City of Lies by Victoria Thompson

Author:Victoria Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2017-11-07T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Thornton grabbed Lester’s arm. “What did you say?”

“I said you’ll never sell your Ross rifles to the army if you hurt me.”

“What do you know about that?”

“I know everything. I know you need David Vanderslice to help you sell them, and I also know David promised Gideon Bates not to help you.”

“How do you know all this?”

“I heard them talking on the train yesterday. David is going to string you along, but he’s really going to make sure the army never buys anything at all from you ever. That’s what he promised Bates, and that’s what he’ll do unless I help you.” This was a bit of a stretch, but he had to think she was his only hope.

Thornton smiled again, but he didn’t look a bit happy. “And how can you possibly help me?”

“I can convince David to change his mind.”

“Why would David listen to you?”

“Because we’re engaged. We’re going to be married, and he’ll do anything I ask him.”

“Married!” Thornton scoffed. “You’ve only known him a few days.”

“I only knew you a few days, and you would’ve married me.”

“Not married you.”

“You would’ve done it if you had to.” She was right, and the truth of it was on his face. “David thinks he has to, so we’re engaged.”

“You’re a clever little minx, aren’t you?” His tone told her it wasn’t a compliment, so she didn’t respond. For a long moment, no one moved. Then Thornton said, “Let her go.”

Fletch reluctantly removed his arm from her neck, and she drew an unsteady breath.

“How do I know I can trust you?” Thornton asked.

“Because I know what you’ll do to me if I don’t help you. The question is, what will you do if I’m successful and you sell your precious rifles?”

“Don’t tell me you want a commission.”

That almost made her smile. “I’m not stupid. All I want is for you to leave me alone. I don’t have your money, and I don’t know what happened to it, so the best I can do is help you make some more by selling the rifles.”

“What about your brother? If he really is your brother.”

“He can take care of himself, and if he really did steal your money and didn’t share it with me, then I hope you do find him.” Except he’d never find Jake now. The Old Man would keep him safe.

“Well, then.”

Did she dare hope that she’d convinced him? “Well, then what?”

“How are you going to convince Vanderslice to help me?”

“By using my feminine wiles, of course, and reminding him that we owe you a tremendous debt for finding the deputy to serve the warrant on Warden Whittaker. He thinks I’ve never even met you, so I won’t understand why he’d refuse to help someone who rescued me from prison.”

“You really are clever.” He obviously hated her for it, too.

“And in return, you forget we ever met.”

“I don’t think I will ever forget you, Miss Perkins, but I’ll be happy never to see you again.”

At least they agreed on something.

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