Page 35 of The Lord who Seduced Me
“I thought you went after Brooks.” She asked in confusion.
He sighed, “I did. He is waiting outside with horses and a carriage. He isn’t patient and is most definitely not happy.”
Lily walked to the bottom of the stairs, but he pulled her to a stop when she did. “Are you certain you should go?”
She put her hands on her hips and glared up at him. “We are going to find my fiancé. If you want to stay here, then be my guest. I will not be doing so. Get out of my way.”
Cabe felt his mouth drop open in shock and she pushed past him out of the house.
He heard Aidan and Cole snickering behind him and felt his lip twitch. When she turned her glare on her brothers they stopped, but Cabe could see them fighting not to smile.
They walked outside into the bitter cold in the early hours, everyone got on their horses and rode off into the night.
Cabe broke the silence, “I have seen that man many, many times when I used to sail. He was always in a hurry and he always had an air about him, one that made me shudder. I had one of my men follow him to see what he was up to, and we never saw anything. But we did find out where he lived.”
They rode until he pointed out a tiny shack on the water of the Thames. Brooks jumped from his horse, helping Lily down.
Then he pulled his knife out of his boot and walked up the rickety stairs. Everyone followed closely behind, and when Brooks brought his foot back, and kicked the door in, he walked inside the dark house.
Brooks let out a primal yell and Aidan hurried inside after him, with Cole and Cabe close behind.
Cabe looked around the room and there was enough light that he saw Brooks kneeling next to a large hole in the floor.
Burk was hanging from a wooden beam, his arms stretched over his head and his feet in the water under him.
Brooks looked over at Lily, “Fuck it, I am going down there. When I am ready, cut him down, Cabe.”
Cabe nodded and Brooks dropped into the dark hole with a splash. “Now Cabe.”
Cabe cut the rope and Burk dropped into Brooks’ arms, groaning.
Cabe dropped into the hole next, the water sloshing around his boots, and thankfully not over them.
Burk was groaning, and Brooks had a good hold on him, but it was difficult. The water was freezing cold, and Burk was a big man.
He helped Brooks get Burk into a better position and with Aidan and Cole leaning over into the hole, they were able to lift Burk up to them.
Cabe helped Brooks from the hole and was helped out also.
His one good foot was freezing cold from being in the water for only moments and it had smelled like rotting meat down in the water.
He had seen a body floating in the water, but he had not looked too closely. He did not want to.
Lily had Burk’s head cradled in her lap and Brooks talked to her softly.
With the four of them helping, they hoisted Burk up and brought him to the waiting carriage.
Brooks stepped in behind Burk and Lily and Cabe strode toward the horses and grabbed the reins of Brooks’ horse.
He needed to get out of his wet clothes and see about helping Burk.
Burk was severely injured and when he had been lifted up into the air, Cabe felt how hot he was.
Cabe knew when infection had set in. And it was beginning with Burk.
He rode as quickly as he could with Aidan and Cole at his side.
They did not speak and Cabe was hurting inside. He had been so caught up in his own life that he had not been here for them.
Had not protected them when he should have. He knew he could have. But he was so wrapped up in his plans he had abandoned them.
It broke something inside of Cabe and he hated himself. The Renegade would have to wait. He could not do anything about the rogue anyway right now.
Nathaniel was still getting the ship outfitted and with the plans still fresh in his mind, Cabe was going to spend the last few days he had protecting the family.
They had accepted him without any reservations, and he had not treated them like he should have.
Especially Rose. He needed to change that.
