Page 66 of Redemption

“This is where I first saw the boy, and my informant says he’s here three times a week, and always the same days, including Fridays at approximately the same time.”

“Then that means Ruckley has expanded his holdings. This used to be Bilkin’s territory.”

“Bilkin’s body was found in an alleyway not too far from here about a week ago.” Ashford’s response echoed with note of frustration.

Although she didn’t know any of the investigator’s clients, she knew he did a great deal of work for solicitors and barristers in the courts. Ruckley’s expansion meant the investigator would find it more difficult to secure information. Informants always faced the prospect of retaliation by the man in control of a territory. And Ruckley was renowned for his vicious and sometimes fatal methods.

Ashford exited the carriage followed by Percy. Aware of her role in the rescue operation, Rhea remained where she was. The private investigator murmured something to Percy before moving to speak with the driver. Percy leaned back into the carriage to study her for a moment. There was a look in his dark eyes that made her realize how deeply worried he was.

“Ashford says he placed a man at the end of the street in the event of trouble. But you’re to stay in the carriage,” he said sternly.

A sudden urge to stop him from leaving swept through her, and Rhea quickly reached out to grab his forearm. Almost as rapidly as she’d reached for him, she drew back. Before she was out of reach, Percy caught her hand and tugged her toward him.

“After the way you left this morning I was beginning to think you didn’t care.” The husky sound of his voice caressed her like velvet. Fire burned her cheeks, and she hoped the dim light hid the pleasure his words gave her. She shook her head as she tried to free herself from his grasp.

“I have no desire to see you or Mr. Ashford injured.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” he said softly as he bent his head to kiss the inside of her wrist. “But somehow I think the concern you feel for me is quite different than what you feel for your friend Mr. Ashford.”

The way his mouth lingered on her skin sent a tremor through her, and she suppressed the desire to lean forward and kiss him. With a shake of her head, she tried to dismiss his observation. But Ashford reappeared and tapped Percy on the shoulder. With one last kiss to the inside of her wrist, Percy stepped back and closed the carriage door. Left alone in the darkness of the vehicle, Rhea tried to quell a sense of dread that wrapped around her like a heavy cloak. She reminded herself that she always felt this way every time she returned to the East End. Closing her eyes, she leaned back into the leather squabs of the carriage’s seat.

“Breathe, Rhea. Just breathe,” she murmured.

Deliberately she forced her thoughts to focus on the good things that had happened to her since her aunt had pulled her out from under Ruckley’s control. One image after another flowed through her head. Arianna’s marriage, the children playing with carefree abandon at Green Hill House, even the simple fact that her belly was full was a blessing. And then there was last night.

As much as she tried to deny it, she wanted to be in Percy’s arms again. When he’d kissed her wrist moments ago she’d been terrified something might happen to him. She still felt that way. The strong feelings she developed for him in such a short time frightened her almost as much as the idea of him being hurt.

The sound of voices outside the carriage sent tension streaking throughout her. She was accustomed to Ashford taking much longer than this to spirit a child away. Rhea leaned forward to peer out to the window and saw a young girl trying to fight off a man who was clearly intent on having his way with her. The girl could not have been any older than Arianna had been when their father had sold them to Ruckley. Without thought or hesitation, Rhea quickly exited the vehicle and crossed the street to where the girl was struggling with the man.

“Hear mate, get on with you,” Rhea said in a rough, but passable male voice. “The girl don’t want nothing to do with you.”

The man spun around with a grunt of irritation. A nearby lamp post cast off a shadowy light and highlighted the man’s features. The moment she recognized him, Rhea experienced the sensation of being pushed into the Thames in the dead of winter. Edgar. The self-preservation instincts she’d honed well while living in the East End automatically rose to the surface. It was possible Ruckley’s lieutenant might not recognize her if she maintained a cool head.

“Who the devil are you telling me to leave this tart alone.” Edgar turned his head only to see his prey had disappeared. With his back turned, Rhea deliberately shifted her position to ensure her features remained in the shadows. The young man whirled around to face Rhea once more. Despite her natural reaction to retreat in the face of his anger, she held her ground. The one thing she remembered clearly about Edgar was how he exhibited the same type of propensity for cruelty Ruckley did.

“What the fuck do ye think you’re doing pushing your nose in me business,” he snarled. “That whore was simply bilking me out of more coin than she were worth.”

“Then I’ve saved you a few quid,” Rhea said quietly.

“But I didn’t ask ye to help save me money,” Edgar said with furious outrage.

When Rhea didn’t respond, the young man uttered an oath, and with the speed of a striking snake, his fist connected with Rhea’s jaw. The blow caused her to stagger backward several steps to avoid falling into the slick, fetid street. The world shifted beneath her feet again as Edgar grabbed her by her wig and tugged hard. The pins holding the wig in place scraped across her scalp as the hairpiece came off in Edgar’s hand. She heard a low shout and footsteps pounding the cobblestones in the distance, but she ignored the sounds.

The boy stood still staring at the wig in amazement before his gaze swerved to Rhea. Eyes widening with amazement, Edgar stared at her for a moment before his expression grew malevolent. He tossed the wig aside and pulled something from his pocket. The sudden glint of silver in the dim light made Rhea’s limbs grow taut. Danger was something she was well acquainted with and this was no different than any other time. Rhea’s gaze swept over Edgar looking for any sign of weakness she could exploit. Nothing revealed itself, but she knew he would underestimate her and make a mistake soon enough.

“Well now, lookee here. If it ain’t the high and mighty Miss Rhea,” the young man sneered. “Come to kidnap more of Ruckley’s family? He ain’t gonna like that none. But he sure will like it when I bring you home as a present?”

“Family?” Rhea ignored the threat of Edgar handing her over to Ruckley, and eyed the young man with cold contempt. “Ruckley’s sense of family died the day he was born. In fact, I think the two of you are the closest thing to family each of you has. It’s almost buggery the way you do his bidding.”

Shock registered on Edgar’s face before, with a vicious rage, he slashed out at her with his knife. Rhea easily darted out of reach as she recalled all the times she’d been forced to watch others fight Edgar. A wave of hatred crested over her as she dodged him a second time. The thief growled with fury and lunged forward to grab her arm. Despite being caught off guard by his attack, Rhea quickly twisted away. To break free of his hold, she swiftly bent her head and bit down on Edgar’s filthy hand.

It was a defensive move she’d learned a long time ago in these rat-infested streets. Like a repulsive vermin scurrying in retreat, the young man cried out in pain then jerked his hand away from her. Rhea wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her jacket in an attempt to erase the taste of the boy’s unwashed body. Edgar stood a few feet away nursing his hand, and Rhea took advantage of his distraction. In two quick steps she was in striking distance, and she planted her foot viciously into the thief’s side.

With a grunt Edgar stumbled backward before he quickly recovered and flipped his blade to his good hand. Despite the tension threatening to hinder her mobility, Rhea centered her thoughts on the threat at hand. As she watched him advance, she saw him shift to the left, and she smiled grimly. She had him. Whenever Edgar feinted to the left, it meant he intended to feint to the left a second time and then go right. It gave her the opening she was hoping for.

Prepared for his move, Rhea tensed as his knife flashed in the light of the gas light as the blade moved in her direction. She’d already twisted her body and was preparing to deliver a vicious blow to Edgar’s kneecap when a hard body came between her and Edgar. She heard Percy make a hoarse sound of pain and immediately knew Edward’s blade had connected with Percy shoulder.

“Damn it, Percy,” she snapped as she ducked under his arm and planted a hard kick between Edgar’s legs.