Page 108 of The Last Chance
“Give me the bloody pistol,” the irate earl said, lunging at Natasha. “I’ll do what you’re incapable of doing. I’ll rid myself of this vermin for good.”
Natasha moved, causing the earl to stumble. He grabbed her cloak to stop himself falling. That’s when Natasha lost her temper and shot the earl in the chest.
The loud crack of pistol fire echoed across the barren land. The sharp acrid scent of sulphur mingled with the musty smell of sodden earth.
The wide-eyed earl dropped to his knees, gaping at the spot of blood on his mustard waistcoat as it spread like ink on parchment, darkening with each laboured breath.
With a sinister grin, Natasha watched Lord Berridge die, kicking him to the ground once his chest stopped heaving. “Ignatius will be waiting for you in hell,” she cried, then turned to Aaron, her face a mask of pure evil. “Now, you will sign the damned documents or I will shoot you where you stand.”
Joanna’s heartbeat pounded in her ears. Beads of panic moistened her brow. She had to find a way to stall Natasha. If she drew the muff pistol, the crazed woman might fire.
It was why Aaron’s brothers hovered twenty feet away, hidden behind the wall of fog. Help was at hand. She sensed an army moving closer, paused on the brink of attack.
“I would rather die than let you take Fortune’s Den,” Aaron said with a snarl. “The truth will come to light and you’ll hang.”
Natasha aimed and cocked the hammer of the second barrel.
“Wait!” Joanna cried, beyond desperate now. “Let me talk to him privately. Let me convince him to sign the documents.” Natasha would untie his hands, and then there’d be hell to pay.
Before Natasha could argue, Joanna flew at Aaron, wrapping her arms around his neck, shielding his body.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” he hissed. “If she shoots, you’ll die.”
“You’re the love of my life,” Joanna whispered, kissing his lips. “I would rather die than live without you.”
Despite their dire circumstances, he kissed her deeply, too. “You should not have come here. You should be safe at home, not risking your life for me.”
“Clearly, you’ve not been paying attention. You’re not fighting this battle alone. We’re fighting it together. We’re colleagues, friends and lovers. And I have no intention of letting you die.”
“You’ve played right into my hands, Miss Lovelace,” Natasha said, taunting her. “I did wonder how I might kill two people with one shot. Thank you for providing the solution.”
“Wait!” Joanna called. “He has agreed to sign thedocuments.” She looked at Aaron and mouthed. “I have a pistol in my pocket. When I turn and fire you must duck in case she shoots.”
But Joanna didn’t need to draw the small pistol. They didn’t need to pray for a miracle because it came in the form of Lucia.
Joanna turned upon hearing the girl shout.
“Mother!” Lucia appeared from the fog, trying to march like a confident woman towards the virago who’d raised her. “Put down your weapon and surrender. I won’t let you hurt my brother. You cannot win. You’re outnumbered.”
Natasha’s face twisted into an ugly sneer. “You ungrateful wretch. I should have known you’d betray me. Your father would be ashamed.”
“No. You’re wrong.” Lucia stood like David challenging Goliath. “My father needed strong children capable of fighting the Berridge family.”
“What do you know, you’re just a child? Choose your side, Lucia. Choose wisely because you won’t get a second chance.”
“I hate you,” Lucia cried as a bird call echoed across the wasteland. “I belong here with Mrs Lowry and the family who might come to love me.”
“Your brother can’t love you if he’s dead,” Natasha said.
A sudden movement near the trees stole everyone’s attention.
Gabriel strode through the fog, his greatcoat billowing, his rifle pointed at Natasha. “Lower your weapon. Don’t force me to shoot.”
He wouldn’t shoot.
From every compass point, people appeared: Aaron’s brothers and their wives, Delphine and Dorian Flynn, Mr Daventry and his athletic agents, Sigmund with his fists clenched like mallets, and Mrs Maloney who carried the old musket as well as Wellington’s men.
Joanna turned to Aaron. “You see, my love. You’ve never been alone in your fight against the world. All these people have risked their lives to stand with you tonight.”
