Secrets in the Mist by Anna Lee Huber

Author:Anna Lee Huber
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: The Killion Group, Inc.
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

M

y heart kicked sharply against my ribs, urging me to run. Except Harry stood over my shoulder, blocking the door. I knew I would never be allowed past him, so I had no choice but to stand there, waiting to hear what they decided to do. I wanted to hurl curses at Jack, furious that he had betrayed me, but I had to be satisfied with shooting him an icy glare. Which did not seem to faze him in the least. If anything, his gaze seemed to sharpen more.

“Did ye bring ’er to share wi’ us?” The man with the greasy pate leered.

I stiffened.

“In a way,” Jack replied.

I stifled a gasp, staring at him in alarm.

His lip curled in a sneer. “Miss Winterton is joinin’ our crew.”

This seemed to stun the other men for it was several moments before anyone else spoke.

The man at the fender narrowed his eyes as he swept them up and down my form. I was grateful for the folds of my summer cloak shielding me from his gaze. “Ye mean, a bit o’ welcome distraction fer us?”

“No,” Jack said slowly. “We need ’er to deliver the Longshore cargo.”

I inhaled a shaky breath in relief, while the others glanced at each other in displeasure. The men before me still eyed me with enmity, but at least I now knew Jack didn’t intend to pass me around like a common whore or sink me in the marsh. There was every chance one of the others might attempt something, but Jack appeared to be keeping his word.

“We don’t need no help,” a man with a thick red beard growled.

“’Specially no’ from some fancy lady,” the stoutest of the men added, eying me with distaste.

“Does Himself—” the coal-eyed man began.

“He does,” Jack interrupted loudly. “An’ he’s decided her job. Not me.” There was a strange look in his eyes, one I couldn’t quite read. “He thinks she’ll be useful.”

I could feel all of their gazes on me again, appraising my worth, but I did not look away from Jack.

“If any o’ ye choose to disagree,” he continued, favoring all of them with a disdainful scowl, “he’ll see that as yer offer to take on her role yerself. An’ he’s offerin’ to make the necessary cuts.”

My eyes widened at the threat, but it didn’t seem to trouble the others beyond a few low grumbles.

“No need. Freddy’s already had his cobblers nipped,” the stout man cracked, and they all turned to laugh at the man who appeared to be the youngest of this motley crew.

He straightened from his slouch to glower at them all. “Oy, better ’n missin’ me frock, Dibs.”

My cheeks heated at this exchange, having guessed at the meaning even if I didn’t quite understand their language. In any case, my reaction went unnoticed as Dibs launched himself at Freddy and the others jeered and heckled.

“Enough,” Harry snapped, crossing the room in a handful of angry strides. He grabbed Dibs’s shoulder in one meaty hand and pulled him away from Freddy, sending him stumbling back into Red Beard.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.