Read My Scandalous Viscount for Free Online Page A

“If I hear anything new about the Prometheans in my travels, I’ll be sure and send you word. In the meantime, I don’t want the Order following me, sending snipers. I’m keeping Trevor as collateral to ensure they don’t.”
    “I want to see him first.”
    “You can’t. I’m afraid you’ve got to trust me.”
    “Trust you? After this? Maybe you’re bluffing! You’re the great gambler, after all. How do I know he isn’t dead?”
    “Ah, you know me well enough to tell when I am bluffing, Beauchamp. I’ve told you the truth. He’s alive and well. Not happy,” Nick conceded, “but he’ll stay unscathed as long as the Order leaves me alone. Otherwise, he may never get to see his little fiancée ever again.”
    Beau could not bring himself to believe Nick would really hurt the third member of their team. Trevor was like a brother to them both. But this whole episode had caught him so completely off guard that at the moment, he wondered if he could even trust his own judgment of the situation, especially when, deep down, some of the things that had disillusioned Nick resonated with him, too.
    God knew, he understood exactly how Nick felt. He just chose to ignore those feelings, along with so much else in his heart.
    “Please don’t do this, Nick,” he said evenly, summoning every ounce of calm, reassuring authority he had ever possessed as team leader. “It can still be fixed. Whatever’s happened, you know you have my help. I am your brother, and I always will be. Just tell me what you need. Money I can loan you. Influence. I’ll go and talk to the Elders with you—”
    “Enough! I fight my own battles, and I’m sure as hell not dragging you down with me. Do you think I want it this way? It’s how it has to be. I should’ve taken this option long ago. It suits my nature, the mercenary life,” he said with a grim smile. “I take work when I want it. Turn it down when I don’t like the look of it. Every job’s at my discretion. No one’s giving me orders. I make up the rules myself. You should join me, Beau. You really should. Not that you need the money, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun.”
    “Jesus, Nick.”
    “I’m still working on Trevor, but I think he’s comin’ ’round. He’s getting pretty bored down in the cellar.”
    “Cellar? Damn you—”
    “Relax. He has everything he needs down there.”
    “So he’s your prisoner. Your best friend, who saved your bloody life several times, as I recall. Your hostage.”
    “More like my pension, for years of faithful service. Life insurance, mate.” He nodded. “Well, we mercenaries aren’t very nice chaps at all, are we? Not like you valiant Order knights.”
    Beau shut his eyes for a second, in a cold sweat. This is a nightmare. The worst part was that he had never seen it coming. Of all the horrific fates he had imagined in the dead of night, trying to dream up some logical explanation for their disappearance, this was one he never would have guessed.
    On the other hand, Nick had always been a rebel, even by Order standards, and was without a doubt the fiercest member of their team. Beau was the leader; Trevor was the brains, the strategist, the planner. But Nick had always been the ablest assassin.
    A bloody nightmare.
    Nick’s gaze flicked to Beau’s pistol pointed at him. “I am going to go now,” he said. “I’ll give Trevor your regards. Don’t worry, I’ll release him once I’m clear. You take care of yourself, Beauchamp.” He hesitated. “It’s been an honor serving with you.” He nodded in farewell, then very deliberately turned around and began walking away.
    “Stop!” he barked. “You’re coming in, Nick!”
    “No, I’m not,” he replied, though he did prudently pause, lifting his hands.
    “Don’t make me shoot you—”
    At that moment, the theatre door right behind Beau suddenly opened, bumping him in the back. He stepped forward to catch his balance, and his first thought was that Nick had expected