Page 170 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

Jane chose her next words with care. “If you intended revenge upon Hector, surely abducting me was unnecessary.”

“Unnecessary?” He smiled again. “No.”

“Then why?”

“Because men like your husband possess a singular weakness.”

She frowned. “And what is that?”

“They care.” The words hung in the air. “They become predictable.”

Jane felt something cold settle beneath her ribs. “You believe Hector will come after me.”

“Iknowhe will.”

“You seem very confident.”

“I’ve watched him.” A tiny pulse flickered in his jaw. “He has become... exceptionally devoted to your welfare.”

Jane’s heart pounded. Strachan had been observing them. Perhaps for weeks. Perhaps even longer.

She forced herself to sound calmer than she felt. “If you’ve watched us so closely, then you know he won’t stop.”

“No.” A slow smile spread across Strachan’s face. “He won’t.”

Jane saw genuine anticipation in the crime lord’s eyes. Expectation. As though this had never truly been about her at all.As though she were merely the bait. And Hector... Hector was the prey.

Lady Wynten’s fear finally broke through the silence.

The tears that had been quietly falling down her cheeks became louder, more desperate sobs. Her shoulders shook beneath Strachan’s grip, and Jane felt every sound like a blade twisting beneath her ribs.

“Mother,” she whispered.

She wanted to reach her. She wanted to pull her away from this man and tell her everything would be all right. But she couldn’t. Not with the pistol still pressed against her.

Strachan’s expression hardened. “Enough.”

Lady Wynten tried to quiet herself, but panic had taken control. Her breathing came in uneven gasps, her eyes wide with terror.

“I said, enough.”

The next moment happened so quickly that Jane barely understood it. Strachan moved. The butt of the pistol struck against her mother’s temple with a sickening crack.

Jane screamed. “Mother!”

Her mother’s body went limp before she could even process what had happened. She collapsed against the floor. Jane was already moving. She forgot the weapon. Forgot the danger. Forgot every lesson Hector had ever taught her.

She dropped to her knees beside her mother, gathering her carefully into her arms. “Mother. Please.”

No response. Only the faint rise and fall of her breathing. Alive. Thank God.

Jane looked up at Strachan, horror and fury battling inside her. “You monster.”

For a moment, the room was silent. Then Strachan laughed. A quiet, amused sound that made Jane’s skin crawl. “You should be careful with such accusations.”

Her hands trembled as she brushed a strand of hair away from her mother’s face. “You hurt an innocent woman.”

“No.” His smile faded. “I removed an obstacle.”