by Wendy Vella
They trod silently to where the old building stood. Dev looked around for people and saw two men standing at the front of the building. A black carriage stood waiting for someone, and Dev wondered if it belonged to this Dominus Toby spoke of. Looking toward the building, he opened his senses and found Lilly, her unique color among the others inside. She was alone, and relief nearly buckled his knees as he watched her move. She was alive and her color strong.
“I see her,” Dev whispered. “I'm going to get inside through one of the open boards. Cam, you come with me and watch my back. You others stay here.”
“I should come with you.”
“I know you want to, Toby, but I need you to go back to the end of the street and keep an eye out for anyone approaching.”
He didn't want to; Dev could see it in the narrowing of his eyes and jut of his jaw.
“Trust me to get her out safe, Toby.”
“I do.”
“Can I take your scarf with me? I may need it.”
Nodding, the boy quickly unwound it from his neck and then left.
“No risks, Dev, you call to Eden if you need help, and I'll come,” James said.
Leaving their family looking grim, he and Cam walked along the building until they found some broken boards and a space big enough to slip through.
I'm coming, Lilly.
Lilly was dirty, hungry, and in the light of day, she had also been bloody angry. Now, however, the darkness was making her fear for her sanity. Moonlight helped, and showed her she was alone in the room, but still the shadows had appeared, and with them the fear.
Her hands and feet were bound, and she had been bundled into a cart and carried for hours—well it had felt like hours—to her current accommodation.
The small room she had been thrown into had nothing to sit on or look at. In fact, it was dark, damp, and airless, with only one window above her in the roof.
She feared for Bee and Wilson, and hoped they had survived the attack. Where was she? Would anyone come for her?
Looking up, Lilly tried to focus on the glass and the sky beyond, anything to force back the terror that was rising inside her. Could she see stars? Just one that she could focus on.
Biting her lip to stop the moan of terror, she inhaled a deep breath and slowly released it.
“You are strong, Lilly. The dark will soon give way to light, and you will be safe until then.” She forced herself to focus on those words. She was intelligent and knew that her fear was irrational, but it had been that way since she was a child.
Did anyone know, besides her staff, that she was missing? Who would come and find her? Toby, definitely, Wilson and Bee if they were unhurt. Mr. and Mrs. Davey, perhaps. Her brother? Definitely not. In fact, he would probably rejoice in her disappearance. A pair of green eyes slipped into her head and Lilly quickly banished them.
Lord Sinclair would come for her if he knew she had disappeared, because he was an honorable man, but who would tell him? Blinking several times, she forced the tears away. She would not think of him now, or the prospect that she would never see him again. It really was ridiculous how she felt about him, and all simply because he had been nice to her.
Liar, there is a great deal more to your feelings for him than that, a little voice inside her head said. Lilly pushed it aside.
Had she been kidnapped because of her interference with the missing children? It now seemed likely. If whoever was taking them had enough power, he could have her removed—as he had—successfully. Yet, she was still the daughter of a nobleman, so kidnapping her would not go unnoticed. Presumably she was a threat that made this worth doing.
Relief filled her as a key fitted into the lock on her door. She didn't care who walked through that door; whoever it was would take her mind off the dark and the thoughts spinning around inside her head. Lilly struggled to wedge her bottom into the corner of the room and lever herself to her feet. If she was to face her captors, it would be standing and defiant.
“I ’ave food.”
Not exactly a cheerful face, yet the man was not fearful-looking either. Short and round, he could be everyone's favorite uncle and not their feared jailer, and better still, he had a lamp. Lilly felt the muscles in her body slowly ease as light began to fill the dark spaces in the small room.
“Why am I here?”
“Not my business. Eat and drink or don't, I care nothing either way.”
“Charming. I bet you have trouble with the ladies,” Lilly muttered, wondering if she antagonized him enough, would he leave and forget to take the lamp with him. “It's not as if you have the physical attributes to fall back on either.” Lilly clamped her knees together to stop them shaking. She would not show this man she was terrified. Her grandmother had told her to never show fear when faced with adversity. “Attack, Lilliana, when others expect you to cower!”
“There's no call for you to speak to me like that!”
“Oh sorry, were the words to big for you to understand?” Lilly cooed. “I meant that you're ugly.”
She watched his face puff up and turn as red as Mr. Davey's nose on a chilly winter's day. Lilly wondered why she was antagonizing the man when she was alone, bound hand and foot, and totally at his mercy.
“I have ladies!”
A man's ego was so fragile, Lilly thought, looking him over slowly and hoping he couldn't hear the thudding of her heart.
“Come now, sir, we both know the women who spend time with you could not be termed ladies, even loosely.” She was pleased with her words, even if they were high-pitched and squeaky.
“My Rosetta is a lady!”
“I need you out here, Joe!” The words came from somewhere beyond the door.
“I ain't untying your hands now.”
With a final glare at Lilly, the man dropped the tray at her feet, taking the lamp with him as he left the room. As the door clicked shut, Lilly was once again plunged into darkness.
Slumping to the ground, she pulled up her knees. How would she ever escape from here? The food smelled bad and she had no intention of putting any of it into her mouth; the way she was feeling it would just come out again anyway. She felt the sting of tears begin to slowly fall down her cheeks and was angry for the weakness. Tears achieved nothing but a sore head and tired eyes, yet still they came. Lying on her side, Lilly gave up the battle, letting them flow in the hopes that exhaustion would help her sleep and, let her escape the darkness.
Chapter Seventeen
Dev, with Cam on his heels, made it through the warehouse undetected and up to the second floor. He had seen the colors of several men grouped together in a small room downstairs, but had managed to keep away from there. Passing the door that he knew Lilly sat behind, he noted the lock was large and secure and the door made of sturdy wood. He had nothing to break it, and even if he did, it would alert someone that he was there.
Moving past, he did not tell Lilly he was near, but kept walking to a small door at the end of the hallway. Opening it, he found a balcony.
“You stay here,” he whispered to Cam, then motioned that he was going up onto the roof.
Climbing onto the railing, he pulled himself up. If his luck was in, there would be a window in the side of the building or in the roof and he could get her out that way. Walking slowly, he hoped it would hold him. Dropping to his knees when he was above her, he found a window and looked down. Pressing his face to the glass, he tried to find her.
“Lilly, it's Devon,” he said softly, using his fingers to tap on the pane. He kept tapping until he heard her call his name. He had to take a chance and break the glass—hopefully they would not hear him from below.
“I'm going to break the glass, Lilly. Move away from beneath it.”
Standing, he stomped his foot, and the window cracked instantly. Taking off his jacket, he wrapped it around his fist and cleared the glass from the opening.
“Please hurry, Devon!”
He could hear the panic in her voice and remembered he
r fear of the dark. Add to that everything else she had endured, and he would say she was close to hysteria.
“Soon, Lilly, I will have you out soon. Just a few minutes more.”
“I-i-it’s dark in here.”
“I know, sweetheart. I am going to put a knot in the end of this scarf and then lower it to you. I want you to use both hands and hold on tight while I pull you up.” Lord, he hoped she was strong enough. The distance wasn't great, yet it would be difficult for her.
“I-I can't. My hands are bound at the back.”
Someone would pay for leaving her bound, helpless, and alone in the dark; he would see to it. Once again on his stomach, he looked down at her.
Dirt was smeared over her face, her clothes were torn, and her hair had come unbound. However, it was the look of utter desperation in her eyes that made him curse. He'd never seen that look before.
“Y-you'll have to get help.”
“I won't leave you, Lilly,” Dev said, trying to work out how the hell he was going to get her out of the room. She sniffed but said nothing further.
“Bend at the waist and slip your hands under your bottom. Then sit on it and try and wriggle them under your legs so they are bound in front of you.”
He watched as she wriggled, trying to push her hands beneath her.
“My petticoats and bottom are too large.”
“Your bottom is not too large, it's perfect. Now wriggle harder.”
She did and finally she sat and began a series of maneuvers to try and get her legs through her hands. If she failed he would call Cam, then drop into the room and lift her up to him.
“It-it's hard!”
Her skirts were now up around her waist as she tried to wriggle her hands past her ankles, and if the situation were not so dire, he would take great pleasure in viewing her long, slender limbs.
“Don't you dare look at my—”
“Knickers?” Dev supplied. At least she had some fight back in her voice.
“I did it!”
“Clever girl. Now stand and take the end of the scarf.”
Sitting upright, Dev braced his feet on either side of the window frame and began to pull her up.
“Don't drop me!”
“Untrusting wench!” Dev grunted.
“My h-hands are slipping.”
“No,” Dev wheezed, “they are not.”
“Pull, Dev!”
He answered with a grunt. When his hand clamped on her wrist, she sobbed. Standing, he hauled her through the opening and then she was free.
“I–I have you,” Dev rasped, breathless as he lowered them to the roof. He sat with her on his lap, wrapping his arms around her. He held her tight and dropped his head to her shoulder.
“Thank you,” she whispered, burrowing into him. “I didn't think anyone would come so soon. I-it was dark, and then a man came and I was horrid to him, and he left a-again, taking his lamp.”
He let her babble out her fear as he held her, stroking her hair and assuring her she was with him now, and safe.
“Let me untie you,” he said when his breathing had begun to regulate and she had run out of words.
“Thank you.” She gripped his neck hard. “Thank you for coming to find me.”
Dev kissed her cheek, and then easing her back, he untied her feet and hands, rubbing each when he had finished.
“I have you now, sweetheart; no one will hurt you again,” he said, cupping her face between his hands. “I have been slowly going out of my mind imagining what horrors you were being exposed to.”
“You really mean that, don't you?” she whispered.
“I never say anything I don't mean.”
“I-I did not think anyone would come for me,” she added, and Dev wanted to go and find Nicholas Braithwaite and punch him, only this time harder.
“My family and James are here, plus Toby, and I would love to tell you how many ways you are special to me, Lilly, but right now we need to leave as quietly and quickly as I came, before any of us is detected.”
Lilly nodded. Dev lifted her to her feet. He took her gloved hand and led her to the edge of the roof. Cam was waiting to take her, and Dev lowered Lilly into his arms. He quickly followed. Opening the door, they saw no one in the hallway, and he pulled her through behind him. On tiptoes they walked its length, and then started down the stairs.
“We need to slip past a room where I believe several men are, and as there could be trouble waiting for us out there you must run if I tell you to,” Dev whispered. “My family will be outside, go to them.”
“I will not leave you.”
“You will do as you are told, Lilly. If I say run, you run to where the others await.”
“I—”
“Promise me,” Dev demanded softly.
“I promise.”
Cam snorted at the unenthusiastic tone of her voice. However, she had promised, so at least Dev had her word.
Dev could see clearly; Lilly and Cam, however, could not, so he led them silently through the warehouse. It was as they approached the hole they had entered through that he heard the sound of feet running toward them.
“Run straight ahead, Lilly, there is a hole in the wall. Once you are through, call James!”
She left his side as the first man reached him. Turning, Dev swung out with his leg as James had taught him to. It connected and the man went down. But seconds later, the next was upon him.
Cam had two on him, and the brothers fought with everything they had.
Dev heard Cam's war cry as he took a fist to the chin that made him see stars. He looked and found James entering the fray, Dev’s sisters behind him. He took a right to the jaw and quickly returned the favor with more force.
“Don't touch him, you cad!”
Lilly appeared on his right, wielding a piece of wood like a saber. Dev didn't have time to roar at her, as the man before him was bigger and meaner than the others. He just hoped she stayed healthy so he could kill her for disobeying him when this was over.
“Leave now!” he managed before taking a fist to the stomach that nearly doubled him over.
“Take that!”
Dev watched the man’s eyes open wider and then he simply fell backward, landing hard enough to ensure that if Lilly hadn't cracked his head, the floor would have. James did some sort of swinging kick caught his man unaware and sent him face-first into a wall. Cam, with a well-placed punch, finished off his opponent. Nobody moved for several seconds, all dragging in large lungfuls of salty air.
“You, madam,” Dev wheezed, pointing at Lilly when he could speak, “promised me you would run when I told you to! Yet I turn around to see you wielding that bloody piece of wood like Zenobia!”
“Wasn't she Queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Roman Syria?” Cam said, grinning.
“Yes, she led a famous revolt against the Roman Empire,” Eden added, stepping to Dev's side with a handkerchief, which she pressed to his sorely abused lip.
Ignoring James's snort of laughter, Dev glared at his siblings as best as he could over the white square of linen. He was well aware of what they were doing, but this time it wasn't going to work. Nothing was distracting him from telling Lilly what he thought. He was sure she'd taken years of his life tonight by getting involved in the fighting.
“Shut up, all of you!”
“Now, Dev, you've always lectured us on learning about famous women as well as men in history. Surely Zenobia falls into that category.”
“Cam, I will thrash you if you don't cease!”
“I had my fingers crossed!”
Spinning back from glaring at his siblings, Dev gently pushed his sister and her ministrations aside and looked at Lilly as she spoke. The wood was still clasped firmly in her hands and she looked small and fragile, a façade that no longer fooled him.
“What?”
“I had my fingers crossed when I promised you.”
Dev stared at her for several seconds—maybe the events of today were catchi
ng up with her, because she was making no sense. “What?” he said again.
“Oh, well then, that makes perfect sense,” Essie said, rushing forward to take the wood from Lilly and drop it to the ground.
“Yes, it's a code we Sinclairs have always lived by,” Eden said, moving to Lilly's other side.
“Eden,” James warned in that tone that told Dev he wanted her to shut up and stop interfering. As he was in full agreement, he followed it up with a glare.
“You crossed your fingers when you promised me you would leave?” Dev said as it finally dawned on him what the hell she was talking about. She didn't speak, just nodded. His sisters moved closer, pinning her between them.
“Excellent. Well, I'm glad that's sorted,” Cam said loudly.
“Nothing is sorted! For Christ's sake, when we cross our fingers on a promise it is over something trivial like raiding each other’s rooms and stealing belongings, not... not”—Dev had never been the type to fly into a rage, but it seemed tonight it was his destiny—”when your life is at stake!”
“I don't know, when Cam took Miss Pound Cake, I was devastated,” Eden said.
“She was a doll!”
Lilly's giggle sucked the anger right out of Dev. It was such a sweet, unrestrained sound, and all the sweeter because it came from a woman who had had very few reasons to giggle in her life.
“We need to get out of here,” Dev snapped, pointing to the hole in the wall and scowling. “Now!” he roared, which had his siblings scurrying forward, dragging Lilly with them. James, however, strolled. The Duke never scurried.
“Toby, you are coming with us too,” Dev said, looking to where the boy sat.
“I-I c-can't.”
Dev heard the pain and quickly crouched before him. He had one hand clutched to his side and when Dev pulled it away, he saw blood. “Why didn't you say something?” he said, picking him up and running to the opening.
“It hurts.”
It must have been bad if he said that because this stoic little boy was not one to make a fuss. Dev found his siblings in the carriage that had been outside the warehouse. James was driving, with Cam seated beside him. He hoped that between them they could get them home safely.