Page 171 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

“You are a monster.”

Strachan stepped closer. “And you should have known better than to meddle with monsters if you did not wish to face one.”

Jane hated that her body reacted before her mind did. She wanted to retreat. She wanted Hector. But she remained where she was. Her mother needed her.

A movement near the fireplace caught her attention. Zachary. He looked as though he might be sick. All the arrogance, all the superiority he had carried for years, had vanished.

“Strachan,” he said quickly.

The crime lord turned.

“I upheld my part of the bargain.”

Jane’s head snapped toward him. Bargain. The word confirmed what she already suspected. Zachary had known. Perhaps not everything. Perhaps not the extent of it. But enough.

“I provided access,” Zachary continued. “I arranged the meeting. I did everything you asked.”

Strachan stared at him. Then slowly, deliberately, he lifted the pistol. This time, he pointed it at Zachary.

Her uncle’s face drained of color. “Wait.”

Strachan took another step. “You misunderstand your position.”

“Ihelpedyou.”

“You helpedyourself.”

“I did what we agreed.”

“And now you are an inconvenience.”

Zachary’s composure shattered. “No.” His voice rose. “No, you cannot do this.”

Jane watched in disbelief as the man who had terrorized her for years began to beg.

“I gave you what you wanted.”

Strachan tilted his head. “Did you?”

“Please.”

The word was so pathetic that Jane almost didn’t recognize him. She knew she should feel satisfaction. She should feel relief that he was finally afraid of someone else. Instead, all she felt was urgency. Because a desperate man with a pistol was still a dangerous man. And Strachan was enjoying this far too much.

“Enough.” Her own voice surprised her.

Both men looked toward her. Jane slowly rose from the floor. Every part of her wanted to run back to her mother. But if Strachan pulled that trigger… She could not allow him to focuson Zachary. Not when she could still control where his attention went.

“Leave him.”

Strachan’s eyes narrowed with interest.

Jane forced herself to stand straighter. “What do you truly want?”

The room went still. Strachan lowered the pistol slightly. Not because he had lost interest. Because he had found something far more entertaining. Her.

He moved toward her slowly. Each step deliberate. Each step reminding her that he believed he owned this room. Owned everyone inside it.

“What do I want?” His gaze traveled over her face. “You still don’t understand.”