“My employer likes to think of himself as someone who is quite at home with a certain set,” the stranger said. “But don’t let that fool you; neither he, nor anyone on his staff, is someone with whom to trifle.”
“Noted,” she said, folding her arms and silently cursing in her head. Because whether or not what the man said was true didn’t actually matter, only that he and those around him believed it, and would thus have no compunction making her life very, very difficult if she didn’t do what they wanted.
Oy. Her night was just getting better and better.
“Don’t look so grim; you’re getting an opportunity, right when you need it most.”
“And those situations always work out so well,” Hannah grumbled.
The man gave a harsh, cold laugh. “Your safety is not my concern,” he said with a shrug. “But it, and that of your sister, will be much more secure if you say yes,” he added in the same tone, this time making her shiver more than the snowy breeze that rushed between the buildings. “So do we have a deal?”
She stared up though the darkness, trying and failing one last time to catch a glimpse of his face through the cloak. It would be all right—she’d make sure of it.She’d work hard to place as many defenses as she could between Tamar and whatever danger this brought, as well as stay alert to any danger for her.
Besides, it wasn’t as if she had a choice. She sighed. “Fine.”
“See? That wasn’t very hard,” the man told her. “I’ll be back in a week to check your progress.” He turned from her, his cloak swirling in the wintry breeze.
“Happy hunting, Miss Moses,” he called over his shoulder before leaving her alone in the darkness.
