Handle it. Derek drank, not looking at Grant. You always do.
Not this time. This is none of my affair.
Derek turned to him then, not hiding his surprise. Anything concerning me concerns you. You run the estates. You own half of Peregrine
Lydias looking for you.
Derek set down his mug. Damn it, Grant had wanted to tell him over coffee, not spring it on him amid the commotion of this tap house.
Whatd she want?
She Just then a man went flying over a neighboring table. Ale sloshed high and splatted, barely missing Grant. Thats it. He rose, grabbed Dereks arm, and pulled. Well talk about this on the way home.
Derek yanked his arm away. Im not leaving.
Why the hell not? You havent tried enough to kill yourself tonight?
Im looking for a woman.
Grant made a sound of disgust. As much as it pains me to say thishis gaze swept the roomcouldnt you have found one among the, if not clean, at least the varied assortment here?
No, shes not here yet.
Grant sat back down. Who is she?
Redhead. Beautiful.
Or so says the liquor. Grant flicked an empty, overturned bottle and sent it spinning on the table.
Derek shook his head. I was sober.
I wasnt aware you still did sobriety. At Dereks scowl, Grant said, Well, youre not now. What do you think you could do if you found this girl again? Drink her under the table?
Derek almost chuckled. Im fine.
Then stand up.
I will not
Humor me. Grant rarely brought up the fact that he managed all of Dereks estates and investments. But all that was about to change, and Derek would find out soon enough. Grant pinned his brother with a look. Its the least you could do.
Derek cursed and stood. And swayed.
Grant exhaled loudly. Men as big as Derek presented a hazard when drunk. Without asking, Grant grabbed Dereks shoulder and half-tossed, half-supported him out of the tavern and into a hackney.
I left with you, Derek began as the horses hooves clacked along the street, now tell me what Lydia wanted.
Money.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. Why does that not surprise me?
Grant wantedneededto tell Derek about his recent decision. He needed to tell him that he was tired of being chained to Dereks estates. While Grant was making certain Derek didnt lose everything, he himself had lost four years.
Grant was done.
But Derek looked exhausted, beaten, worse than Grant had ever seen him. Christ, he hated to see his brother like this. It wasnt in his nature to kick someone when he was down. Yet when wasnt Derek down?
When they arrived at the town house, Grant helped Derek, still insisting he was not bloody drunk, to his room. Grant stood in the doorway, alternately amused and cringing as Derek wrestled off his boots. When Derek finally lay on the counterpane, Grant found a blanket and tossed it to him. Good night, Derek. Well figure this out in the morning.
As Grant shut the door, he heard Derek mumble, Thanks. For the help.
Grant opened his mouth to answer Anytime, but knew that was no longer true.
Derek woke sometime during the night. His head pounded, seeming to throb in unison with the ticking wall clock. He squinted at it. Three in the morning. Hung over, and it wasnt even dawn.
He rose in stages and lurched to the washstand. Splashing cool water on his face didnt help his head. Derek knew of only one thing that would. He started toward his study to find a bottle there, but hesitated. He didnt want Grant to wake up and see that he couldnt make it through the night without a drink. Especially not after Grant had had to peel him out of the Mermaid.
But he didnt want to stay here. He told himself it was just because he didnt sleep well off the ship. But the truth was, he didnt sleep well there either. Except for last night. His eyes opened a touch wider. Hed return to the ship to sleep, but on the way there hed stop at the Mermaid, take one last look for the girl, and a drink for the road. Hell, hed pay the girl simply to sleep on his ship again.
His plan set, he orchestrated dressing so that he didnt have to move quickly or lean over too far. As he walked out the front door, the thought of how much hed enjoyed the night before made his steps brisk.
But in the back of his mind, he felt foolish for going back out. For using the girl as an excuse to go get a drink, or for using the drink as an excuse to go get the girl.
A sense of foreboding settled over him. Yet he continued, ignoring his conviction that the night would most likely not improve.
The bloody night did not improve.
Dereks only warning that he was about to be rushed was Jason Lassiter bellowing, Im going to kill you, Sutherland! He whirled around and stumbled, effectively ducking under Lassiters meaty fist.
The bastard had blindsided him!
Lassiter roared and swung again, narrowly missing Dereks averted chin.
When Lassiter yanked off his coat, the crowd in the Mermaid retreated evenly. What were you thinking when you kept her for the night?
So this was about the girl.
You mustve known Id kill you for it!
Not that they needed an excuse to fight.
Lassiter lunged for Derek, who barely sidestepped him. If the bastard wanted a dirty fight, hed oblige. He drew back and kidney-punched Lassiter before he could turn.
His hands clenched at the thought of Lassiter obviously being more than a little involved with the girl. From the look of him, youd think he really cared about her. The thought filled him with rage. Of all the men in the world she could choose as a bloody protector, why Lassiter? He decided then that he wanted to provoke the older man, wanted to fight him.
When Lassiter whirled around, Derek said, Im sure whoever she is, she isnt worth the trip down here.
Lassiters face twisted in fury Im going to tear you apart!
Looking forward to your attempt.
When Lassiter launched another swing, Derek ducked and jabbed, landing a pounding blow to Lassiters chest.
The mans hands flew to his chest and he wheezed frantically, but Derek knew hed only bought time with a man that big.
This shouldnt even be a contest. But hed never fought an opponent so livid. Although it didnt overly concern Derek, that rage could give Lassiter added strength and deaden his pain. It would be a good fight. He welcomed it.
And it was due.
Lassiter shook his head forcefully, as if to shake the hit away, then raised his fists once more.
Derek ignored the circle of screaming patrons crowding around them in a frenzy and focused on dodging Lassiters colossal swings. He succeeded twice. The third smashed into his face. Derek fingered the trickle of blood trailing down his cheek.