Page 76 of Beauty and the Lyon

Why did he care?

Simply because family mattered more to him than anything. He believed in blood ties, believed in protecting those bound to him by fate, even if they barely knew each other. And Crane, whether he wanted it or not, was part of that family. Baston had crossed a line—one that endangered his brother’s woman.

His sister-in-law. Future one, at least.

And that was unacceptable.

Reaper glanced around, the shadows of the dockyard concealing most of the grim scene from any curious eyes. With a curt nod, his men moved quickly, tossing Baston’s limp bodyinto a large wooden crate and into a waiting cart. The wheels groaned as they secured the load, wrapping it tightly in thick tarpaulins to keep prying eyes at bay.

“He’ll be halfway to China before anyone even notices he’s missing,” one of his men muttered, tipping his cap as he finished fastening the ropes.

Reaper nodded. “Make sure he’s delivered. No mistakes.”

“Aye, boss,” the man said before signaling to the others, and the cart began to roll toward the waiting ship, its creaking wheels mocking Baston’s fate.

Reaper’s lips curled into a humorless smile.

The docks at night were always full of activity—ships coming and going, goods being loaded and unloaded—but no one paid any attention to a single cart rolling toward the waiting ship at the far end of the quay. Reaper knew the captain, a rough man with no scruples, who’d agreed to take Baston and dispose of him properly. The man would be on a one-way trip to the Far East, far from England’s shores and out of his brother’s life forever.

“Are you going to tell Crane what we did?”

Bishop scoffed. “Why would I do that?”

Reaper nodded.

Good.

Blood was blood, but blood didn’t always have to know what the other blood did. They didn’t have to be friends, didn’t even have to like each other, but they were brothers. That was enough for him.

Now, he had to work on thawing that young grump.

Reaper’s grin spread to his eyes.

He looked forward to it.