Read Online DefeatedbyLove by Samantha Kane - Free Book Online Page B

passed for a gentleman, Daniel supposed.
    “I don’t think you have any say in where I do or do not go,”
Daniel said, irritated at the interruption.
    “Well, aren’t you Mr. High and Mighty?” the man said,
surprised at Daniel’s belligerent tone. “I think we do.”
    Another man stepped out behind them, caging them in.
    “Oh, dear God,” Simon said, as exasperated as Daniel, but
his ire was directed at Daniel. “You can’t avoid trouble even when you try, can
you?”
    “This is not my fault,” Daniel said sharply. “You cannot lay
this at my door.”
    “I fancy that cane,” the man in front said, gesturing to
Daniel’s walking stick.
    “This one?” Daniel said. He held it up. “You haven’t even
seen the best part.” He pulled a stiletto out of the end. “Oh, I am sorry. It
still has blood on it from the last idiot who thought I looked like an easy
mark.”
    The man behind them took a step back as Simon moved off to
the side and faced Daniel, keeping their would-be assailants in his sights.
    “I don’t believe you even know what to do with that,” the
man in front of them sneered. “A little shit like you? Don’t make me laugh.”
    Daniel flourished the stiletto, drawing both men’s eyes to
it, and then he struck out with his other hand hitting the man in front right
in the throat. He fell back choking, and in the confusion Simon spun around and
kicked the man behind them in the stomach. He fell to the ground moaning. Daniel
made a move toward the choking man and he turned and ran off, his hand to his
throat. Daniel looked back to see the fallen man stumble to his feet and
ignominiously run after his companion.
    “Then we’re agreed,” Simon said, resettling his tall hat on
his head. “This is all Harry’s fault.”
    They both turned in the same direction and began walking
away from the docks together. “Yes,” Daniel said vehemently, “it’s all Harry’s
fault.”
     
    Daniel and Simon decided to start with Lord Michael
Kensington. Michael was an old friend from the war who had recently spent some
time in America with Harry.
    “I haven’t seen him,” Michael said in surprise when Daniel
brought it up. “Not since I left New Orleans. You know that.”
    Daniel took a deep breath. “Yes, I know that,” he said
patiently. “I’m asking if you know where we ought to look for him.”
    They were at the home of Wolf and Veronica Tarrant. It was
also Michael’s residence, as the three were lovers and nearly inseparable.
Michael’s wife, Lady Aurelie, also lived there with her lover, Mrs. Agatha
Grimshaw. Wolf and Very’s daughter Katie, and Lady Kensington’s son Stephan,
rounded out the household. The boy was, of course, officially Michael’s, if not
biologically.
    Daniel rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. He
always got one when he came here.
    “He doesn’t keep me informed, you know,” Michael said,
clearly annoyed. “As far as I could tell, he doesn’t keep anyone informed of
his whereabouts, not even his business partner.”
    “Let’s start there,” Daniel said, jumping on the small piece
of information. “How can I contact him?”
    Wolf sat on the arm of Michael’s chair, leaning along the
back, toying with Michael’s hair. It was a blatantly sexual gesture as was the
sleepy look in his eyes and it made Daniel’s headache worse. The two had
obviously been happily fucking before they arrived, which would explain why
Very hadn’t come down. More than likely she could hardly walk at this point.
    “Stop that,” he snapped at Wolf. He’d known the predatory
Tarrant since the war, as long as he’d known Simon. When he’d met Wolf the
other man was very nearly mad, silent and deadly and frighteningly odd. He bore
little to no resemblance to the happily married man he now knew. When he’d met
Michael it had saved him from self-destruction. On their return to England the
pair met Very, and their lives had been forever changed. But there were