Once Upon a Masquerade by Tamara Hughes Page A

wafted up from his clothing as he met her stare with cruel eyes.
    “I don’t have the money with me,” she stammered. “But I can get it.”
    “Sure you can,” he scoffed as he studied her worn day dress, a curious look spreading across his face. With one finger, he brushed the base of her neck and pulled the silver chain from beneath her bodice. “What do we have here?” he asked with a yank, snapping the delicate links.
    She strained against Otto’s hold. “Give it back to me.”
    The chain dangled from his fingers as he turned the etched piece over in his hand.
    “Now can I have a go at her?” Otto pressed, the eagerness in his eyes making her nausea grow.
    Harvey didn’t bother to look up. “Nah, the gent is paying us to kill her, not screw her.”
    Kill her. Now? Terror shot through her limbs like a lightning strike, and she fought Otto’s grip. He easily held her in place. His face split with a wide grin that displayed several missing and decayed teeth. “The bloke’ll never know. We’re to dispose of the body. Besides, she owes me after what she did,” he complained, pointing to the angry cut on his head.
    Swearing, Harvey almost dropped his find as he attempted to open the tiny clasp that held the locket shut. “I’m not going to risk her getting away from you just to satisfy your itch. Six hundred is a lot of money.”
    An icy chill raked over her skin. Dear Lord. Six hundred dollars to kill her. Why?
    Anger mottled Otto’s stubbled cheeks. “Who put you in charge? I thought we were partners.” He nudged her away from Harvey, his hand on her wrists steering her forward. “I want a bit of fun with her. I’ll bring her right back.”
    As they brushed past the older man, Harvey pulled a well-oiled gun from under his coat, pointing it at Otto’s wide nose. “I said leave her. Let’s do the job and get the money.”
    Fear strained Otto’s features as he looked down the unforgiving barrel. “Fine.”
    Laughter rose up from down the street over by the tavern. Harvey’s head turned toward the sound before he motioned them on with a wave of the gun. “Inside.”
    Otto pushed her down the street, grumbling. “Don’t see what it would hurt. She’s not going anywhere.”
    Her panic grew with each step until her body shook. This couldn’t be happening. She had to do something. On impulse, she twisted her body with a sudden jerk and freed one wrist. Hope sprang free as her fist connected solidly with Otto’s chin. His teeth clacked together, and surprise registered on his face, before he growled and wrestled her arm behind her. She stomped on his foot, but he pushed her on ahead, unfazed.
    When he reached Frank, the brawny man straightened and followed behind.
    Her breaths took on a frantic rhythm as they approached a deserted store where a faded wooden sign swung above the sidewalk. Harvey strode past them. When his hand touched the doorknob, the twang of a gunshot pierced the air, and the door frame over Harvey’s left shoulder splintered.
    Otto’s grip on her loosened. He whipped around and grabbed for the gun tucked behind his back. This was her chance. Rebecca let her entire body go limp. Using her full weight to drop to the ground, she broke his hold. She rolled away and hopped up, running as fast as her skirts would allow.
    Otto raced after her with more speed than she thought possible given his bulk. He ensnared her long skirt in one of his meaty fists, knocking her forward onto the ground. Kicking her legs, she hit him squarely in the kneecap. He swore and fell to one knee, but seized her hair with a hand.
    Shots rang out as Harvey exchanged bullets with the unknown gunman. From the corner of her eye, she caught a movement from the side of her father’s building and recognized the slim form of her father as he slipped down the alley, no gun in his hand. He wasn’t the one firing on Harvey. She prayed he would get away unnoticed even as her chest tightened. Although he didn’t have