announced there’d be some shindig for courtesans? “What sort of search are we talking about here?”
“The kind where men and women are put up on auction and sold to the highest bidder. You steer clear of that nonsense, Jade. You’re exotic, and those idiots down below like exotic—and the way the rumors have it this morning, not everyone is a willing participant. The auction will be in two weeks, and you’d be best off keeping your head down, your ears covered, and your tail safely hidden. If you don’t have a long dress, I’ll get you one and make it your uniform for the next while, because to hell with losing a girl to that bullshit.”
Bullshit was one way to put it. “I don’t have a dress,” I admitted.
“Tell me your sizes or what you think might fit, and we’ll figure something out. You watch out for Tom Hartlen. He’s flirting with everyone this morning, and he even made a damn pass at me when he first came in. You’ll be on your toes all shift; I’d bring in an extra girl, but everyone I’ve got is already here.”
While the main room had seemed busy, that the boss had brought in everyone warned me I had a hell day ahead of me.
A hell day beat a quick trip to the East in the not-so-loving arms of a bounty hunter. Oh, well. I’d make do. I always did. “You got it. How do you want me to handle Tom?”
“I’ve already told this to the rest of the staff, but if someone touches you that you don’t want touching you, go ahead and get violent. I’ll even provide a stick.” Brent went to one of the steel cabinets and pulled out a billy club, which he handed over. “Wear it in the open and don’t be shy about hitting someone like you mean it.”
“Did someone act up this morning?”
“Lora spent the past hour crying upstairs, and I won’t have one of my girls crying like that again in my establishment.”
“Who do I have to hit for upsetting Lora?” Of all the waitresses working at McCoy’s, the girl was the only one below drinking age, and she ferried out meals to diners without touching the alcohol.
“You don’t have to hit anyone. A poet had his way with him. It was rather ugly.”
My brows shot up. “A poet?” It took me a moment to remember the more destructive of mages used poetry to make their magic work. “There was an evocation mage here?”
“Sure was. Not sure where he’s from, but he’s a mix, and he meant business. This fella went after Lora and scared her something fierce, which was when the mage took offense, saying no man had any business treating the girl like that. The bastard who bothered Lora is short a hand now, and the mage was nice enough to cauterize the wound, so he should live to tell the tale.”
Nobody survived in the Alley long short a hand, and if infection didn’t get him, the lack of work, the storms, or word about how he lost his hand would. It never failed to amaze me how odd people could be.
Folks were all right with selling men and women into slavery but going after young girls got people ready to wage war for the sake of their morals. One day, I might understand life. On second thought, I didn’t want to understand why it was all right to turn people into slaves but it wasn’t all right to hurt a girl.
I wouldn’t worry about the poet. Worrying wouldn’t do me any good. Just about everyone in Tulsa was either a mix of some sort or an immigrant, which added to my exotic tally, as I’d been born and bred to look as American as absolutely possible.
While I wouldn’t worry about the poet, the bastard who went after Lora concerned me. “What did this creep do to Lora?”
“He tried to drag her off.” My boss’s expression turned flinty. “I’ve given everyone sticks like yours, and don’t you be shy about standing up for the other girls, Jade. They’re not as direct as you are, and I’ve a mind to bump your pay for keeping an eye on the others. Expect your tips to drop because of the incident, though. Some of the men aren’t happy right now.”
Of course they weren’t. Uppity women annoyed entitled men. “I’ll keep an eye out, Brent. Need me to go have a talk with Lora?”
“If she’s not down