My Dangerous Rogue, Paula Wong [best books to read for self improvement TXT] 📗

that she was being rude or anything but he needed to take a good shower.
“How dare you! Unhand me before I---,”
Richard took out an object out of his coat pocket and pointed it at Brock’s chest. Loretta watched in horror. “Care to say anything now?”
He had remained silent.
“Now I need you to answer a few questions for me.” He waited for him not the reply before continuing. “Three days ago, you had seen a woman get shot in front of the inn. I believe that you had seen a man do that. Describe him,”
“I cannot describe him when I am looking in front of him as we speak,” Brock answered bitterly.
“Well I do not think I need to repeat my comment,” He mumbled loading the pistol.
Loretta’s mouth opened in protest. What in the world is wrong with him? Is he mad? Killing an innocent man was out of the question.
“What did he exchange you for?”
Brock stiffened. “I don’t know what ye talking ‘bout,”
“What did he pay you in exchange you tell everybody that it was me. I’m not stupid. I was not the one who shot that girl. I have a witness who can prove so. So tell me who made a bargain with you?”
“I don’t know,” he whispered panicking. “That man said if I said anything he will kill me, so in exchange I tell them that it was Richard O’Conner, and I did. I’m sorry it wasn’t my fault. They were threatening to kill me! You have to believe me!”
Richard seemed to relax, he let go of the man but still his pistol was out, not pointing at him. “Describe him,”
“I wish I can my lord but he was wearing a face mask when I had seen him kill the poor girl.”
He remained silent for a couple of minutes, carefully trying to reword his questions so the man won’t be so suspicious. “A couple of weeks ago, a girl was kidnapped in this part of the town. It has been said that a witness had seen what had happened and that witness, I have heard from the Runners said that it was you. I need you to tell me what happened that day,”
Brock nodded and took of his hat, holding it firmly on his side nervously fretting with it. “Well I remember that there was this girl. She was walking along the road; I was looking for something to eat in the trashcan when that had happened. People were everywhere, with their family and friends. This particular girl I noticed was different from the rest of them. It wasn’t because of she’s alone but because that she seemed nervous. Really nervous about something. Then the next thing I knew a black, rich carriage pulled out in the front and took her. No one seemed to pay them any mind. I’m guess is because they were scared to do anything by it. When the Runner’s finally came though, it was too late. The carriage was long gone,”
“Can you describe the carriage?”
“All I knew is that it looked like it was a hired carriage,”
That is easy to foretell. The whole London sure maybe be rich with people because of the aristocracy legacy but the whole city is filled with either hired carriages or owned ones. And even though God forbid, half of London does use hire carriage to take them anywhere.
“Well it does look like we can rule out the ton,” He concluded simply.
Loretta nodded in agreement. People in the ton would never use a hired carriage. They prefer their own taste and style. Not some flimsy stinky second used vehicle. Or at least that is what she had imagined the words they used.
Sighing, she looked at the ground. Not enough information was gathered other than the carriage and the fact that Anne was nervous.
Anxiety would be the right word to describe her reaction about something. Though the question, what is that something? Why was the reason she had acted like that? Why kidnap an eighteen year old girl?
She didn’t try to think the negative things about her disappearance but what if she had been abducted so she can be sold into the market?
Loretta bit her lip to keep herself from crying.
Crying is useless. It will never solve anything.
Richard glanced back at her expression, his jaw set in firm line. “Well alright. If that is what you insist. I don’t care about the damn rumors about me but you will leave Ms. Chase’s name out of your mouth do you hear me?”
Quickly, he nodded.
“Do you know what he was wearing?”
“Well,” Brock paused to think a moment, then continued on. “I remember that he was wearing an aristocratic coat.” He glanced down at Richard. “Yes ‘tis like this but different patterns,”
He nodded in understanding a light bulb clicked in his head. “Thank you. That would be all,” He took hold of Loretta’s hand and started to walk forward and out of the alleyway, onto the carriage.
“What are we supposed to do now? We have no lead? I do not think we can even find the person who-,”
“Relax,” He mumbled opening the carriage and holding a hand out for her to balance on while she climbed in, thanking him before he hopped in as well, closing the carriage door with a lock. “We can still be able to solve this case. No worries,” He continued softly.
“How can you be so calm? We have no more leads, no more-,”
“I think about the possibilities Loretta. Possibilities on what could have happened.”
“What could you mean?”
“I mean that there might be some other reason why they wanted that girl other than selling her to the market,”
So Richard was thinking the same thing, in a way. No, it wasn’t that he was thinking it, he was thinking about the possibilities. “Well I suppose you’re right but what other purpose would there be?”
“I need you to think hard, has she been involved in any quarrels? Not just her, the whole family name. Have they been involved in a crime or possibility fortune?”
Loretta stopped and thought for a moment. It is possible. Anne and her family isn’t that wealthy. Just then her older sister, Harriett, managed to catch herself a marquis. They were in love and yet he didn’t care if she was not of the status. He cared about only her. “Well I suppose you could say that their wealth has been enormous, now that Harriet had married a Marquis,”
“That will give them motive,”
“Yes,” she mumbled. “A motive, you are right. But it still does not make any sense. From what that man is describing, why would Anne be anxious?”
Richard stared out of the window. “I do not know. Maybe because she knew she was being chased after.”
“What do you mean?”
“There is no reason for you to be anxious in the open, unless of course you are keeping something or not keeping, possibly you know something that is not right. As if she knew she was being sought after.”
“How did you come into a conclusion that she was being sought after? That was someone was searching for her?”
He shrugged, leaning against the leathered seat, his arms crossed across his masculine chest. The memory in the carriage the last time flooded in her mind. Her face flushed slightly, her hands fisted on her lap, damning the blush, hoping he doesn’t remember it in any way.
She will not let him touch her again, no matter how much she craves for his touch. Loretta figured that marrying Alden was the proper way to forget about him. To dismiss the passion and lust for him.
She shook her head, no. She has no feelings for him. She does not love him. This emotion she is feeling is nothing but passion. This is what her body needs. Not what she feels inside. Surely every female craves for attention, for sex.
Loretta is no different.
Trying hard to desperately not to blush about the memory, instead, she fixed her gaze on the outside window. Watching as the shops and inn’s pass by the carriage, a couple of bumps every now and then, this time making sure she holds on the edge of the seat to keep herself steady and not fall off.
Richard glanced over at her. “You do not need to look so tense. I will not ravish you in this carriage,”
A blush threated to come to her cheeks; it took all of her will power not to let it continue. Obviously, he did remember. He had remembered everything.
Embarrassment flamed through her body. Surely she was being ridiculous. She is offering more meaning to it than it already is.
They both needed a release and there was no one in the moment to partner it to except for them. Surely if there were other people in the room he would have picked another woman, just like her, she would have picked another man.
Sighing, she sank lower into the leather seat. It will take hours to go back into the inn. She did not know how Mr. Brock managed to travel all the way here towards the inn maybe by a horse.
“I know you will not.” She said simply turning away from him and turning toward the window yet again.
“I will not try to take advantage of women who are to be married,” Was all he had to say before remaining quiet again.
Somehow, Loretta believed him. No matter of how much of a rogue he is he will never do that.
“Of course most married women are willing,” He added smirking.
Then the nice thought in her head suddenly just vanished. What the nerve this man has! How can he add a comment that was utterly kind then change it to the negative way!
Loretta bit her lip to refrain from adding another unpleasant comment. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes until finally falling into sleep.


He watched her for a scarce moment, finally knowing by the steady rise and fall of her breast that she has slipped into sleep. Taking out the pistol from her coat pocket he examined it firmly. Richard didn’t know what had happened to him back in the alley. All he wanted was an answer. An answer he desperately needed. He admitted, many people framed him to be a killer but most of those times they weren’t necessarily true. He never murdered anyone. As much as he wanted to he couldn’t.
Even if he had killed his brother.
Gripping the pistol hard into his palm, he glanced over at Loretta and her fragile body. How can someone who was innocent be so tempting?
The memory on their love making in the carriage just seemed to unfurl to life in his mind. And all of a sudden, he wanted to do it again with her. He wanted her.
He still does.
Good God, what was wrong with him? He does not take advantage of married women. He takes mistresses not betrothed women.
A slight pang of jealousy made its way to his stomach. She will get married. He suppose that is alright. She would be able to finally be away from him.
Away from his life, his mind, and his heart.
And that is for the best, because if indeed be able to succumb to his emotions, then all hell would break loose because he won’t be able to find peace.
Because all day and night, he would make love to her. Care for her, cherish her, spoil her.
He would be a man of no will.