My Scandalous Viscount Read Online Free PDF Page B

to keep him out of trouble in his current state.”
    “What kind of trouble are you expecting?” Beau sent an uneasy glance around the alley. Might they soon have company? “Were you followed?”
    “I don’t think so. Listen,” Nick said darkly, “I heard about Virgil.”
    The reminder of their handler’s death jarred him. Beau gave him a somber nod. “Rotherstone’s team is abroad right now. They’re going to get the son of a bitch who killed him.”
    “Do we know who did it?”
    “Niall Banks,” Beau answered.
    Nick raised his eyebrows. “Malcolm’s son?”
    “Well—yes and no. Turns out there’s a good chance Niall was actually Virgil’s own son, not his nephew.”
    “What?”
    “Believe me, this revelation took all of us by surprise. Turns out Virgil and his brother were both in love with the same woman years ago, or something like that.” Beau shrugged. “So, Niall could’ve been fathered by either one of them.”
    “Damn,” he said.
    “Aye. We captured Niall while you were gone, and hang me if the old man and his supposed ‘nephew’ didn’t look exactly alike. Never saw that Highlander so out of sorts.”
    Nick shook his head.
    “Unfortunately, we’ve got more trouble on top of Virgil’s death,” Beau continued in a hushed tone. “Drake Parry, the Earl of Westwood—you know him?”
    “Know of him.”
    “Seems he’s turned against us. His team was killed in Germany. He was captured. Tortured. The Prometheans addled his wits so badly we think they may have turned him into one of them.”
    Nick looked taken aback at this.
    “If Rotherstone can’t catch him, they’re going to have to put him down.”
    “Well, that is the standard protocol, isn’t it?” Nick murmured cynically as he dropped his gaze.
    Beau nodded. “I’ve been waiting for word from Rotherstone to let me know if they’ve dealt with Niall or Drake yet, and when they’re coming back. Right now, all I know is that when they return, we’ll have the memorial service for Virgil up in Scotland.” Then he shook his head again, still shocked to the marrow to see his friend alive, standing there, unscathed, in front of him.
    He had been bracing himself for weeks now for the worst. “I was half-convinced we’d be holding services for you and Trevor, too. Man, it is so good to see you.”
    “You, as well. Sorry for putting you through all that. It couldn’t be avoided.”
    “What the hell happened?” Then he clapped him on the shoulder. “Why don’t you tell me over a pint? I take it my lady friend isn’t coming,” he added dryly.
    Nick smiled. “No, she’s not.”
    Beau snorted. “Thanks for the message, you bastard.”
    “Anytime.”
    “So, you want to go sit in a pub, or Dante House—”
    “Can’t. I don’t have much time.” Nick seemed awfully restless, glancing over his shoulder again.
    “All right,” Beau said cautiously. “Give me the abridged version, then. Where’ve you been? I’ve had every asset in Europe on the hunt for you and Trevor.”
    “I know. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Nick turned and gave him a hard stare. “I need you to call off your dogs, Beauchamp.”
    “Pardon?”
    “Stop looking for me.”
    “Well, obviously.” Beau furrowed his brow. “You’re standing right in front of me. You’re back.”
    “Not exactly.”
    “What do you mean?”
    He gave him a hard look. “I’m done. With the Order. I want out,” he said. “I’m not coming back.”
    “ What? ”
    “I quit. I’ve done my service. I think I’m entitled to have my own life now,” Nick said coolly. “War’s over. Napoleon’s done for. Prometheans all but crushed. It’s time for me to move on, and I trust you’ll stay out of my way.”
    “Move on?” Beau echoed in disbelief, even more stunned at such talk than he had been at finding Nick alive. “Is that what you came to tell me? That’s it?”
    “Aye. That’s it.”
    “Hold on,” he ordered, grabbing Nick by the