A Secret Surrender - Darcy Burke Page 0,94

wanted me to take over Partridge’s territory. Partridge refused to pay him a protection fee, and I had no problem doing so. The fire also covered Rafe’s act, which was an added bonus—one I would think you would appreciate.”

She gripped the chair, the wood biting into her palm. “How can I be grateful for that when children died?”

He stared at her coldly. “Children die every day, and we were always grateful it wasn’t us, weren’t we? You’ve forgotten what it’s like to live here.” He sneered. “What it takes to survive.”

Maybe she had. What he’d said a moment ago finally sunk into her brain. “Did you say a Runner paid you to start the fire?”

“Did he?”

The answer came from behind Selina. She turned to see a man standing just inside the room as he pulled the door shut.

“We don’t have a meeting,” Luther said, his eyes narrowing.

“No, we don’t. Nevertheless, I’m here for a payment. And to inform you that one of my comrades is keen to find you. You need to better your hiding place.” The man inclined his head toward Selina. “Who’s the trollop?”

Luther snarled. “Watch your mouth, Remington.”

Remington? Selina had heard that name… Her stomach clenched. He was a Runner. He was also Harry’s friend. This was the man who’d paid Luther? And now he was collecting payments from Luther. He was utterly corrupt. “It was you,” was all Selina could manage to say.

But Remington ignored her as he kept his eyes fixed on Luther. “I think you’re the one who needs to watch his mouth.” Remington tsked. “You can’t be telling people about me. Or about the fire. The Vicar started it, if you recall.”

Luther scoffed. “Only because you said so. What difference does it make now?”

“It makes every difference if you’re going to say I paid you to do it. Now we have to kill this poor chit.” Remington moved around the table toward Selina.

She opened her reticule, but Luther grabbed her arm and shoved her behind him. He faced Remington. “She won’t tell anyone about you. You have my word.”

“Unless you plan to cut out her tongue, I can’t believe that won’t happen—your word or not.” His tone was mild as if he threatened people every day. “Stand aside, Frost.”

“You won’t touch her.” Luther pulled a pistol from his waistband, but before he could raise it, the Runner launched forward, knocking him backward into Selina. They all crashed to the floor.

It took Selina a moment to regain her breath and her wits. She rolled to the side as the men fought. A loud gasp filled the room, and the commotion stopped.

“Dammit.” The Runner rose, his chest heaving. He scowled down at Luther’s body. Blood pooled beneath him. “I really didn’t want to kill him. He was a good soldier.” He swiveled his attention to Selina who scrambled to her feet. “Until you.” He advanced on her. “You’re a pretty thing. Did Luther already pay you? I don’t mind paying again, though I can’t see the point when you won’t see morning.”

At last, she managed to pull her pistol from her reticule. Shaking, she held it up. “Harry will be here at any moment.”

Remington stopped barely a foot from her. “Harry? You know Harry?”

Selina nodded.

There was a beat of silence, and then Remington began to laugh. His eyes crinkled, but that didn’t do a thing to banish the hostility from his gaze. “Harry isn’t coming, dear. He sent me in his stead. How sad for you.” He knocked the gun from her hand before she could fire, sending it skidding across the table. “But happy for me as I will get to have my fun after all. Now be a good girl and stay quiet.”

He stepped toward her, and all Selina could see was the face of the man who’d said almost the exact same thing to her twelve years earlier.

Harry took the stairs two at a time up to his office so he could complete the damned paperwork. He stopped short at the landing as Maggie stepped in front of him.

“There you are,” he said. “I thought you’d gone.”

She shook her head, and he saw fear in her eyes. “That man you were talking to. I recognized him.”

Harry frowned. “The clerk?”

“The tall man with the dark hair.”

The clerk was a shorter fellow with bright blond hair. She had to mean Remy. “Where do you recognize him from?” Likely, she’d seen him around Saffron Hill, particularly since he’d been helping Harry look for Frost. Harry