The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies)

take on the task, to try ta get ya…”
Seb pressed down even harder on the man’s leg. “Who?”
The man screamed in agony and Livie winced. “You’re hurting him.”
For a third time, Seb pressed down on the man’s leg, ensuring another groan of pain. But then he raised his hand and lifted the necktie from the wound. Blood began to gush out once again. “I won’t ask you again, and I’d say you have less than a minute left before you bleed to death.”
The man drew in a shaky breath and stared defiantly into Seb’s eyes. “I’ll go to my grave before I betray my leader to you.”
“You’re already there,” Sebastian stated as he watched the man take a final shuddering breath before the life fled from his eyes.
“Oh my goodness…is he dead?” Livie asked across from him.
“He is,” Seb confirmed as he flicked open the man’s collar. Sure enough, there was a snake tattoo on the man’s neck. The man had been a member of the Lads gang, and obviously they weren’t trying only to take over Seb’s territory, they were also trying to take him out, not caring if anyone else was shot in the process. “Goddamnit! They’ve gone too far now.”
He glanced up at Livie and saw that she was leaning heavily on her cane, appearing extremely pale. He doubted a duke’s daughter had ever experienced someone dying in front of her. No wonder it looked like the smallest wind would tip her over. “You’re not going to faint on me, are you?”
Livie gulped and shook her head. “No. It’s just the last time someone died in front of me, I was eight and it was…it was my mother. And well, he looks just like she did. His eyes staring vacantly up at nothing, glassy and empty. Brings back rather horrible memories, I’m afraid.”
The admission surprised him. She’d obviously not had quite the sheltered life a duke’s daughter was meant to. “Come on, I need to get you out of here.”
Livie nodded. “I’ll be fine in a moment. Just a tad dizzy.”
And before she could protest, Sebastian strode over to her side, grabbed her cane, and swung her over his shoulder. He would have liked to have treated her a bit more delicately, but he still didn’t know if the danger was truly over, and he needed his pistol at the ready. He strode down the street toward where she’d said her carriage was waiting, his eyes scanning across the fog-laden shadows.
Even though the initial threat may have passed, he still felt uneasy having Olivia here with him and her being placed in danger because of it. An overwhelming urge to protect her had engulfed him, and he knew he had to get her as far from his environment as he could.
She shouldn’t be surrounded by his darkness for a moment longer, and he was determined she wouldn’t, no matter her thoughts on the matter. He would not have her blood on his hands, as he did his mother’s.

Chapter Ten
Being hauled over the back of Sebastian’s shoulder like a sack of coal, with her derrière resting high near his head, was not how she imagined the evening ending. In fact, some would think it rather mortifying, even though Livie found it a tad thrilling.
She’d never been carried by any man before, well, at least not since she’d been a child. Though it was slightly uncomfortable being jostled on his shoulder while he stalked down the street, presumably to where her carriage was waiting.
Hearing some horses in the distance, Livie knew her assumption was correct. Just as quickly as he’d scooped her up, he swung her down, careful to keep one hand of his on her waist as she steadied herself while he placed her cane in her other hand.
Her breath caught in her throat from the touch of his hand against her own; even through her gloves she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. His hand was so large and work-worn, so very different from the manicured and soft hands of the gentlemen she knew. It was a hand capable of untold violence, she was certain, but perhaps, based on the way he held hers, tenderness, too.
Livie peered up into his face and instantly felt every single part of her body tingle. His eyes were fixed firmly upon her own, with an almost ferocious hunger in his gaze.
No man had ever looked at her like that before. No man had ever dared touch her waist before, either.
“Everything all right, my lady?” Gregson, her carriage driver, interrupted, as he stuck his head out from the driver’s compartment, concern etched in the lines around his eyes before he noticed Sebastian standing in front of her. “I have a shotgun with me and I’m not afraid to use it!” Gregson couldn’t quite hide the tremble in his voice as he tried to stare down Sebastian.
“It’s fine, Gregson,” Livie implored. “This man is a business associate of my brother’s, and he’s just assisted me out of a perilous situation.”
“And I shall be joining her to ensure she gets home safely,” Sebastian added as he pulled open the carriage door.
“I knew I never should’a brought you here,” Gregson grumbled, still looking suspiciously over at Seb. “Nasty neighborhood this is. The King of the Rookeries runs it, he does. Devil’s spawn I’m told he is.”
“Everything is fine, I assure you, Gregson,” Livie managed to utter before she was bundled into the carriage by Sebastian. “Please just take us home.”
“Very well, my lady.” Gregson’s voice was muffled through the wood as Livie adjusted herself on the cushioned seat, while Sebastian followed her in and swiftly closed the door.
“I’m sorry about what he said.” She stared at Sebastian as the carriage pulled away and glided down the street, the pace increasing quickly. It seemed Gregson was keener to leave the area than even she was. “He didn’t realize who you were, obviously…”
“I’ve heard a lot worse, Lady Olivia,” Sebastian replied,