“Another man who’s now dead.”
“By your hand,” Sebastian reminded him, “not mine.”
Croft grunted his agreement, then asked, “What were these rare ingredients for?”
“A tincture intended to cure my youngest sister, Lady Claire.”Sebastian swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth.Being made vulnerable like this, in front of Croft, no less, made him feel ill.“Her muscular health has been in decline for several years now.She cannot walk unassisted, and since her condition continues to worsen, the day will surely come when she won’t be able to get out of bed.Ashburry promised a miracle, and Wycliff swore he’d deliver what I required.”
“But both men failed you.”Croft’s voice, while firm, contained an underlying hint of sympathy.
“The cure Ashburry said he could make doesn’t exist.He merely used me for his own twisted agenda.As for Wycliff…” A bitter laugh forced its way past Sebastian’s lips.“After he made the first delivery, he started raising the price.A thousand pounds for a few ounces of dried Chinese monkshood.When I fought him on it, he raised the price further and threatened to tellThe Morning Postthat I was involved in the theft of a shipment belonging to Luxury Imports.”
“A threat to your reputation, though hardly enough for you to resort to murder.”
Croft wasn’t wrong.Sebastian considered the wisdom in sharing too much, then said, “You know I brought two men with me the last time I went to meet with Wycliff, because your wife was there too.As his protector, I assume?”
“She had a debt to pay at the time.”
“So you won’t deny the fact that she killed those men?”
Something dangerous flashed in Croft’s gaze.He leaned forward.Slowly.When he spoke next, his voice was so lethal Sebastian could practically feel it flaying the skin from his bones.“She might have died that night thanks to you.What happened to your men is no one’s fault but your own.”
“You’re wrong.Wycliff bears as much responsibility, if not more.He brought her to that meeting as his personal shield, did he not?”When Croft remained silent, Sebastian told him quietly, “They were there to punish Wycliff in case he continued refusing to give me what I had already paid for.”
“According to what I know, the boy Wycliff sent to collect your delivery was caught trying to find it.”
“Another excuse in a long list of excuses, all so Wycliff could gain the leverage he wanted.He saw my desperation and tried to force my hand with it.”
“How much was he after?”
“Five thousand pounds.”
Croft produced a low whistle.“So you decided to put an end to his scheme.”
“He was responsible for the deaths of my men and was blackmailing me.What would you have done?”
“Something similar, I believe.In fact, the only reason Wycliff isn’t dead by my hand is because you got to him first.”
Sebastian blinked.“You mean to say…”
“Wycliff’s days were numbered.”
A cold discomfort settled deep in Sebastian’s gut.He could have avoided killing Wycliff and still ended up with the same result.But he’d gone to confront him, to find the ingredients he was convinced Wycliff had in his possession.And then… He could barely recall how it had happened, just that Wycliff had mocked him and he’d seen red.Most likely, the crime-lord hadn’t believed Sebastian would pull the trigger himself.
He'd been wrong.
Wycliff had pushed Sebastian past the point of reason.He’d been blinded by rage, distraught by the prospect of failure — of being responsible for Claire’s continued suffering.
A sensation not entirely dissimilar to what he experienced now.
He stared at Croft.“I’ve done as you asked, now help me find Edwina.”
A pause followed, during which Sebastian feared Croft would do as Wycliff had done and demand even more.But then… “I can offer no assurances besides the fact that I’ll try.”
Relief eased the tension from Sebastian’s shoulders.“Understood.”
“Then you will not blame me in the event that I fail?”Croft waited for Sebastian’s nod of agreement before he folded his arms on his desk and asked, “When and where did you last see your sister?”
* * *