“Hello, Nix,” Zach said to the shadows.
“Did they get away?” Forrest asked.
“They did, sir. Safe and sound.”
“Many thanks.” Forrest took more money out of his pocket and held it out. The man slunk out of the shadows and took it. “For shoes.”
“I’m mighty grateful.”
“We need names, Nix.” Gabe’s voice was hard. “These are just the middlemen, and I doubt they would know who the Merchant is.”
“I know one of those men who was there tonight. He’s Briggs, and a right bad bugger.”
“Where can we find this Briggs?”
“He’s often found at the Salty Sailor. Got a girl in there called Nina.”
This time Gabe held out some money. “For the violin lessons.”
They waved down a hackney and climbed in. Michael had a bloody nose, Zach a swollen jaw. The others had bruises forming, and Forrest knew by the ache in his cheek he’d fared no better.
“Now is a good time to lay out the rules, Forrest,” Nathan said.
“Rule one. Do not do anything without first letting your cousins know what it is you are going to do,” Zach said.
“Rule two,” Nathan said. “Don’t walk into danger without first alerting said cousins you are walking into danger.”
“Which is the same as rule number one,” Forrest said.
“But clearly it needed reinforcing,” Gabe snapped.
“Rule three,” Michael said. “We watch each other’s backs but cannot do that when rules one and two are not adhered to.”
“Rule four,” Gabe said. “Never do that again. My heart nearly stopped. However, I’ll add to that, well done, Forrest, you saved the lives of those women tonight, and your actions were very brave, if stupid.”
“There was no time to talk it through.”
Zach sighed. “It’s like he’s been part of Alexius for years.”
“You came in handy tonight, cousin, being able to understand and communicate,” Gabe said.
“There have been times in my life when I have known fear,” Forrest said. “But it was different tonight.”
“When have you known fear?” Michael asked.
He looked at Gabe; his eyes were steady. It was up to Forrest if he chose to tell them his story. Was it time to move on from his past? He thought that perhaps it was. His life was good. His child happy and loved. There was Miss Ruby Knight, but as he didn’t know what to do about her, he’d ignore that for now.
“It’s a long story.”
“We have time,” Zach said, yawning. “But speak in a loud voice so I stay awake.”
So, he told them his story as he had Gabe. He answered the questions they asked, and when it was done and they’d reached the townhouse, he realized that more of the pain inside him had eased.
Tonight, he and his cousins had saved two women. Tonight, he had unburdened more of the dark inside him. Sinking into his bed after checking on his daughter, he fell into a deep healing sleep, and dreamed of Ruby.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Ruby walked as quickly as she could on her journey home. She had spent the day with Ella in the nursery. The child had a sniffle, so they’d played inside.
