A Right to Love: Romantic Spinoff From The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 2.5

by Liza O'Connor

  When the regiment turned off St. George and headed left, Jacko heard the speculation among the men around him. “Dragon’s Cloud, they’re headed for Dragon’s Cloud!” Every man in these parts knew no place was better armed than the Opium Den. Tonight, people were going to die. The crowd pulled back. Jacko was not surprised. If nothing else, the occupants of the Lower Thames had a keen sense of survival.

  He continued with the army, doubting the men hired to protect Dragon’s Cloud would stand and die, not with death a certainty against this massive show of force. He expected the guards would scurry like rats once they understood the Queen’s Army was willing to kill British citizens to achieve their objective.

  The captain of the brigade led his men to the very door of Dragon’s Cloud as special squads continued down Ransom Alley to secure the back of the notorious establishment. The officer nodded to a sergeant. Jacko flinched at the ear-deafening bellow the man produced. Even standing behind the brigade, the belligerent angry voice cut through like glass.

  “This is Her Majesty’s British Army, here to ensure the safety of British citizens within. Persons possessing any sort of weapons must lay them down now, or prepare to die.”

  One foolish guard in the fourth floor window tried to shoot the sonorous sergeant, but soldiers took him out before the man had a chance to pull the trigger. The Queen’s special riflemen shot two other men who had only peered from windows. Having proved the army was not only willing, but evidently happy to kill the scum of the earth, Dragon Cloud’s well-honed defenses fell like dominoes. The impressive league of armed men turned into frightened rats scurrying for their lives.

  The steady explosions from behind the building told Jacko the soldiers stood ready in the alley and were exterminating the vermin as they tried to escape out the back.

  Jacko smiled. The world was quickly becoming a better place to live. The men who protected Dragon’s Cloud were some of the most vicious killers he’d ever met, and that was saying a lot.

  While most of the army remained outside, two squads entered the Dragon’s Cloud. Shots broke out and continued in sporadic bursts for nearly twenty minutes as they worked their way through the many rooms of the five-story building. Screams of fright and cries of agony interspersed the bursts of gunfire.

  Jacko worried for Xavier. All the shots sounded like army rifles, which meant the soldiers were shooting at the first sign of danger. He feared a one-eyed beggar man might represent danger to these trigger-happy men.

  Unwilling to wait any longer, he slipped on his jacket and secured his badge. His source said Xavier was on the fifth floor in the ‘missing room.’ Hopefully, the army’s bullets would not find the room before he did. He did not worry the soldiers would actually locate Xavier. According to his source, the room had no obvious door. The entrance was through the closet of another room. However, a bullet did not need a door to find its target.

  His concern and anxiety grew. Getting through the army surrounding the building cost him ten minutes, his reason for entry questioned every five feet. He tossed about Stone’s name like a whip, until he finally reached the door.

  Soldiers were herding crying young men and women down to the first floor, where they huddled into a writhing cluster of fright and misery. The stench of fear and urine mixed with the odor of opium and gunfire assaulted his nose. Whimpers and sobs filled the air.

  He had not realized how many girls and boys this place held in the secret rooms upstairs. There looked to be over a hundred. Far too many for the customers of Dragon’s Cloud to utilize.

  Vic was right. They were gathering these poor creatures for sale to white slavers. Yet, never in his life had he heard of a shipment of this magnitude. He shook his head in disgust and tried to go upstairs.

  A soldier stopped him. “Sorry, sir. For your own safety, you must stay down here.”

  “I’m with Inspector Stone, and my assignment requires me to be upstairs.”

  “I’ve got my orders, sir. No one is to pass these stairs until my captain gives the all clear.”

  Frustration and worry threatened to send Jacko in a rage. Every second he waited, put Xavier’s life at risk. He seriously considered tossing the soldier off the steps and making a run up the stairs, but since another guard stood at the top of the landing, all that would do was get him shot.

  Having no viable alternative, Jacko slammed his back against the wall and cursed the mindless nature of an army. He glared at the soldier who prevented his search, putting his face to memory. If Xavier died while he was kept down here, he would find this bastard…

  He ran his hands through his hair. And what? Kill a man for being an obedient soldier? He groaned with frustration. To be so close and held back, it just wasn’t fair. “Where is Inspector Stone?” he demanded of the soldier.

  The man jerked his head to the top of the landing.

  Jacko looked up to see Stone descending the narrow stairs. His heart flipped in shock as he spied Victor, looking worse for wear, following behind him.

  By God! The pup had come here on her own? It was one thing to act in ignorance, but he had clearly warned her what would happen if she tried to investigate this place. He glared at Vic. While looking upset, she did not look repentant.

  Tempted to slap her across the head, Jacko turned his focus on Stone. “Did you find Xavier?”

  The inspector’s grim expression told the answer even before the chief shook his head.

  Jacko tried to squeeze by him on the narrow steps. “I have to go up. My sources say the room is hidden.”

  Stone gripped his arm. “I have ordered the men to tear down every wall of this place. I am convinced we found where they kept him, only he was no longer there.”

  Jacko needed more assurance than that. Unfortunately, he knew the inspector hated to have his statements questioned. However, Vic dearly loved to explain matters in detail. He glanced behind Stone, only to discover the pup was gone. “Where’s Vic?” He scanned the floor below, but couldn’t find her anywhere.

  A loud commotion just beyond the front door caught their attention. “That’s got to be the pup.”

  Stone cursed softly beneath his breath as they both hurried down the steps and pushed their way through the crowd of people. Once outside, they came to a halt. Vic was scuffling with a policeman.

  “Vic, release the man at once!” Stone barked.

  Vic abandoned the policeman and pushed her way towards them, both angry and unrepentant. “Inspector Stone, you have to help Sara.” Vic dragged him by the arm to the wagon. “She’s my cook’s niece. I have to take her home with me.”

  When Stone ordered the man to release the one called Sara, half the girls inside declared the name.

  “Oh, for the love of God!” Vic stormed into the wagon and retrieved the proper one.

  While Sara clung to Vic in weeping gratitude, Vic yelled at the inspector. “Why are you arresting these girls? They are the victims!”

  “We are not arresting them. We are taking them in for questioning.”

  Vic’s eyes rounded. “Inspector Stone! These people have endured enough torture to last a lifetime. They do not deserve an interrogation.”

  Stone looked at Meyers, who whispered in his ear. Stone paled and then grew angry. “Well, evidently they do. Not one of them will admit to the name of Laura.”

  Jacko understood the inspector’s angry reaction. If Vic’s heroine was not in this cluster of girls, then more than just Stone’s job was on the line. Parliament itself might fall for sending the British Army onto British soil without just cause.

  Vic focused on a beautiful young girl cringing behind another. “Did you tell Laura the soldiers had come to rescue her? Does she know you are here in answer to her prayers?”

  Rubbing his face with his hands, Meyers looked to heaven in what Jacko suspected was a request of patience. “No, I just asked if Laura would step forward.”

  Vic reached out his hand to the girl. “God has answered your prayers, Laura.”<
br />
  Seconds later, Vic had two young women clinging to her.

  Sighing in relief, Stone smiled at Vic. “No one will undergo interrogation. However, we do need their statements, and since most have no homes, we need to get it now before they disappear onto the streets.”

  Jacko’s attention returned to the building. Further rifle shots echoed in the night. He couldn’t leave without knowing for certain Xavier wasn’t still lying in a hidden room. Jacko gripped Stone’s shoulder. “I need to verify for myself Xavier is not here.”

  “If you must, but please be careful. The men are a bit jumpy.”

  Vic snared Jacko’s arm. “He’s not kidding. They will shoot anyone not wearing a uniform. I would never leave Xavier behind. I give you my word he’s not there.”

  “All the same, I need to see for myself.”

  As he turned towards the door, Stone stopped him and called a lieutenant of the army. “You are to escort this man to the fifth floor and ensure no one shoots him.”

  The soldier frowned. “Fifth floor is gone, sir.”

  “What does that mean?” Jacko demanded.

  “Nothing left of it. We ripped out all the walls, and even the floorboards. Fourth floor is almost gone, as well.” He pointed to debris flying from a fourth floor window.

  Jacko blinked several times as he made out the towering pile of debris. Stone had been dead serious when he said the soldiers were tearing the place apart. If Xavier had been there, they would have found him.

  The pup tugged at his sleeve. “Jacko, now that you aren’t going to get yourself needlessly shot, I have a job for you later this evening.”

  It was nearly two in the morning! Did Vic believe gypsies never slept? “Do you mean in a few hours from now or truly this evening after I’ve had eight hours of rest?”

  “Oh, sorry. I meant an hour from now. I plan to send Alice any servants who wish to work in good homes.”

  The pup’s presumption astounded him. He was damn certain the lady did not want nor need this mob of riff-raff as servants. “Shouldn’t you first ask if she wishes to have a staff of a hundred?”

  Vic scowled at his question. “Not to hire. Just to keep until she can find them jobs with good families.”

  Alice had an estate to run. He doubted she had time to find jobs for servants. Nor did it make any sense to send servants to the country to find jobs in London. “Is this not something your sister could do?”

  “My sister is presently visiting Alice, so I’ve no doubt she will try to help.” Vic rolled his eyes. “Despite that, I have every faith she and her mother will succeed at the task.”

  Jacko had grave doubts about Vic’s scheme and would have refused to take part, except for one thing‒it provided him a reason to visit the lady of his heart.

  Chapter 10

  Alice looked up from the book she was reading to her mother and noticed an odd cloud of dust on the horizon. She moved to the window to get a better look. Five wagons slowly moved up the road towards her house.

  “What on earth?” The carts looked to be loaded with people, lots of people.

  Her mother rose from her chair and joined her at the window. She grabbed Alice’s arm in fear. “They may be ruffians sent by Carson.”

  Alice squinted to improve her sight. “No. Many look to be young girls.” Her heart fluttered as she recognized the lead driver. “Jacko…”

  “What about him?”

  “He’s driving the first wagon.”

  Her mother remained silent for a moment and then a faint smile came to her lips. “These people must be in need of rescue. Hurry downstairs and set May to cooking. Have Thomas prepare rooms.” She paused. “Where on earth will we put them all?”

  The problems were irrelevant. All she cared about was Jacko had returned to her. She ran downstairs and warned May to prepare for an invasion of hungry people.

  “How many?” May asked.

  “About a hundred.”

  “A hundred! I can’t cook for a hundred!”

  “Well, do the best you can. Perhaps the farmers’ wives will help.”

  She then turned to find Thomas glowering at her. “Oh Thomas, we are having company.”

  “I heard. Might I inquire why I wasn’t told before now?”

  “I didn’t know. I just saw the five wagons coming down the road.”

  His brow creased with concern. “And you have no idea why they are coming?”

  “None at all.”

  He snapped his fingers at a footman seated on the kitchen bench. “Hamon, quick to the basement and bring up the guns.”

  “Guns?” she said in shock. “Hamon, wait. We don’t need guns. These are young ladies and men.”

  Thomas remained unconvinced.

  “And Jacko is leading them.”

  “Never mind the guns,” Thomas said and then glared at her. “I hope he is not going to make this a stopping place for every person he rescues.”

  “I hope he does.” Alice’s hands landed hard on her hips. “If he is willing to risk his life to save people, then the least I can do is offer them shelter until they are ready to move on.”

  “Then they are expected to move on?” Thomas’ eyes narrowed.

  The thought of hundreds of rescued people permanently squeezed into the house made Alice laugh. “Yes. I promise you, whoever they are, Mother and I will sort it out and send them on to more permanent shelter.”

  Thus relieved, her butler left to prepare for their invasion.

  ***

  Jacko struggled to keep his eyes open. It seemed like days since he had last slept. He tried to recall the last time he had a solid four hours of rest. Thinking back, he groaned at the answer. Not since Davy asked him to assist Vic. God, Xavier’s pup was about to run him into the ground with her relentless tasks.

  Normally, he would have refused this assignment. Any damn fool could follow the directions here. He came for one reason.

  As he turned the last curve in the road, his heart lifted at the sight of Alice standing outside of the house, waiting for him. He blinked, uncertain if she were real or an illusion of his sleep-deprived mind. He had left so abruptly last time, he hardly deserved such a welcome.

  As he neared, she stepped forward, as if impatient to receive him. Now certain she was not an illusion, he smiled in return and nudged the horses to move a bit faster.

  The horses ignored him. Five hours of lugging a load of humans had taken its toll on all. When he pulled to a halt, Alice stood next to the wagon, shifting from foot to foot, impatiently waiting for him to tie off the horses and get down.

  He cursed softly as he struggled with his simple task. Her groomsman, Dom, climbed up from the other side. “I’ll take it from here, sir.”

  Jacko rested his hand on Dom’s arm and nodded in appreciation. He then stumbled off the wagon. He would have fallen if not for Alice’s strong grip around his waist. God, she felt wonderful.

  “Are you hurt?” she asked as her hands frisked his chest. The electricity in her touch helped him revive.

  “I’m just tired. Vic is a hard taskmaster.”

  Alice brushed gentle fingers over his cheek. When he looked in her eyes he saw more than concern, he saw both desire and love. He shook his head and tried to clear his mind. Ladies did not love men like him.

  “Let me get you to bed,” she said.

  Now certain he had fallen asleep and simply dreamed her looks of love and desire, he shook his head. “I have to wake up.”

  “Just lean on me,” she insisted. She then spoke loudly to the assembled company. “Welcome to Litchfield. My butler Thomas will see you settled. If any of you know why you are here, please let him know.”

  Still certain he dreamed, he laughed at her request. He had never heard a more dignified admission of confusion. “God, you are magnificent.”

  Her grip on his waist tightened. “I am pleased to hear that.”

  She assisted him upstairs to a bedroom. He could tell this was her room, and not jus
t by the simplicity of the furniture and the lack of frivolous clutter. Her lavender scent was everywhere.

  She led him to her bed. With one hand, she tugged down the blankets, and then set him on the bed’s edge. She unbuttoned his silk shirt. When trying to slide it off his shoulders, she stood between his legs and moved in deliciously close. Her breasts were only a fraction from his mouth.

  He refused the tempting bait. She was a lady, by God, and he would treat her as such even in his dreams. He dropped his head back to remove the temptation.

  Her soft hands, slowly sliding down his arms, made him groan with pleasure.

  “Are you certain you are not in pain?” she asked as she knelt and her hands unfastened his pants.

  “The pain of pleasure…the pain of wanting you,” he whispered.

  Her cheeks reddened, and he detected a faint quiver in her voice when she spoke.

  “Can you stand a moment?”

  With her help, he stood and groaned with need as her hands guided his pants down his legs.

  “What was I thinking?” she muttered, her voice flustered and embarrassed. “Sit back down. I failed to remove your shoes first.”

  He laughed and caressed her hair as she tended to his feet. “Of course…ladies do not undress men.”

  She glanced up at him. “At least not until they find the one they love. Then ladies do what any woman does.”

  Jacko no longer cared if he drove the wagon off in a ditch. He never wished to wake from this perfect dream.

  With the boots pulled off, the pants soon followed. She gently eased his head upon the softest pillow he had ever known and picked up his legs, sliding them onto the bed. Finally, she pulled a soft sheet over him and kissed his lips. “Sleep now.”

  He wanted to return her kiss, to deepen it to one of passion, to pull her body onto his and make love to her for hours, but before he could act on his dream, his world went black.

  ***