Page 54 of Ruthless with a Rogue
“She’s in your private rooms.”
“And?”He let the question linger, and Koz and Lady Elliot hurried into the room during the pregnant pause.
Ryker’s jaw hardened, his eyes flashing with something so dangerous that Derek had to brace himself not to take a step backward.“My physician is on his way.I don’t know, Derek.It wasn’t pretty when I got to her.”
Derek’s eyes slid shut at the same time Lady Elliot’s whimper rang through the chamber.
“She’s alive, but unconscious.”
He swallowed hard.Kozington had briefed Derek and Lady Elliot on the way toThe Devil’s Eye.Ryker had eyes and ears everywhere, but especially aroundhisdomain.Nothing got by him.It couldn’t with his business.One of his crew spotted a blonde woman being carried to one of the private rooms that could be rented by the night.Either unconscious or so intoxicated she wasn’t lucid.That didn’t fly at Ryker’s establishment.He'd investigated, and quickly realized he needed to intervene.
Recognized the woman as Miss Forester.
“And where is he?”Derek said softly, his tone promising retribution.
Ryker’s grin turned feral.“He’s in the cellar with Bruiser.”
Derek’s gaze shot to Kozington.
Kozington’s face was set in a hard mask.“It’s been a while since Zavi’s last bout.He was itching to punch something.”Xavier—or Zavi—was Kozington’s younger brother.Better known beyond aristocratic circles as the Bare-knuckle Bruiser.The man was deadly in the ring.A fact that would astonish anyone used to the affable, jesting young man who turned everything into a lark.
“Don’t worry, Dunmore,” Ryker said, watching him carefully.“You’ll have your turn at him.I made sure Bruiser knew to leave enough of him for you to play with.”
Something cruel and addictive coursed through Derek.
“But I thought you and Lady Elliot would want to see Miss Forester first.”
“Yes, please,” Lady Elliot said quickly.
“Follow me.”
Derek and Lady Elliot strode side-by-side behind Ryker as they made their way to Derek’s private rooms.Kozington stayed back in Ryker’s study.There was no reason for him to intrude on such a personal and traumatic moment.
“Mr.Drake,” Lady Elliot said quietly, her voice surprisingly steady.“Can you please relay what you know…?Of what happened.Of her condition.”
“I’m going to be blunt with you, my lady.Because there’s no way to be delicate in a situation such as this.I don’t know if he raped her.When I walked in, it was clear she was trying to fight him off.I tore him off her.By the time I was back at her side, she’d lost consciousness.”His voice dropped to a lethal whisper.“Nearly squeezed the life from the man.But I thought someone else might like to have that pleasure.”His gaze flicked to Derek, and Derek nodded in the affirmative.
They paused before Derek’s rooms.
Pennington was a dead man.
And that honor was all Derek’s.
The chamber was eerily silent; the woman lying in Derek’s massive crimson bed unnervingly still.With every step, he gained a new detail, and his fury blazed hotter, more charged.
Torn bodice.
A bright red mark on her cheek.
Dried tear tracks staining her pale skin.
He ground his teeth to bloody dust trying to contain the riotous rage demanding to break free.
Lady Elliot stepped forward to examine her niece more closely, gently pushing back the loose strands of Miss Forester’s coiffure.
Ruined coiffure.
“I’ll be back when the physician arrives.”Ryker’s soft murmur came from behind Derek, and then the soft snick of the door echoed through the room.
