Page 98 of To Catch A Rogue

"I want to talk with Gemma and Obsidian."

Kincaid arched a brow, and then seemed to think better of saying anything. He held up his hands and stalked off.

"Subtle," Lark muttered as he helped her into the carriage where Gemma and Obsidian already waited.

"It was your decision."

Yes, but I thought I'd have more time. He could see it in her eyes.

Lark settled beside him on the carriage seat, her fur wrap draped around her shoulders. She stared steadfastly out the window as the door shut and the driver snapped his reins on the horses' backs, as if wishing herself as far away from this moment as possible.

They made innocuous conversation for several miles. Sergey's new palace was on the very outskirts of the city.

"How did the letter drop go?" Gemma asked, once they had a little bit of distance under their belt.

"I mixed it in with Tatiana's other letters, so it looks like an honest mistake."

"Excellent. Why do you look so grim then?"

His brows knotted in the middle. "I don't look grim."

"Does he look grim?" she asked her lover.

"As grim as a sugarplum can," Obsidian replied, without a single hint of a smile.

"Oh, ha. Good to see you're getting a sense of humor as your memories return. Before we know it you'll think you're as funny as Byrnes."

"Nobody thinks they're as funny as Byrnes. What's the problem?"

"There's something we need to discuss with you," Charlie said, taking Lark's hand. She'd been staying very still during the interplay, as if she wished to crawl beneath the seats and vanish. "Something that might be a bit of a problem."

Gemma's expression sharpened. "Yes?"

"We have reason to believe Nikolai Grigoriev survived the Grigoriev family massacre," he said, then swiftly filled the pair of them in on what Lark had learned that night, leaving out certain details.

Gemma, however, was no fool. "Why would he reveal such important information to you?"

Lark drew a deep breath.

You can do it.He squeezed her hand.

"Because I am also—"

An explosion suddenly rocked the carriage, throwing him into her. Charlie flung his arms around her as the carriage careened onto one side and slowly began to tip.

Glass shattered as they hit the ground. His forehead slammed into the carriage roof, leaving him blinking as the world swayed. Something sharp drove into his ribs. Maybe an elbow. And then Gemma was tumbling into him in a froth of skirts.

It took him long seconds to realize the world had stopped shaking.

Charlie pushed up onto his hands and knees. "Everyone alive? Lark?"

"Here," she grumbled, pushing at his chest.

It had beenherelbow.

He grabbed her chin, tilting her face to the side to check for any signs of blood.

"What the hell just happened?" Gemma cocked her pistol.