Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (185 page)

That was his cue. Paine leaped from behind the bed, thankful the light was behind him. 'Let her go!' He

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levelled the pistol at Oswalt and hefted his knife with the other. There were just the two of them-Oswalt and the guard. The guard he recognised from the club, the one who had bribed

The man held a

pistol like his own.

Oswalt grabbed Julia as a shield. 'I doubt your aim is that good in the dubious light,' Oswalt sneered, 'None the less, I am delighted that you came.'

'Sam, bring our guest downstairs. I want him to have a front-row seat for my nuptials. Then afterwards, take him out and shoot him. That is, unless you'd prefer to be shot beforehand.'

Paine shifted his pistol's focus to Sam Brown. He could shoot the man accurately at this distance. If he could shoot, then so could Oswalt's guard. He doubted he could dodge the bullet at such close range.

And the pistol fire would bring too many people to Oswalt's aid.

He gave Julia a look, hoping to convey to her his choice. If he could bring the big man closer, he could deal with him more effectively, perhaps be able to use his knife. Paine made a show of lifting his arms in surrender and placing the weapons on the ground.

Oswalt ordered the man to pick up the weapons. 'We don't want him getting them back.'

The big man moved forwards, stuffing his own pistol back into his belt, clearly confident in his bulk to sustain him in a fight should Paine choose to play the hero.

Paine chose his moment carefully. When the big man bent over, Paine landed a hard

to the man's nose,

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Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady

sending blood spurting everywhere. The man writhed on the ground, clutching his broken nose.

'Now, Julia! ' Paine cried, lunging for her before Oswalt could recover the situation.

Julia brought her foot down on Oswalt's instep. It was enough to cause the older man to release her.

Oswalt drew a knife and Paine threw Julia behind him, careful to keep the door at his back. If nothing else, he had to secure Julia's escape.

'Do you know what's on this blade, boyo?' Oswalt advanced. 'A little equaliser-after all, you have years of youth on me. I can't possibly match physical strength with you.' Oswalt waved the knife blade.

'This isn't a drug. This afternoon, you were lucky.

This will

you. It's made from cobra venom among other deadly things and cost me plenty for an ounce. It won't take that much to kill you. All I have to do is throw it.' Oswalt weighed the blade. 'I've been practising .'

Paine flexed his shoulders, covertly assessing his height. Julia would be safe. He was too tall for Oswalt to accidentally hit her instead. He could charge Oswalt and hope the poison acted slowly enough that he'd be able to take the feebler man to the ground before the poison claimed him. Pinned beneath his strong form, Oswalt would be unable to go after Julia. It would give her a slight head start, enough time to get to Peyton and She didn't know they were there, but they'd be watching for her.

'No, Paine, you won't die for me,' Julia said behind him as if she'd read his mind.

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'Oh, this is so touching,' Oswalt mocked. He lifted the knife and Paine sprang into motion. This would be resolved once and for all. Paine leaped for Oswalt, making a sprawling target as he flew for the man's throat.

Several things happened at once and the world slowed.

Julia screamed.

The knife sailed through the air. Paine braced himself for the jarring impact. There was no way the knife would miss him at this range. But miraculously it did, falling to the ground. An explosive sound rang out and Oswalt fell to the ground beneath Paine's weight, but he was dead already, a bullet through the back.

The door crashed open and the world sped up again, revealing Peyton and

pistols drawn and hoods

off.

'Paine, are you all right?' Julia rushed forwards as he gained his feet, quickly taking in the events.

'I'm fine.' He gestured to the knife. 'Don't touch it.

It's loaded with poison.' He was alive. The thought rocketed through him like liquid lightning. Then he saw the reason. Sam Brown's one hand held a smoking pistol Paine recognised as the one he'd laid down earlier. The other hand still clutched his nose.

'You fired the shot?' It made sense. Peyton and had arrived too late and from the wrong direction. In his arms, Julia trembled, quickly reaching the last of her reserves. 'I am grateful.'
Not to mention perplexed.
'Why did you do it?'

Sam Brown got to his feet awkwardly. 'He was a bad man. I've worked for bad men before, but he was the