Page 127 of The Formation of Us
“Unhand her!” Duke’s fierce command cracked across the yard, and the sound of boots thundered across the road.
Head ringing, forehead bleeding, Faith pushed to her knees and looked into Adam’s terrified eyes. “Get help, Adam.”
A rush of wind hit her as Duke raced past and lunged for the Judge. The loud, echoing crack of a gunshot filled the neighborhood, and Duke stumbled back three steps.
Adam bolted for help.
Duke staggered forward, swinging his fist upward to try and knock the gun from Stone’s hand, accepting this was going to be a bloody, perhaps deadly day.
The judge angled away and pressed the revolver against Cora’s temple.
“I don’t want to hurt her, so stay back,” he said, his voice tense and grating.
Duke’s legs turned to rubber. One careless move by the bastard and that gun could fire. Jesus, he couldn’t even think about the result. Burning with outrage and pain, he clutched his bleeding left shoulder and stared intently into Cora’s eyes.
“Don’t move, princess. Be like your snowman. Be very quiet and very still.”
“You’re b-bleeding, Daddy” Tears streamed from her eyes, and her nose ran.
“It’s only a scratch.”
“That’s your sore sh-shoulder.”
“I’m all right, sweetheart. You just stay real still.” She stared at him, tears streaking her face, but she stood still like he’d asked. “Good girl,” he said gently, praying to God he could get her out of this safely. “Don’t move at all, honey” He met Stone’s ice blue eyes. “Take the gun off her.”
“I underestimated you once, Grayson. I won’t make that mistake again.” Stone kept his eyes on Duke, then spoke to Cuvier, who appeared behind Faith. “Get that woman away from me.”
Cuvier helped Faith to her feet, his lips drawing back in a snarl. “I’ll bury you for this, Franklin.”
“You’ll bury yourself too, Cuvier. Your name is on all those deals you handled for me. Did you really think you could sell that property out from under me?”
“We don’t care about the property,” Faith said, her voice frigid and trembling. “You’re holding a gun to your own . . . you could hurt her, damn it!”
“Shut up, woman!” Stone’s angry voice lashed like a whip crack and made Cora cry. “This is your fault for running off on me.”
“I didn’t have the deed!” she cried. “I had no choice but to run.”
From the corner of his eye, Duke saw Iris run into the yard wide-eyed and out of breath. “What’s going on?” she called, then her gaze fell on Stone. “Dear God!” She whirled away and rushed down the street.
Her appearance riled Stone, but he remained vigilant and focused on Duke, as if he knew who was his biggest threat. “I want the deed to the brothel property,” he snarled.
“I’ll get it for you right now. Just let her go.” Duke would do whatever it took to get the man to release Cora. Cuvier was about to expose the corrupt bastard anyhow, and they would take the judge down before his peers.
Stone’s eyes narrowed. “A man like you doesn’t give in so easily.”
“A man whose daughter has a loaded gun to her head does. Cuvier brought the deed to us. Let’s go in the house and I’ll sign it over to you,” Duke said.
Stone’s laugh made his hand twitch, and Duke’s breath locked in his chest. “We’ll just go inside like two old friends, eh, Grayson? I suppose you’ll want to seal the deal with a whiskey in your parlor afterward,” the man taunted.
A curl of hair from beneath Cora’s pink hat twisted around the steel barrel of the revolver, causing a volcanic fury to rise up in Duke. His hands shook, and he curled them into fists to keep from lunging for Stone’s throat. One opening, just one—that’s all he needed. Just one distraction and he would jump the bastard.
“I’ll give you what you want, Stone. I swear it.” Christ, he’d get on his knees right here in the blood-covered snow and beg the man if it would free Cora.
“I have a better plan,” Stone said. “I’ll take this little girl back to Syracuse with me, since I have a legal right to do so and—”
“No!” Faith tried to wrench her arms free, but Cuvier kept his arms strapped around her waist. “Judge, please, she’s a little girl. She doesn’t understand this. I’ll go with you. Duke will sign the deed. You can have the damn property, just let her go!” Duke sensed Faith’s growing panic and was afraid she’d break completely or push Stone too far.
But Stone ignored her. “Have Faith take the morning train to Syracuse. Alone. When I receive the signed deed, I’ll leave Cora with my mistress. You already know the address, apparently, so you can retrieve her there.”
