“Chick?” I said. “What’s wrong?”
She let out a yelp at the sound of my voice and scrambled to a sit. Her eyes were red rimmed and her face ravaged by tears.
I sat next to her and asked again what was wrong.
“I cain’t tell.”
“Why, Chick? What’s happened?”
“I cain’t tell no one. Not even Athena.”
This surprised me. I’d not known Chick to keep anything from Athena. “Is it Aiken? Did he hurt you?”
Chick shook her head, but the tears streamed down her face. Her dress was speckled with their wetness. I no longer owned a handkerchief to give her. She wiped her face with her skirts.
“Chick, I promise I won’t tell anyone. Whatever it is. Please let me help.”
“Ain’t no way to help.”
She cast her eyes downward, sniffling as sobs shook her shoulders. I thought she’d never looked younger. There were times when I forgot that she was only fifteen. I pulled her into my arms and let her cry her tears until she was dry. I still didn’t know what had upset her so, but I felt her pain. In the short time I’d known her, Chick had become a part of my heart. Her sweet smile and optimism was like sunshine. I wished I could take her with me when I left.
After she quieted, I sat with her in the silence and rubbed her back. I began talking of things that had no importance.
I reminded her of the fun we’d had last night, frolicking like children in the pools. I didn’t bring up Sawyer, but my face grew hot just thinking of him and the slick feel of his wet skin.
“I thought Athena gon’ box my ears when I dunk her,” Chick said, the smallest of smiles curling her lips.
I thought she was going to do worse than that but I knew Athena loved Chick even more than I did. I had yet to learn their relationship, but the older woman watched Chick like a mother would.
“She gon’ be crazy when she know,” Chick murmured.
“When she knows what?” I asked.
She looked down, plucking at her skirt as she thought about her answer. “You cain’t tell.”
“I won’t.”
“I gots a baby in me,” she said and then burst into tears again.
I didn’t know what to say or do. I sat there, stunned, as I considered what Chick had said. She was with child. In the society I had left, she would have been shamed and ostracized or forced into marriage before anyone found out. But here, in this world, what would happen to her?
“Does that mean you’ll no longer have to work for Aiken?” I asked hopefully.
She shook her head. “He keep me goin’ ’til I show.”
She stopped, and I waited. As the moments stretched longer, I began to feel sick with fear of what she’d say next.
“And after you begin to show, Chick? What then?”
“Then he root it out,” she said so softly I had to strain to hear.
I stared at her, not wanting to accept the picture those few words drew. “But—”
“Ain’t no but, Ella. I seen him do it.”
“You have? But, who?”
“She ain’t wit us no more.”
I hoped that meant she’d been set free, but I knew it didn’t. Even I was not so naive.
“What happened to her?”
“He kilt her. She like Meaira. All she care ’bout was Aiken bring her stuff. That all. He give her the laudanum and then he root around and kilt what inside her. Me and Athena, we try to stop her bleedin’ but there no stopping it.”
“Perhaps he’s learned his lesson,” I said, my voice desperate with the need to make it true.
Chick looked at me with pity.
“Why don’t you want to tell Athena? Won’t she know something to help?”
“She just die if she find out. She know how it be for me. It kill her. I know it kill her.”
“But you can’t hide it forever. How long do you have until you show?”
She shook her head. “I cain’t figure my numbers like that.”
“How about the last time you had your bleeding?”
She shrugged.
“Last month?” I prompted. She shook her head. “The month before?”
“It been some time.”
I took a deep breath. “You’re small, Chick, so maybe you’ll be able to hide it until the end, but ...” But what then?
I wished she would talk to Athena, but she seemed determined to bear this burden alone. All I could do was try to help her.
“You know not to tell Meaira, don’t you? I don’t think she can be trusted.”
“I knows that.”
I didn’t know what else to tell her, but I had to say something to give her hope. I couldn’t leave her out here thinking there was nothing that could be done.
“Give me some time,” I said. “I’ll think of something.”
“Like what?” she asked, eyes bright.
I didn’t have an answer for her, but I couldn’t let the hope drain from her face. “Maybe we can get you away from here. Maybe I can win enough money to help you go someplace else.”
“What ’bout Athena?”
“If you don’t want her to know—”
“I cain’t leave her. She my sister.”
I hadn’t known that but it explained so much. I should have guessed it, but there was no resemblance between the two.
“I cain’t leave her,” Chick said again, more fiercely. “Aiken, he do bad things to hurt her. That what he do. When we bad he hurt Athena.”
I frowned. “Are you saying if he’s angry with you, he punishes her?”
“Not just when he mad at me. Any of us. Honey and Meaira, too.”
I didn’t understand the sense of that. Why punish Athena if it was the other girls who had displeased him?
“He don’ want the rest of us messed up, see?”
And all at once, I did see the twisted reasoning behind it. And in my mind I could see how it would work. I might risk his wrath on myself, but I wouldn’t when another would receive the punishment.
“Why don’t you kill him in his sleep?”
I’d said exactly what I was thinking, but until the words came out I didn’t realize just how horrible they sounded. Had I changed so much that I could calmly suggest murder to this young, pregnant girl? Apparently, I had.
“We try that,” she said, unruffled by my question. “That why he don’t sleep there with us no more. Only with Meaira and only sometime. Then he sleep with his eyes open.” She widened her eyes in demonstration. “I seen him do it. And he always take the horses so we cain’t go at night.”
“Did you ever try to run away?”
She nodded, eyes downcast. “He find us. He beat Athena near to death. That why she limp now. She cripple. She cain’t run no more. Once we get a boy to help us. Aiken kill him ’fore we got to the next town.”
I thought about that and could believe she spoke the truth. Aiken was a lot of things, but a fool was not one of them.
“You think you can help me?” Chick asked. “Cuz I scared, Ella. I scared.”
I held her again and rubbed her back as I soothed her. “I’ll help you,” I said, praying I could make it true. “Just give me time, Chick. A week, maybe two. Can you do that?”
She nodded, wiping the last of her tears away. “I can do that.”
Her smile nearly broke my heart. I had no idea how I would help her. I was stranded with no money, one dress, and I was at the mercy of two men I couldn’t trust. How in the world would I assist this young woman? I only knew I had to try.
I helped her to her feet, and she gave me a hug. “I lucky you came along,” she said fiercely.
I felt the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. I had failed my own family, but maybe, just maybe I could find a way out for Chick.
CHAPTER 28
June 1896
Diablo Springs
After breakfast we all helped Sawyer stock the bar, wash the glasses, and wipe down the tables. By noon ,Sawyer declared him
self nearly ready to open the doors. Aiken sent the girls up to change. I borrowed a dress from Chick that was snug against my fuller figure and made me painfully aware of the scooping neckline. I felt as if miles of skin showed between my throat and the swell of my breasts. I felt at once naughty and beautiful. Chick emerged in the gown we’d made for her, looking so lovely she was breathtaking. She spun and clapped her hands when we admired her. For a quick second, Athena and I exchanged a glance of understanding. She may never like me, but she knew how much I cared for her precious sister.
As I took my place at a table and began to shuffle cards, I was very conscious of Aiken watching me. I did my best to ignore him, but he wouldn’t be put off. All I could think of was Chick and what she’d told me. If I’d been a braver woman, I would have killed him myself.
“What do you think you’re about?” he asked, sitting down opposite me.
“Nothing, sir. I’m just waiting for a friendly game. Captain McCready has given me a job. I’ll be dealing cards at this table.”
Aiken laughed at that. “You got money?” I nodded, but my quick glance at the bar where Sawyer usually stood must have revealed my source. “You got him worked around your finger, don’t you?”
“No, sir. I don’t believe that’s possible.”
“What would you say about coming to work for me since you’re interested in making some money?”
My sweaty palms made it difficult to shuffle the cards. I didn’t know where Sawyer had disappeared to, but I prayed he’d return soon.
“Thank you for the offer, Mr. Tate, but I must decline.”
“Ain’t no cause to be so formal,” he said. His eyes sparkled with humor, and he looked to the unsuspecting eye like a kindly soul making innocent small talk. “You can call me Aiken. The other girls do.”
“I’m not the other girls, Mr. Tate.”
He smiled and reached out to trap one of my hands beneath his. Once again I was struck by how his fussy attire gave the impression that he was smaller man than he really was.
“No, you’re most certainly not the others girls,” he said softly, watching me. “You’re special. I knew that the first time I saw you.”
I tried to pull my hand free, and he immediately released me. “I’m not special, Mr. Tate. Just different.”
“I didn’t know about your family,” he said. “I am heartsick over what happened. You’re lucky to be alive.”
I glanced up, frightened by this compassionate facade, but I saw no mockery or deceit in his face. In fact, he seemed to be sincere.
“Yes, I am lucky to be alive,” I said. “My family was not so fortunate.”
“If I had known, I would have fought harder to keep you safe that night. I assumed ...” He looked embarrassed for a moment, but I was not fooled. “The other girls have stumbled into my life through one means or another. I thought you’d come to me the same way.”
It took a moment to catch his meaning. He imagined I’d joined the ranks of the women intentionally. What a fool. “No, sir,” I said.
“I know that now. Meaira set me straight last night. She tells me you’re too good for me, but not for the Captain.”
Startled, I looked up as a wariness settled deep in my bones. I remembered that Aiken had used Meaira to capture Honey. I felt sorry for her, but I didn’t trust her not to betray me if it meant Aiken would give her more of her drug. I would watch what I said around her.
“Is that how it is?” he asked. “You belong to the Captain now?”
I belonged to no one, but for once, judgment prevailed over my quick tongue. I was not the Captain’s woman, but if Aiken thought it was so, he would tread carefully around me.
“Yes, that’s right,” I said, feeling the stain of my lie creep up my neck.
His eyes narrowed as he watched me, and I knew he didn’t believe me. Leaning back, he gave me a slow, satisfied grin. I braced for him to call me out, but instead, he switched tactics and caught me once more by surprise.
“Meaira said you bargained with the Captain. You bargained my girls.”
Now I saw something hard and flinty in the sparkling eyes. I was already on guard, but this made me even more cautious.
“I merely tried to keep them safe.”
“You didn’t tell the girls they could work for the Captain?”
My mouth was very dry. I tried several times before I could swallow.
“You didn’t tell the girls he’d let them keep their money?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but he shushed me.
“Don’t lie, now.”
He waited for me to say something so I tried to rationalize. “Is it so unreasonable that the girls get a share of their earnings?”
“Now, see, that’s what I’m talking about. They never thought of such things before, but now they think they should get something. I feed them. I clothe them. I make sure the men are presentable when they come knocking. That’s always been enough.”
How could I respond to that? It wasn’t enough anymore, and he was a monster to think it was?
“What is it you expect me to say, Mr. Tate?”
He reached for my hand again, and I was not quick enough to pull it away before he caught it. This time, he didn’t release at my tug.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Ella,” he said, his voice low. That ring of sincerity was back, and now it brought a terror I couldn’t describe. He gave me a bemused smile and leaned very close. I felt his hot breath at the skin beneath my ear. I could smell his hair tonic and the soap he used. But beneath it, there was something dark in his scent, something that shocked me and made me want to fight free.
“Sometimes when I see a woman, I just have to have her.”
“And what if she belongs to another?” I asked when I should have stayed quiet.
“But she doesn’t,” he said, leaning so close his lips nearly touched my neck.
“I’ve already told you, Mr. Tate. I belong with Sawyer.”
At last he pulled back and leveled those sparkling, blue eyes on my face. “I don’t think so, Ella.”
“I assure you it is true.”
“You believe that, girl. But he won’t fight for you. He ain’t got it in him to fight for something. He’d just as soon turn you over as do that.”
I knew the color had drained from my face, but I kept my chin up. “I don’t need a man to fight for me, Mr. Tate. I’m capable of doing that myself.”
“You going to put a bullet through me?”
“Are you going to force me to do so?” I asked.
He threw his head back and laughed. “You’re a sassy one. I like that.”
I didn’t want him to like it. I wanted him to think me trouble and, therefore, not worth his time.
“See, you might have gotten away with shooting Lonnie Smith, but you can’t just go around killing people and not get caught.”
“Can’t I?” I said, before I could stop myself.
He cocked his head and said, “No. But some people need things proved to them. I’m sensing you’re one of them.”
I bit back the challenge that longed to come out. I was smarter than that. I had to be or I would not survive.
“You’re thinking hard, girlie. That’s good. Because there’s nothing you can dream up that I ain’t already thought of.” He leaned in and murmured, “You don’t think Honey’s tried to kill me before?”
I hadn’t thought her capable of such a thing. She wasn’t like me.
“Oh, she has. Ask her what I did. She doesn’t try it no more.” He winked at me. “You won’t, either.”
With that, he stood, leaving me sitting at the table, trembling. He can’t just take me, a part of my mind shouted. There was no need to be afraid. But I couldn’t stop remembering what Honey had told me. And I realized that nothing in my short life had prepared me to deal with such a man as Aiken Tate.
As he strolled over to the bar, Sawyer came from the back room with a box of whiskey in his hands. He glanced at me and then
did a double take as he noted of my new attire. I felt as naked as I had last night at the springs as that mysterious gaze flowed over my bare skin. The look had a touch and feel that lit something deep inside me and I gave it back, responding from instinct to the desire he roused. For an instant, only he and I existed and the rest of the world fell away. Had my legs not been trembling, I would have stood and gone to him, consequences be damned.
Aiken moved then, breaking the spell that had taken me and distracting Sawyer from his concentrated inspection. Aiken gave me a dark look as he slid onto a barstool in front of Sawyer and lit a cigarette. I shuffled my cards and watched like a nervous bird as he leaned forward and spoke to Sawyer.
Whatever he said made Sawyer look up at him, a frown drawing his brows together. I read his expression and felt the blood rush to my face. Aiken had told him what I’d said. I thought of bolting but couldn’t find the courage to move. Sawyer turned his head to look at me once more, and I braced myself for his rejection, but what I saw was not that.
Again, he let his gaze travel from my eyes to my throat to the bare skin above my breasts. The heat in my face spread throughout my body until the spark he’d started burst into flame. He locked eyes with me, and I knew he saw all that I was thinking, feeling.
I’d said I was his woman to protect myself from Aiken. But I realized as I stared back at him, that I wanted it to be true.
CHAPTER 29
Gracie and Analise sat at a table away from the others, looking at the ledger and listening for Reilly to come back down. He hadn’t been gone long, but a feeling of malaise had been tripping down Gracie’s spine, and she caught herself looking at the stairs several times.
She turned the page. The ledger was filled with small, precise numbers, aligned in columns detailing the day-to-day business of the newly minted Diablo Springs Hotel. It showed an incredible profit, parsed down to income from gambling, liquor, and entertainment. A shorthand code followed each entertainment entry that neither she nor Analise could figure out until Chloe joined them and peered at the book, too.
Bad Boys of the Night: Eight Sizzling Paranormal Romances: Paranormal Romance Boxed Set Page 190