Oliver had told Daniel that Jacob Blackheath was unbalanced when he’d tried to kill him. Daniel had the feeling this woman was no better. Revenge had addled her brain.
“I have waited this long to avenge my family; I can wait a while longer.”
“I will kill you if you harm him!” Abby snarled at the woman.
Daniel grabbed her shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. “Stop this now or they will kill us all.”
“I won’t lose you, Daniel, not now.”
“You won’t.” He pulled her close. “Be brave. I won’t die, but do as she says for now.” He whispered the words in her ear. “Keep her safe, my lord.” He thrust Abby at her brother.
“We will fight,” Raine said, pushing his sister behind him.
“No! They will have orders to kill us all no matter if she falls. This is the only way,” Daniel said.
“I will offer you men more money than she is paying,” the earl then said. “A great deal more, if you subdue this woman, and let us go.”
Miss Blackheath laughed. “They are loyal to me, my lord. Your money is wasted on them.”
“Anyone can be bought.”
“Enough!” she said. “Do you know where Hindmarsh Clearing is, Lord Raine?”
“I do.”
“Have Oliver Dillinger meet us there tomorrow at dusk. If he is late, he will find only his brother’s body.” She laughed. “Tell him to come alone.”
“This is not the end,” Daniel said softly as he looked from Raine to Abby. “I am not sacrificing myself to die. Make sure that does not happen, Raine.”
The earl nodded. Abby looked desperate.
“We leave now!” Miss Blackheath yelled.
“Don’t you dare die, Daniel.”
“I promise.”
He touched her cheek and mouthed the words come prepared to the earl.
“Keep her safe.”
“We’ll come for you, Dillinger,” Lord Raine said.
Daniel nodded. Grabbing Syd’s reins, he then turned to walk away from the only woman he’d ever loved. He was not sacrificing himself to right a supposed wrong done to the entire Blackheath family. He would fight and knew that Raine would also. This was not the end; he would ensure that. He had too much to lose now.
“Bind his hands, then put him between you,” Miss Blackheath said.
Soon he was walking away surrounded by her men, and he vowed his last sight of Abby would not be of her sobbing against her brother’s chest.
Blackheath’s daughter was not thinking clearly; she should have simply killed him. Because she wanted his and Oliver’s deaths to be together and in a grand manner, she had given him a chance to survive, and his brother would ensure he took it.
Chapter 31
The desperation was crippling for seconds. Watching the man she loved be taken away to his death was not something Abby thought she’d ever have to endure. It didn’t matter that she knew he would stay alive until dusk tomorrow or that he’d promised her they had a future. She wanted him back now. She started running.
“Abby! Stop!”
She ran until hands grabbed her.
She fought them, clawing and punching, but her brother was stronger, and soon she was pressed to his chest, his arms banded around her holding her still.
The sobs came then.
“We will get him back, Abby. You heard his words. He is not ready to die and will fight to ensure that does not happen, as will we.”
“We c-can’t let them hurt him, Gabe.” Her hands clutched his jacket. “We m-must save him. We must go after them now!”
“Not now, Abby. You heard the woman; she will keep him alive until the rendezvous.”
“No!” Abby grabbed his lapels and shook them. “Now! I want him back now!”
“Think, sister. Think about how if we do, then we will be shot and killed. Whereas if we do as she asked, we have a chance. He will not die until dusk tomorrow. We have until then.”
“Sh-she could be lying.”
“No, I don’t think so. This is a family’s revenge, a lifetime of hatred that has confused her mind. She will do what she says to right what she sees are the wrongs. Her mind is poisoned and set on one course: the death of the Dillinger brothers together.”
“Promise me, Gabe, that we will get him back.” Abby shook her brother.
“We will.” Gabe’s jaw was clenched. “She made the mistake of not killing him now. We have a chance. I know that road for the meeting, and there is plenty of cover. We will have men in those trees.”
“I think she is mad,” Abby whispered. Dear God, Daniel. She couldn’t think of anything but him. “To think Daniel’s brother would come alone; surely she does not believe it?”
“She believes everyone is as foolish as her. Now, I must return to London at once, Abby.” He started leading her back to where Dimity stood looking worried. “There is no time to waste if we are to meet at the rendezvous point on time. “Dimity, you and my sister take the carriage and—”
“No! I will not allow you to leave me behind, not this time. Daniel is the man I love. I will play a part in rescuing him.” Abby stepped out of her brother’s arms and to Dimity’s side. The fear was still there, cold and numbing, but so too was the determination that Daniel be returned to her.
“You love him?” Gabe looked more resigned than shocked.
“I do, more than anything.”
“Christ.” Gabe ran a hand over his face. “I should have drowned him when I had the chance.”
“Therefore, I will accompany you.”
Gabe grabbed her hands. “Think, Abby. I will be hampered if you do. You are not used to riding astride or for as long as it will take me to reach London. Put your trust in me, little sister. Trust that I will reach Daniel’s brother and bring him to the rendezvous.”
“I’m scared, Gabe.”
“As you should be, but also be sensible. I must do this alone, and you and Dimity will go back to the inn and wait. We will pass by there on
