carry the news of Jarvis’ escape. Tracking the country’s deadliest killer—and potentially becoming his next victim—wasn’t something any Runner longed for.

  Perhaps the first time the thrill of the chase might have been enticing enough to overlook the possibility of death. Certainly not the second, and what Nate asked of his men was precisely that.

  Knowing each of them stared at him with nothing but dedication to the job hit Nate in the chest. Especially since everyone standing before him, himself included, knew The Viper had placed a target on Nate’s back with his parting words the night of his arrest. And this time it would be Jarvis tracking him.

  “From what Foxmoore shared and other evidence, I have a feeling The Viper is no longer working alone.” Nate had struggled with telling his men about the blackmail letters and threats to Anna. As of now, only he knew Gabe’s blackmailer had never been Johnstone. After the solicitor’s death coincided with Jarvis’ escape, Lawson probably had his suspicions. None Nate wanted confirmed, though. Until he could verify a few things, he’d keep the information to himself.

  “Some things will need to change. First, I want each of you to understand what you will be undertaking. I would never question your dedication to the force. But now, instead of us hunting a killer, the killer will be hunting us. Lawson will have men tracking his movements so we can prepare, but outside of that, we are on our own. If not for believing Brodford, and his daughter, are in danger and need our protection, I’d have us leave and draw Jarvis away.”