Chapter 18 #2
It had been the one thing about her brother that had infuriated the crime lord.
No matter how hard Ruckley had beaten Vincent, her brother had never displayed any reaction to the crime lord’s abuse, not even a single tear.
Genevieve was certain it was why Ruckley had dealt more lashes with the whip to her brother than he did anyone else.
The bastard had wanted to break Vincent, but he never had.
The only thing that had kept Ruckley from killing her brother was because he had a gift the crime lord valued more than his need to break Vincent.
Genevieve’s brother had a knack for analyzing people, noticing minor details, and seeing how unrelated events were connected in ways one didn’t expect.
It was a valuable skill that Ruckley had used to maintain his control over much of the East End.
The sound of footsteps in the foyer announced Percy Rockwood’s arrival, and as her father entered the parlor, Vincent came to an abrupt halt. His expression unreadable, he met their father’s gaze.
“I believe you’ve been made aware there are several Rockwood family members working for the Secret Intelligence Service.”
Vincent’s statement was so unexpected it left even her father staring at her brother in astonishment.
Stunned, Genevieve’s jaw dropped as she stared at Vincent in horror.
Of all the things she could have imagined her brother wishing to speak with Papa about, it certainly wouldn’t have been this subject.
Her gaze darted to their father, who was studying Vincent with an emotion she couldn’t define.
“Yes,” her father said.
It was a soft reply, but there was also a hint of steel in his answer.
Percy Rockwood looked at Genevieve, and her heart skipped a beat.
Like Vincent, her father’s expression was impossible to read, but something flickered in his gaze that made her mouth go dry.
Surely Papa couldn’t know that she was involved.
Genevieve sprang to her feet as she glared at her brother.
“What in heaven’s name are you saying, Vincent Rockwood?” Her hands and fingers moved in an agitated manner as she signed her question to her brother.
“He’s trying to determine how much I know about his work for the Secret Intelligence Service,” Percy Rockwood said as he interpreted her sign language and his gaze locked with hers. “And yours.”
Percy Rockwood’s soft reply made Genevieve jerk her head toward her father, while her stomach did a vicious flip and bile rose in her throat.
With a shake of her head, she stared at her father in horrified dismay.
How had he learned she was working in the East End?
Dear God, did he and Mama know how she’d been pretending to be a whore?
She swayed on her feet, and Vincent took a step toward her, but she waved him away.
“Who told you,” she bit out with restrained anger as she met her father’s gaze. Whoever who had broken her confidence was going to learn what a living hell she could make their lives.
“Peter, and my brother, Caleb.”
Her father’s reply made both her and Vincent look at him in bemusement. The an dara sealladh. Genevieve was the first to recover her wits, and clasping her hands in front of her, she met her father’s gaze but didn’t say a word. When she and Vincent remained silent, Percy Rockwood heaved a sigh.
“Your Uncle Sebastian was the one to put all the puzzle pieces together, because the an dara sealladh was a jumble of images to me. We confronted Theo at the Melton Imports office a couple of days ago, and he confirmed everything Peter and Caleb had been trying to share in such a limited capacity.”
At her father’s mention of seeing Theo a couple of days ago, Genevieve dragged in a breath of relief.
He was still safe. Pressing one hand to her stomach as if it could prevent her stomach from lurching every time her father said anything, she glanced at Vincent who’s stoic expression slipped slightly at their father’s words. Something had happened.
“I don’t know whether I’m more proud of all of you or furious that you didn’t tell your mother and me what you’re doing,” Percy Rockwood bit out. “When Peter spoke to me shortly after his murder, he said nothing…
The moment her father’s voice trailed away, his eyes closed, and the pain on his face made Genevieve hurry across the floor to hug him in a gesture of comfort.
Percy Rockwood’s arms wrapped around her as he held her tight.
It was a fatherly embrace that conveyed a deep love, but fear as well.
Genevieve’s father pushed her back a few inches and kissed her forehead.
“I’ve always known how brave and strong you were my darling girl, but returning to the East End to do what you’ve been doing…” her father’s voice died away as he studied her with pride, awe, and more than a hint of fear.
“I want to find Peter’s killer, and I know how valuable the information I’ve gathered is to the Crown.”
“She won’t be going into the East End again, either,” Vincent growled. “Genevieve’s field work is confined to social settings to gather information.”
“And yet C hasn’t pulled Theo out of the field.” Genevieve signed her angry response in sharp, violent movements. “What’s the difference between the two of us, other than the obvious?”
“C did order him to be pulled out of the field. Theo never got that order because he went looking for Simpson before that order could be relayed,” Vincent said with a soberness that made her heart skip a beat.
As her gaze met her brother’s, Genevieve saw regret darkening his eyes.
It sent a layer of ice sliding across her skin, while something cold and sharp scraped down her spine.
“What’s happened? Something’s happened to Theo. Tell me.”
This time, her hands demanded an answer with fast, pointed gestures.
The instant she saw Vincent hesitate, as if struggling for words, Genevieve released a cry of pain and denial.
Theo was dead. He was gone. Vincent stretched out his hand to her, and she smacked it aside.
An unseen force wrapped around her chest and tightened until she was gasping for air.