Page 87 of Gears
“I’ve got this.” Oss picked up Buster’s body and slung it over his shoulder in a disturbingly easy motion, then sauntered out of the workshop.
“Should I be concerned over that?” Justin pointed toward the direction Oss had wandered.
“Yes and no. You don’t have to worry about Thorne. Oss adores him, but if some of Thorne’s enemies go missing, don’t be too surprised. Oss is protective of those he has chosen.”
The officials overlooked the death of street people, but those that lived there knew when one of their own crossed Oss. Touch one of his and face the consequences. After Affie’s attack, ten men from low-ranking aristocratic families were found dead in various parts of the city. None of them in areas such fine respectable men should be in, so their deaths were hushed up and Oss got away with no one the wiser.
I didn’t share any of this with my beloved. He would sleep better not knowing all the details of his brother’s lover.
“How did they get down here? I thought Cruller blocked the way.”
“I’m guessing Buster knew of a secret tunnel entrance. We didn’t see them until they were already inside. We should’ve covered the known entrances other than the Tower.” Justin didn’t look at me as he confessed his failure.
“We don’t exactly have plenty of guards to go around. Maybe once Oss officially takes over, he can have some of the locals take watch duty.” Right now, we couldn’t depend on people in the City of Magic; we didn’t know who had been involved with Buster’s trafficking. “Did many die?”
“All of the men who came with Buster except two. We wanted to keep a few to interrogate,” Justin confirmed. “We don’t know everyone involved in this situation. Most of them appeared to be mercenaries and of course the magistrate. It will be a blow to the city’s underbelly that one of its largest players is gone.”
“Another will take his place.” There wasn’t a shortage of scumbags crawling through the worst sorts of crime in any large populace. Despite the magistrate’s success, he would be easily replaced. If it took more than a few weeks, I’d be surprised. “What about Vahagn?”
“Didn’t come. I have the impression he wouldn’t get his hands dirty by coming himself and ripping away the illusion of a reputable businessman.”
“You think he’ll take the magistrate’s place?”
Justin hummed as he considered the angles. “Maybe or put someone in that position that he can manipulate. The magistrate was in a particular position to control many aspects of society. I’ll talk to the other Lock Lords to prevent one person from having that much power again. Another might take his place, but we don’t have to make it easy for them by handing over the city.”
“True.”
“Let’s go get Marcus and return home. Oss is king; he can handle everything else.”
“Delegating, how lordly,” I teased.
He tilted his head up. “I am a duke after all,” he replied in his poshest voice.
“A rather handsome one indeed.”
“Better than your rat?”
I pretended to examine his handsome face. “Perhaps. I mean you don’t have cute little ears and a twitchy nose, but I suppose you’ll do.”
Justin threw back his head and laughed. “I adore you, Marbrey.” He wrapped an arm around me and squeezed me tight. “I’m going to keep you.”
“Are you?” I spoke over my thudding heartbeat.
“Absolutely. You’ll prevent me from being too stuffy, and I’ll spoil you rotten.”
“Sounds like you have everything worked out.”
Justin kissed my forehead. “It’s a chore, but you’re worth it.”
I didn’t have any more words. I was tired, a little bit broken over the truth of my idol, and completely in love. Most of all, I missed my bed.
“What about the rest of the mechanicals?”
Justin shrugged. “They are safe here. You can come down and help a few at a time. No sense in burning yourself out. Besides, Torren might have been insane, but he did know how to stock a workshop. No sense in letting that all go to waste.”
I couldn’t argue against good sense. “I want to spend the night in our bed. We can come back tomorrow.”
Justin froze. “Is our bed at my manor or your tilted building.”
“Our bed is wherever I can get you beside me.”
Justin’s sunshine smile warmed me to my toes. “Good answer. We’ll go to my place. We can kick out Minerva and give Marcus to the wet-nurse.”
I nodded my agreement. I had gone through too many emotions in the past twenty-four hours to rouse any type of anger.
Besides, I could always argue tomorrow. After a good night’s sleep beside my beloved.
