“As I’ve told you many times before, I’ll reduce the fees for your shop if you decide to make our other arrangements more plentiful and convenient,” he said, his words slurring.
“We both know that’s the last thing either of us wants or needs. Just cut to the chase.” She rolled her eyes, though there was an odd hardness below her breast in the place that usually thrummed with excitement over the money and what it would do for Tamar’s prospects. How much closer it would bring them to their goal.
Because she did want her sister to succeed, even if that meant leaving her and their home. And almostcertainly needing to distance herself for the sake of her new life and her new family. That would be fine. She would not diminish her sister’s happiness to bolster her own. While she cherished their time together, she’d always known that it, like the days they’d spent with their parents as a family of four, like everything in life, was temporary. And what came after would be fine.
After all, her life might not have been all her choosing, but she’d made it her own. And she’d survived the worst parts of it. Again and again. Besides, unlike her sister, she had no way ever to integrate herself elsewhere. Even if she had the opportunity. Not with all she’d seen and knew. Oy, she needed to learn to drink the way Ned did.
“Just give me the name and description,” she muttered to him when Ned didn’t respond to her quip.
“I have it written down.” He pushed open his coat and pointed to the top of his trousers. “Right in my belt. You know how to get it.”
Double oy. She did not want this today. Hannah closed her eyes, willing herself to remain calm. “I’m not fishing it out just to have you fall over on me. You’re too far in your cups for this, Ned.”
“Since when did you earn the right to tell me what I am or what I’m not?” he taunted. “You used to be a great deal more fun. Don’t make me regret coming back here.” He waited for a moment, as if he expected her to approach, before shaking his head. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing. I’m just ready to work, that’s all. Get us paid, like we both want.” She clenched and unclenched her fists as her brain churned in search of some way to make him just, for once, permit her to win.
But no solution came, and Ned was clearly in a mood himself.
“Oh, I intend to have you work, just in more than one way tonight. Thus, if you want it, come get it.” His lip curled into a triumphant smirk, as if he could read her mind.
Hannah bit back a sigh. Not whatshewanted, but what choice did she have? It wouldn’t be the first time she’d had to swallow her pride to handle such a situation and it would certainly not be the last. She had just hoped, perhaps foolishly, that after all these years, Ned would somehow be different. At least with her.
Completely foolish. After all, he was a true predator, just one who permitted her to run with him. She was a scavenger at best, and could become prey upon anyone’s whim. She would never make the rules—she could only choose to obey them or skirt them. Something she’d learned well, and she could never let herself forget.
“Now,” he demanded. “You’re going to prove to me your gratitude and loyalty, as both have been a touch lax as of late. Not that it isn’t expected from your kind.”
Her spine stiffened at the old insult. He certainly knew where to find chinks in the armor she’d forged for herself and had no problem poking at them. Before she could force herself to move, he wrenched her hair hard enough that her eyes watered.
“You better make this good,” he muttered. “You owe me,” he added, snapping his fingers at her as she coaxed the small scrap of pride that wouldn’t die to settle and her feet to move. “And if you don’t deliver, remember, there’s always your sister. It’d only take a minute, and I’d have her down here, in your place, earning this jobfor you. Which might be a better idea, given your attitude this eve’n. And after all, while you’re withering, she’s grown up nice.”
Everything inside Hannah stopped. “What did you say?” Her words were an unfamiliar whisper.
Ned didn’t seem to notice, though; he was still talking. And gesturing. “I’ve seen her about and it’s clear she could be just what I’m owed. Her tits are almost as—”
Hannah didn’t think, didn’t hear, barely saw anything but a flash, as the temper that had once cost her and her family so much flared to life. She’d be damned if he even breathed in the same direction as Tamar. Before she registered what was happening, she’d leapt on the man, pummeling him. However, the element of surprise only took her so far. In a flash, his fingers were wrapped around her neck. Squeezing.
Hannah gasped for air.
“Ungrateful cow.” The words filled the cold air as she grew dizzy and limp, darkness edging and—the grip loosened for a moment just before Ned’s fist collided with her cheek, sending her reeling back into the wall. “There’ll be no more jobs from me,” he told her before giving her a swift kick, so she fell, a mixture of cold rain and wastewater soaking her stockings. Ned stood over her and chuckled for a moment, before turning away.
“Good luck with the competition,” he called as he sauntered out of the alley. “Word spreads fast and you’ve proven your lack of usefulness to anyone who’d hire you. And don’t expect anyone I do business with to be using your shop again now, no matter how much you pay,” he added for good measure.
“Fuck.” She murmured the word out loud as she struggled to rise against the wall. The side of her head was throbbing as well as her cheek and neck.
And worse, what Ned said was true. There would be no more jobs now. People with her skills and desperation grew on every corner. Her ability to comply with no fuss had been one of her best assets and without that reputation… she shook her head. Not to mention the fact that Ned had quite a bit of influence in the criminal world. There were plenty of other pawnshops and fences for him and his associates. Gentile-owned ones with more agreeable proprietors. Hannah leaned her forehead against the outer wall of the shop.
The only solace she could take in the situation was that this time, her temper was only going to cost them money, not their lives.
But they needed the money.Tamarneeded the money. Because without it… Hannah shook her head and the world spun. She closed her eyes for a moment before reaching out to clutch the side of the building and haul herself to her feet.
She’d not cry; she’d not. She hadn’t cried in years, not since her trial, when, after seeing her parents for the first time in nearly seven months, her mother had put a hand to her lips, signaling that she was not to say a word, as both her parents outright lied, insisting that they, not Hannah nor Tamar, had bought and sold the obviously stolen silver bowl.
The witnesses all agreed in bought-and-paid-for testimony. Only one had refused and testified against her, but he could only attest to her handling of a smaller object, consequential for no more than a minor prison sentence.
In the end, the fortune that her parents—a penniless girl who’d fled an unwanted groom and the boy who loved her so much, not even Siberia could keep him away—had accumulated managed to save her from a noose. But they were still gone. And it was still her fault.
Like it would be if she couldn’t give Tamar a better life. She suppressed a sob. She should’ve left her in the Jewish Orphan’s Home, shouldn’t she have? The woman had been right. She was no good for her sister and would ruin every—
