Seduced Read Online Free Page B

difficult task for Jack.
    “Now that he’s dead,” Hoffman continued, “it leaves a hole that almost half a dozen criminals have rushed to fill. They are doing exactly as we expected they would, Jack.”
    “Attacking from all sides,” Jack finished for Hoffman with a purse of his lips. “And unlike when it was mainly Aston on the attack, with so many contenders involved, it makes defense much more difficult. What’s the damage?”
    “Four men dead in the past two weeks,” Hoffman said. “Two more deserted, as far as we can tell. The road crew up north was disrupted and the goods they’d intercepted were stolen. And I believe there is at least one spy in our midst.”
    “There’s always at least one spy in our midst,” Jack muttered. “Shakespeare warned about honor amongst thieves, didn’t he?”
    Hoffman grunted. “Don’t know nothing about Shakespeare.”
    “You should. He predicts all.” Jack pushed from his desk and paced his small office to the fire. He stared at the flames for a moment. “Who are the ones after us? At last count it was Richards, Pox and Warren.”
    “One is Keller.”
    “Keller?” Jack repeated with a laugh. “He’s not more than a pup. I can’t believe he’s threatening me.”
    “You weren’t more than a pup when you got started,” Hoffman reminded him softly.
    Jack turned. “Are you comparing Keller to me ?”
    Hoffman rewarded him with a rare chuckle. “You’re a pompous bastard, Jack.”
    “It’s why you like me,” Jack said with a tilt of his head.
    Hoffman shrugged. “Either way, even a pup can be dangerous when he joins forces with bigger dogs.”
    Jack sighed. “So Keller is jumping his loyalty around to the others, perhaps hoping to land on whoever wins my crown.”
    “Yes. But he ain’t my main concern. It’s the fifth villain I don’t know. Can’t place anything about him except that he exists.”
    Jack lifted his brows. “A mystery, then. I’ve never liked a mystery.”
    “Me neither.” Hoffman folded his arms. “I have a few feelers out, checking up on other petty criminals who might be big for their britches and think they can come after the Captain.”
    “Excellent. I’ll read the reports in more detail and think on my long list of enemies, myself. We’ll rat him out yet, Hoffman.” Jack smiled, though this subject made him anything but happy. After so many years on top of the heap of shit that was the criminal underground, he was tiring of the machinations it took to remain there.
    But what else did he have? He’d been a thief since he was hardly more than a boy. He wasn’t like his brother, who had turned a natural talent with horses into a thriving legitimate business. He was Captain Jack, nothing more.
    Hoffman shifted with discomfort and Jack frowned. He was clearly showing some of his emotion on his face. He turned away. “If that is all…”
    “Yes.” Hoffman moved toward the door to leave, but before he could exit, the door opened and revealed two of Jack’s men with another man in their grips.
    Jack’s eyes went wide. The man they held was Griffin Merrick, Lady Seagate’s younger brother. He’d never thought he’d see the boy again, and yet here he was.
    “What is this?” Hoffman asked, annoyance clear in his harsh tone. Hoffman was a large man and intimidating when he turned an angry glare on a person. Griffin’s wince made it clear he was not immune.
    “Found him lurking about outside,” one of the men said, shoving Griffin forward. The boy staggered, but managed to stay on his feet.
    “What the hell are you about, boy?” Hoffman growled, catching Griffin’s lapels and giving him a hard shake.
    “Enough,” Jack said softly, his gaze firmly focused on Merrick. He was shaking, but he didn’t make a move to escape and he hadn’t started to blubber or beg, like some men of his ilk would do. “I know him.”
    Hoffman turned on him. “You do?”
    Jack understood his surprise. Merrick reeked of