“Touch me again, and I’ll have you arrested. It is against the law to strike a lord.”

“Think you we care about your threats? She is my mother.”

“Who asked me to rid her of you so she could continue to live in luxury.”

That wasn’t what she’d told Aiden. He’d been taken from her. He placed more value on her words.

“That damned Trewlove woman was supposed to kill you both. I should ask her for recompense.”

Aiden’s fist struck fast and hard, square in the middle of his sire’s face, sending the man reeling back and landing with a hard thud on the floor.

Finn was there, slipping his arms beneath the man’s shoulders, helping him to his feet. Once the lord was steady, Finn rapidly locked the earl’s arms behind him and held him in place.

“What the devil—”

Aiden sank his balled hand into the pudgy gut. The sound of flesh pounding into flesh and the grunt were both satisfying to his ears. “Your wife is under our protection now.”

Another strike. Another oof! “She won’t be returning to you.”

He would set her up in a room at Mick’s hotel until he could work out other accommodations. Shrugging out of his jacket, he tossed it onto the desk and rolled his shoulders.

“You have no right,” the earl yelled, his face blotchy and red.

“We protect what is ours.” Aiden didn’t restrain himself as he delivered another solid blow.

The earl’s legs buckled, but Finn clenched his jaw and continued to keep him upright.

“I’ll see you both hanged!”

“We’ll see you dead first.” He didn’t plan to kill the man, but he was going to leave him hurting. He pummeled him three times, taking satisfaction in the grunt and groans. Stepping back, he nodded at Finn, who immediately released his hold. The earl dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes tossed into the cupboard. His face was blotchy red with anger, his eyes bulging with hatred, his breathing labored as though even the air sought to avoid being in his presence.

Aiden crouched in front of him. “You’ll stay away from the Duchess of Lushing. You’ll stay away from your wife. As a matter of fact, I believe you’re going to steer clear of all your mistresses as well. We’re going to keep a close watch on you and won’t hesitate to visit you again to make our position clear.”

“You bast—bast—ba . . .” His mouth went slack and one side of his face seemed to melt as it drooped and he made murmurs of distress.

Finn knelt beside Aiden. “What the devil is wrong with him?”