“Did Minnie and Tommy not see this when they had it?” he growled out.
“They might have seen it, but they wouldn’t have understood whose families were being mentioned.”
He nodded as he began reading for himself while Ada sat silently and thoughtfully beside him. He poured over the pages as the low rumble of chatter from the rooms beyond was the only background noise.
Before him were pages listing debts owed by ruined families in Manchester — including his own. Anger and betrayal began to bubble deep in his stomach, although the detailed smuggling routes on the next pages that exposed the depth of Blackwood’s operations were eye-opening.
The names of bribed constables and officialswere listed, illustrating the corruption that had spread throughout Manchester. Jonny recognized most of them, having been one of Blackwood’s enforcers who had convinced many of them to join forces with them.
It made him sick to his stomach, but that was all he had known, how he had grown up.
He hadn’t abruptly decided to leave Blackwood’s operations. It had been a gradual understanding that he didn’t have to live that way, that there were other options out there that didn’t involve selling his soul. When his father, the original tie to the organization, had died, Jonny had started to reflect on all of the people that he was trying to corrupt, and wondered why he had to be the man he was when there were so many who were making their living without looking over their shoulder every day, expecting the worst.
It had led him to say farewell to all he ever knew.
And now that past was coming back to haunt him. Each page turned heavier in his hands, a physical manifestation of his family’s struggles.
“Here’s your father’s name,” Jonny pointed out to Ada. “All of the ammunition he supplied started years ago.”
“Until it stopped,” she said.
“I don’t think so,” he countered, biting his lip. “Who would have taken over supplying Blackwood?”
“What are you trying to say?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I am saying that perhaps the reason you have ‘escaped’ Blackwood’s and Sharpe’s operation is because you didn’t really escape. That your father is still in with them.”
Her eyes darkened as she glared at him. “How dare you say such a thing?”
He rolled his eyes in exasperation. “You have to consider it, Ada.”
“Just like you have to consider that your brother is not just Sharpe’s pawn, but a key component of his operation.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
The anger built between them, even though Jonny knew, deep down, that neither of them was truly angry at the other one, but rather at the people who had put them in this position.
“At least your lover’s name isn’t in here somewhere,” he said offhandedly, ignoring the jealous anger that simmered deep within him at the thought of Ada being anywhere near another man, which was completely unreasonable.
“Mywhat?” she snapped.
“David Carter. I can see why your father would want to tie the businesses together. It makes sense, from a supply standpoint for the material, as well as making his own name and business more reputable.”
Her eyes closed as her nostrils flared. “He is not my lover,” she bit out. Interesting that was her main focus of all he had deduced. “Far from it.”
“Oh, sorry, just assumed as it’s been so long since the two of you dedicated yourselves to one another.”
“I didn’t…” She pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. “Is that what you believe? That I want to marry David?”
He shrugged, hoping he appeared nonchalant. “I’m sure it’s just your father’s business that’s stopping the marriage,” he said, reaching out and chucking her under the chin. “Cheer up. Probably not you that’s keeping him away.”
Her eyes opened, anger blazing from within them as the tension built.
“And you would know this so well?”
“Did he find out about our kiss the other night?” he said, lifting a brow, knowing he was riling her but unable to stop himself, as though he wanted her as mad as he was at themoment, picturing her with Carter. “Just warn him that if he comes after me, I can take him. Unless, that is, you accompany him with that pistol of yours. Say, what does he think of all of your late-night activity?”
“He most certainly doesn’t know about any of that,” she said through nearly closed lips.
