Chapter Eight
Contrary to what nearly anyone would believe and what made sense considering her father’s business and her own precision, Ada didn’t like using guns.
They made so much damage, were so final – the ultimate threat. They unleveled the playing field, which, usually, she didn’t enjoy.
But tonight was a different matter.
Tonight, she had used her proficiency to tip the scales back to the side where they belonged, even though after his refusal of her help, she should have allowed Jonny to lose it all himself.
She would have done so, would his downfall not mean her own or that of her friends.
As they rode away from the police station, Jonny tried to speak a few times, likely in protest, but she shook her head at him, telling him to be silent.
She had much to say to him, but she would far prefer to say it when they were alone.
She rapped on the roof of the carriage, and when thedriver began to slow, she turned to Will, her gun trained on him.
“You will get out now,” she said. “Tell your employer that Jonny will meet with him soon, that he has what he is looking for, but that if he wants it, this is the last involvement he will have with Jonny or Manchester Central. Do not involve me in your explanation.”
“Or else what?” Will challenged.
“Or else you will find out what the consequences might be,” she said with what she hoped was a sinister smile.
It must have worked, for Will swallowed hard before pushing the door open and stumbling out into the night. They had arrived at the docks, so hopefully, he would be able to pass on his message to Sharpe soon enough.
When he was far enough away, she ordered the driver to continue before pulling the door closed and staring at Jonny from across the seat.
“I think you can put down the gun now,” he muttered. She actually rather enjoyed having this power over him tonight, especially after this had all proven her to be correct — he had needed her.
“Can I?” she asked, lifting it as though she was inspecting it. “It’s rather fun to hold you at gunpoint.”
“Apparently,” he said wryly, but she did lower it, making sure she set the hammer at half-cock.
“Well?” she said, leaning back against the squab. “Are you going to thank me?”
“Thankyou?” he said incredulously. “For what?”
“For rescuing you in there,” she said in equal disbelief. “If I hadn’t arrived, Will would have the ledger and you’d be sitting in one of those jail cells.”
He scoffed. “I had that well in hand. There was no way Will was leaving withthe ledger.”
“Very well. You both would have been in a cell,” she said. “Better?”
She lifted a brow and waited. Despite her annoyance with him, she couldn’t deny how attractive he was to her, how she couldn’t help but eye that solidly built muscle beneath his shirt which had her fingers itching to reach out and feel it for herself. She had tried to deny how she felt about him – physically, of course, for she had no interest in him in any other regard – but it seemed the only way to keep herself from thinking about him was either to get him out of her life or to maybe – just maybe – have another little taste.
“Fine,” he said, his eyes glinting. “Thank you, Ada, for following me when I told you not to, and running into a police house with your gun, shooting everything that moved — and many things that didn’t — just to prove a point.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Just can’t admit a woman saved you, can you?” she said. “I seem to recall you being the same man who said the women should stay at home during your rescue attempt last year. Let me ask you, how would that have turned out for you if we had done as you said? Oh, yes, you would all be at the bottom of the River Irwell. You nearly were, as it was, thanks to your brother’s arrival.”
He grunted, refusing to meet her eye as he crossed his arms over his chest. She thought about her conversation with Emmaline. It was time to rethink Jonny as a man to enjoy. For he was far from fun and would never be the man to ensure she was enjoying herself, despite how much her body seemed to want him.
Far better to find someone else. Someone different.
“What is your next question?” she said, tapping her finger on her chin as though she was having a conversation with him and not with herself. “Oh, yes, why did I come? Well, unlike what you might think, I didnotcome to save you for your ownbenefit. If you had been caught, we all would have been implicated as we were part of this with you, of which Finch is well aware.” She stared at his expression, even as he tried to hide it from her. “I see that you already considered this, judging from the guilt in your eyes.”
“I do not feel guilty.”
