the way to my chin, the sleeves likewise long and severely fastened. I had twisted my hair into a heavy knot at the back of my head, my fingers trembling almost too hard to secure any pins.
I watched Angus Warfield’s strong shoulders as he led our way this time, seeking a measure of security in his presence before my eyes inadvertently found Ginny in the crowd below; some sixth sense had alerted her, and she was shoving through bodies in her path now, her eyes murderous as she clearly deduced that I was doing the impossible and leaving.
More eyes were lifting to us now, some in confusion, some in outright interest, the hopes of seeing a little drama unfold here in Hossiter’s. My heart was clubbing so hard that I nearly faltered. Angus stepped to the main floor and looked to his men at the bar. Both were studying us with varying degrees of surprised speculation. Johnny kept playing, though he too was peering over his shoulder in curiosity. I remained on the bottom step, feeling gorge rise up my throat as Ginny reached us, her eyes narrowed to slits and her hands forming claws near her waist. If Angus changed his mind, I would be whipped within an inch of my life. She would probably kill me for this humiliation. Make me regret living, at the very least.
“What is happening here, Lila?” she demanded, and though she kept her voice pleasantly modulated, I could hear the deadly threat in her tone.
I couldn’t breathe, my fingers curled over the railing for support.
Angus squared his shoulders and said mildly, “Lorissa is coming with me, ma’am. She will no longer be in your employ.”
Rage flared onto Ginny’s face and my stomach heaved. I couldn’t tear my eyes from her dark, terrible gaze. I watched her struggle for control and find it, before she said, “That is utterly ridiculous. Lila is mine . She owes me more than you could ever know, you smug bastard. Thinking you can come into my establishment and walk out with one of my girls. A top earner, at that.”
“That is exactly what I’m doing,” Angus said, his voice still pleasant. From the corner of my eye I saw his companions rise and join us, flanking Ginny. I could feel their stunned appraisal, but my eyes were locked on Ginny. I knew she kept a derringer in her silk pocket. I’d watched her use it. Horace was hovering, moving slowly from behind the bar.
Oh dear Jesus, please let us get out of here. Please, dear Lord .
Ginny straightened her shoulders and ordered in the voice I knew all too well, “Get back upstairs, Lila, or I will cut off your nipples. I swear to Christ I will. See how he likes you then.”
Angus stepped in front of me, tipping forward into Ginny’s space with a menace that made me shiver. He said, low, “You will never speak to her that way again. She is coming with me, and I will thank you to step aside. And your man, too.”
“Son of a bitch!” she hissed, and reached for her little pistol. The man with the corn silk hair struck before I could even blink, wrenching Ginny’s wrist and disarming her, then drawing her squalling body back against his own, where he pinned her arms. The stocky man whirled in a half-turn and threw a thick forearm into Horace’s throat, sending Horace reeling forward and into a gasping crouch.
“You owe me money, you little filthy bitch!” Ginny growled, her teeth clenched. “I will hunt you down and kill you, you little whore! ”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Angus assured her, nodding to me. He instructed gently, “Get your things, Lorissa, and go outside.”
I willed my feet into action, doing exactly as he asked. As I made my way to the swinging doors, Ramie came running through the crowd.
“Lila, you’re leaving?” she whispered, her eyes perfectly round in shock.
“I am,” I said, with more conviction than I felt. For a moment my heart fluttered as I considered the only friend I had in the place. I told her, my eyes stinging with tears, “I will miss you, Ramie. Keep
I watched Angus Warfield’s strong shoulders as he led our way this time, seeking a measure of security in his presence before my eyes inadvertently found Ginny in the crowd below; some sixth sense had alerted her, and she was shoving through bodies in her path now, her eyes murderous as she clearly deduced that I was doing the impossible and leaving.
More eyes were lifting to us now, some in confusion, some in outright interest, the hopes of seeing a little drama unfold here in Hossiter’s. My heart was clubbing so hard that I nearly faltered. Angus stepped to the main floor and looked to his men at the bar. Both were studying us with varying degrees of surprised speculation. Johnny kept playing, though he too was peering over his shoulder in curiosity. I remained on the bottom step, feeling gorge rise up my throat as Ginny reached us, her eyes narrowed to slits and her hands forming claws near her waist. If Angus changed his mind, I would be whipped within an inch of my life. She would probably kill me for this humiliation. Make me regret living, at the very least.
“What is happening here, Lila?” she demanded, and though she kept her voice pleasantly modulated, I could hear the deadly threat in her tone.
I couldn’t breathe, my fingers curled over the railing for support.
Angus squared his shoulders and said mildly, “Lorissa is coming with me, ma’am. She will no longer be in your employ.”
Rage flared onto Ginny’s face and my stomach heaved. I couldn’t tear my eyes from her dark, terrible gaze. I watched her struggle for control and find it, before she said, “That is utterly ridiculous. Lila is mine . She owes me more than you could ever know, you smug bastard. Thinking you can come into my establishment and walk out with one of my girls. A top earner, at that.”
“That is exactly what I’m doing,” Angus said, his voice still pleasant. From the corner of my eye I saw his companions rise and join us, flanking Ginny. I could feel their stunned appraisal, but my eyes were locked on Ginny. I knew she kept a derringer in her silk pocket. I’d watched her use it. Horace was hovering, moving slowly from behind the bar.
Oh dear Jesus, please let us get out of here. Please, dear Lord .
Ginny straightened her shoulders and ordered in the voice I knew all too well, “Get back upstairs, Lila, or I will cut off your nipples. I swear to Christ I will. See how he likes you then.”
Angus stepped in front of me, tipping forward into Ginny’s space with a menace that made me shiver. He said, low, “You will never speak to her that way again. She is coming with me, and I will thank you to step aside. And your man, too.”
“Son of a bitch!” she hissed, and reached for her little pistol. The man with the corn silk hair struck before I could even blink, wrenching Ginny’s wrist and disarming her, then drawing her squalling body back against his own, where he pinned her arms. The stocky man whirled in a half-turn and threw a thick forearm into Horace’s throat, sending Horace reeling forward and into a gasping crouch.
“You owe me money, you little filthy bitch!” Ginny growled, her teeth clenched. “I will hunt you down and kill you, you little whore! ”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Angus assured her, nodding to me. He instructed gently, “Get your things, Lorissa, and go outside.”
I willed my feet into action, doing exactly as he asked. As I made my way to the swinging doors, Ramie came running through the crowd.
“Lila, you’re leaving?” she whispered, her eyes perfectly round in shock.
“I am,” I said, with more conviction than I felt. For a moment my heart fluttered as I considered the only friend I had in the place. I told her, my eyes stinging with tears, “I will miss you, Ramie. Keep
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