“Fellas. I’d tell you we’re not open yet, but I suspect you know that.So I’ll just say that if my doorman isn’t still in one piece, you won’t be for much longer either.”
Bruiser George and his hulking friend stopped, both clearly expecting fear and taken aback when it didn’t materialize. “He might have a bit of a headache,” the smaller man said. “But you shouldn’t need to hire a new one.”
“Glad to hear it.” Honor crossed her arms.
Vivian caught her breath, her knees trembling as she wondered whether she needed to get the hell out of there.
“Say what you were sent to say then, and get out,” Honor continued. “I’ve got a business to run here.”
The chatty George smiled, slick as oil. “That’s maybe not the smartest thing to say right now, Miz Huxley. You’ve had a couple warnings already. And this business you’re so proud of… well, you’re just one woman.” He glanced at Eddie, who cracked his knuckles and scowled. “I’d really advise you to tread a little more carefully. You don’t want to make any enemies.”
Honor waited a beat. “Was that all of it, then? Seems a waste to send you boys down here just for that nonsense. You should talk to your boss about making better use of your talents.”
An ugly look crossed Bruiser George’s face as he stepped forward. “Listen here, you f—”
“Ah-ah, careful.” Honor raised one finger. Vivian couldn’t see her face, but something about Honor’s expression must have scared George, because he stopped in his tracks. “You might want to rethink whatever it is you’re about to call me.”
She tipped her head to one side; the men looked where she indicated and blanched. Vivian, whose attention had been glued to the simmering drama playing out in front of her, glanced around the room for the first time. Her eyes grew wide. The musicians had put aside their instruments and come down from the bandstand, while the bartenders and Honor’s silent bruisers had drifted in from the back hall and stood only a few steps away.
Danny was only a pace behind Vivian, and he put a quick, reassuring hand on her arm as he stepped past and took up his post behind Honor’s shoulder. The two toughs eyed him warily, clearly remembering their last encounter. Honor didn’t look around, but judging by her posture she knew Danny was there, knew all of them were there, standing loyally at her back. Vivian felt dizzy with fear and adrenaline. Like the rest of them, she would have rushed forward the moment Honor gave the word.
“Was there anything else you needed to say?” Honor asked, soft and dangerous.
Eddie cracked his knuckles again, looking uneasily at his partner, as if resigned to the inevitable need to go down swinging. The smaller man glanced around the room once more before turning to glare at Honor. “Smart girl, having so many men around,” he taunted.
There was a shift of weight around the room, and a low, angry murmur from the Nightingale employees, but Honor laughed. “You want to settle this just you and me? Fine, I’ll tell my muscle to back off if you’ll do the same.”
“We’re here to deliver a message, not fight,” George snapped. “And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll give us the name of Mr. Wilson’s killer.”
“Can’t give you what I don’t have,” Honor said. “And anyway, I read in the paper that he died of a heart ailment.” She glanced at Danny. “Ain’t that right?”
“Sure is,” he replied, his entire body coiled and ready to fight.
“So if that’s all, gentlemen, my boys here will show you out.” Honor gestured behind her, and Vivian jumped as the two bruisers brushed past her to go stand by their boss. “Be gentle, fellas,” Honor added. “We wouldn’t want word to get out that we’re looking for a fight.”
A quiet chuckle went around the room, but Vivian couldn’t bring herself to join in. Even once the two errand boys had been escorted out of the club, she couldn’t relax. Instead, she shifted from foot to foot, full of jittery energy that had nowhere to go, as the musicianswent calmly back to rehearsing and Danny conferred with Honor in low voices.
“We’ll talk about hiring a few more man-sized deterrents,” Honor agreed as they both turned away from the door. “Benny and Saul will check on Silence and—” Honor broke off as she caught sight of Vivian’s tense figure still hovering behind her. “Oh, pet, I’m sorry you were here for that,” she said, her voice soothing. She reached out to gently rub her hands up and down Vivian’s arms; Vivian was surprised how warm they felt against the chill of her skin. “Go wait in my office while you calm down, it should be unlocked. Danny, bring the girl some bubbles, will you? You know she loves them.”
“Sure thing, boss.” He glanced at Vivian. “You need me to walk you back there?”
Their concern was embarrassing enough to help her pull herself together. “Don’t worry, I don’t need to go anywhere. I’m peachy, really.”
Honor shook her head. “Do it for me. Please. I’ll feel better if we can talk for a few minutes once I get this all sorted out.” She smiled gently. “You can tell me how you liked the waltz.”
She was lying, of course—Vivian caught the worried glance Honor and Danny exchanged. But it was enough to let her save face, so she nodded. “See you in a bit, then.” She added, with an effort at her usual sauciness, “Don’t forget my bubbles, Danny boy.”
Dancing had given Vivian smooth feet and tight control over her movement. She would let herself shake, she decided, when she was safely in Honor’s office with the door closed against watchful eyes.
She sauntered across the dance floor without letting her trembling knees give her away. The band leader caught her eye as she left and gave her a quick wink, and the brief moment of camaraderie bolstered her as she walked down the empty hall and up the stairs. Behind her, the music rose once again, a clamoring warm-up that almost drowned out the shouts of the staff as they hurried to finish setting up for the night.
That feeling of comfort lasted until the door to Honor’s office clicked shut behind her. She let herself sag back against the wood, closing hereyes briefly as she gulped in a breath and wondered if her heartbeat was going to slow down anytime soon.
She opened her eyes when a strangewhooshingnoise echoed through the room. There was a jumbled mess of papers on Honor’s desk, and a pile of them had toppled over and slid down to the floor.
That didn’t seem like Honor, to leave her papers out with her office door unlocked. Frowning, Vivian walked across the room, already stretching out her hands to pick them up.
The sharp movement in the corner made her draw up short. Heart leaping, Vivian spun around. She wasn’t alone in the room.
