Page 48 of A Raven Revived

“But even still, why would he tell you where she is?”

“We won’t just ask nicely, Fitz.” Ash’s voice turned dangerous. “No one hurts someone under my protection, and Daisy is still very much under my protection.”

“Why don’t we just go tonight, then?”

Ash shook his head. “We’re only going to get one shot at this, Fitz. Litchfield is a powerful man. There can be no half measures in whatever we do.”

Fitz scrubbed his hands over his face. “I have to help her, Ash. How am I supposed to just wait around for Patrick to arrive?”

“It won’t be easy. But I need your word that you’re not going to try to do something on your own.”

He nodded, but he didn’t want to sit around doing nothing while Daisy was undoubtedly suffering.

“I need to hear the words, Fitz.”

He sighed. “You have my word, Ash. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t believe you would know how to handle this.”

“Good. Now go have a drink or two to calm your nerves, but not too many, you’ll need your wits about you. I’ll send for you when Patrick has arrived.”

Ash came around the desk and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll get her back, Fitz.” All he could do was nod.

Fitz made his way to the tavern and sat in his usual seat. Anderson wasn’t there, but he ordered himself a glass of brandy. He took a sip, but it tasted bitter on his tongue. How could he be sitting on his arse, drinking, while Daisy was probably being put through hell? Fury and guilt rampaged through him. He managed to stop himself from throwing the glass, but only just. His hands curled into fists on top of the table and he closed his eyes. He’d sworn to keep her safe, and instead, he’d hand delivered her to a horrible fate.

“Fitz?”

He opened his eyes to see Anderson standing beside the table.

“What is it, Fitz? What’s happened?”

“Daisy is missing,” he said desperately. “We don’t know for sure, but Ash believes her father has sent her to an asylum.”

Anderson slowly lowered himself into the chair opposite. “How?”

“Because I bloody left her there with him.” Fitz lowered his head and curled his arms over the top as an agonized sob broke from his lips. “I left her there.”

“I meant, how could her father do something like that?”

He raised his head and brushed his worthless tears away. “Is there anything you can do from a legal perspective to help me get her out of wherever he sent her?”

Anderson slowly shook his head. “If her father sent her there, no one else will be able to get her out. If you were married?—”

“Well we’re not!” Fitz interrupted with a shout. He pushed to his feet and stormed out of the tavern before he flipped the whole table. He should have taken her to Gretna Green, but he’d stupidly wanted to give their families a chance to celebrate their nuptials. He really thought her father would come around when he saw that she was alive and well. He’d never before wanted to kill someone, but right now, he would gladly wrap his hands around that man’s neck and squeeze the life out of him.

“Fitz, wait.”

Anderson was trailing along behind him. He had no idea where he was going, he just needed to move.

“Where are you going?” Anderson asked when he eventually caught up to him.

“Somewhere I don’t have someone telling me I won’t be able to get her back.”

Anderson grabbed his shoulder, and he stopped walking. “Don’t do this, Fitz. I’m on your side. I’m your friend.”

Slowly, he turned to face him and nodded. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“Now tell me what’s happening. I was there when she went missing three years ago, remember? I know you aren’t just sitting around drinking and not trying to get her back.”

Fitz sighed and combed his fingers through his hair. “Ash says we’re going to get her back, but we can’t go tonight, and he made me promise not to go by myself.”

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