Page 120 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
Donald cocked his head at Alexander. “Oh, Your Grace, I think you will find I already have gotten away with it.”
A blade glinted in the lamplight that lit up the pier. Donald wielded a knife through the air, arching it towards Alexander—towards Madeleine.
“Madeleine, get back!” Alexander cried out and dived for the other man.
They fell together, the wooden planks beneath them of the pier groaning.
Donald got to his feet first as Alexander tried to avoid the frantic movements of Donald’s knife. He immediately had his back to the street, facing the end of the pier.
Alexander quickly stood and snatched Donald’s wrist in a vice. The man cried out, dropping the knife immediately.
Before Alexander could sweep it up, Donald lunged for him. “I owe you a few blows, do I not?”
“Do not try to fight me, Donald. You will lose.”
“I do not think I will.”
Alexander backed away from Donald, trying to gain distance should the man make any sudden movements. The planks groaned, and Alexander soon felt a wooden barrier pressing into his back. He was at the edge of the pier.
He tried to shove off, away from it, but Donald was there, and a fist slammed into Alexander’s face. He groaned and composed himself quickly.
“I have heard you have grown soft in your marriage,” Donald taunted. “Where is that fighting spirit, Your Grace?”
“Did you not receive a hard enough beating last week?” Alexander spat.
His fist aimed for Donald’s mouth but caught him in the jaw instead. Donald’s head snapped sideways as he stumbled.
Alexander took the reeling moment to ensure that Madeleine was still at the other end. She had a hand clasped over her mouth.
Alexander nodded at her—they were fine; she was safe. This would all be over soon.
But Donald came at him again, shouting his rage, as he drove his fingers into Alexander’s throat, trying to choke him.
Alexander struggled against it, fighting back as he punched and kicked out, landing blows wherever he could. Donald grunted but didn’t let up.
With the grip on Alexander’s throat, Donald shoved at him with all his might. With a start, Alexander realized he was trying to push him into the crashing water below.
He only glared back at the older man, forcing him back. Alexander heard the bones in Donald’s wrist crack with the pressure he gripped the hold on his neck with. He forced Donald off him and instead slammed him into the railing. It cracked beneath the force. Alexander held him there with an iron grip.
“You are finished, Donald. You have nothing left.”
Donald’s eyes widened, panic flashing through them as if he realized Alexander spoke the truth. “I—no.”
The snarl came out in a bid of desperation as he tried to jerk to the sound, attempting to pull Alexander with him.
Their joint force snapped the wooden railing completely, but Alexander stood his ground.
Donald lost his balance.
Alexander let go of his hold on him, watching as the man’s arms pinwheeled, a cry leaving him as he stumbled back. His heel caught on the edge of the pier and he disappeared over the edge.
Alexander gripped another part of the railing, watching as Donald plunged to the water below.
A smack resounded horribly as Donald hit his head on a rock as he fell, his body limply slamming into the waves. The water tossed and churned Donald Cluett.
He was dragged under, lifeless and unmoving.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
