The low rumble of drunken voices and tinny piano music spilled through the open windows of the tavern and out into the night. Ada hesitated for only a moment, about to push inside, when a figure emerged from the shadows between the tavern and the warehouse beyond.
She tensed, ready to draw her gun, but as the man stepped into a pool of lamplight, she recognized the sharp features and calculating eyes. Hazel eyes that were all too familiar.
But they didn’t belong to the man to whom she had given her body and, she hated to admit, a piece of her heart.
It was his brother.
“Will,” she hissed, as she yanked the pistol from her cloak and leveled it at his chest.
Jonny's brother smiled, apparently unconcerned about the gun aimed his way. "Well, well. If it isn't the famous Ada Jones. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I'm here to see Sharpe." Ada kept her voice low and even, hoping he couldn't hear the tremor of nerves. "Where is he?"
Will barked a laugh, seeming more amused than threatened by her show of force. He took a step closer, and she set the hammer to full-cock, her message unmistakable.
"Easy there, luv. Sharpe's not here. Seems it's just you and me." His eyes glinted with dark mischief. "Though I have to say, I'm curious what you want with him. Trouble in paradise with my dear brother already? Can’t help you there. Jonny’s always done whatever he’s felt like."
His eyes glinted with an emotion that Ada couldn’t quite name, but it looked an awful lot like regret. It quickly vanished behind that mask of cool indifference she had seen Jonny wear one too many times.
“That’s not it at all,” she bit out. “I know Sharpe’s the one behind those rumors about me. I need them to stop.”
Will's grin widened. He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Is that so? And what makes you think he'd do what you say?"
"I'm done being a pawn in his games. In all of your games." Ada's finger tightened on the trigger. "Those rumors have ruined my reputation. You and Sharpe nearly got Jonny arrested. I know enough about Sharpe’s past that I could talk to the police and make things difficult. I want to make a deal and end this all now."
Will's eyes flickered at the mention of his brother.His smirk faded. "Careful, luv. You're meddling in things you don't understand."
"Then enlighten me." Ada took a step closer, the pistol never wavering. "Why spread lies about me? What does Sharpe hope to gain?"
Will huffed a laugh, but there was no humor in it. "You've got it all wrong. Sharpe didn't start those rumors." He met her gaze steadily, leaning toward her. “I did.”
Ada’s lips parted in surprise.
“But why?”
Will shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Let's just say it pays to keep certain people looking the other way. Jonny's got a target on his back, whether he wants to admit it or not. I'm protecting him the only way I know how."
"By throwingmeto the wolves?" Ada scoffed. "Jonny doesn't need that kind of protection. He's not part of that world anymore. You don’t have to be either."
"Don’t I?" Will's smile turned brittle, his eyes hard. "Funny, that's not the tune Jonny was singing when he waltzed off and left me holding the bag with Sharpe. Suppose I'm still the one to do all of the dirty work while he plays the hero."
Ada lowered her gun slightly, seeing the hurt and abandonment simmering beneath Will’s biting words.
Did he think that Jonny had purposefully left him to face Blackwood alone?
“You do know that your family’s name is written in that ledger, don’t you?” Will continued, lifting a brow. “Even ifyouaren’t involved with Blackwood, your father certainly is.”
“I know.”
“Did you know that he never stopped supplying Blackwood? That I’ve seen a fair number of pistols that look exactly like the one you’re holding? He just learned to go about it a little more discreetly. Here’s the thing, Miss Jones, and it’ssomething you should remember. You can never get clear of men like Sharpe or Blackwood. It’s best to accept your fate and live with the few rewards this life offers than to try to run from it. It’s a lesson my brother hasn’t learned, and it’s one that you might fall victim to as well if you’re not careful.”
At that, he turned and walked away, hands in his pockets, whistling as he went as though he didn’t have a care in the world.
Ada lowered her pistol as she watched him go, wondering if there was any way that she and Jonny were going to get out of this — if there was any chance that either of them would escape this – separately or together.
She had no idea where the two of them stood with one another anymore.
Through the dirty window, she took one last look inside the tavern for Sharpe before she walked away, but he was nowhere to be found through the dim light. Just as she was about to turn away, however, another figure caught her eye. One very familiar figure.
