Page 21 of Queen Of WildCards

Acemarched into the room just as the last bandages disappeared into the bag where they'd come from, holding a dripping towel and an ice pack on his face,Jokerleading him by the arm.Hisvoice was raspy and interspersed with a slow wheeze, but he was otherwise understandable.

"Myentire face is screaming in pain right now."Heturned to me, a scowl turning his lips down even though his eyes were closed. "Spade, how's the shoulder?"

"BlackJackput me in a sling,"Iwhined, though we both knew it was all in jest.IfIdidn't want to do something,Ididn't do it. "I'mnot happy, but it's necessary."

Hetwisted in the general direction of the cage. "Shesay anything yet?"

BlackJackshook his head. "Nothing."

Shehadn't made a single sound since being deposited on the floor, which immediately screamed at me in warning.Ihad been so wrapped up in my own shitI'dmissed the obvious signs of psychological shock.

"Takethe bag off her head,"Idemanded of the others, and when nobody leaped up to acquiesce,Ilaunched myself off the couch and against the bars of the cage, my good hand fumbling with the latch.

Acescowled and motioned forJokerto stop me, butImanaged to get inside before he could do a thing, and thenIwas on the floor beside the girl, tugging at the bag over her head with urgency.

"Spade, what are you doing?"Acedemanded, butIignored him and breathed a sigh of relief when the girl's head emerged from the bag and her stunning, deep eyes met mine.

Theamber in those wide orbs arrested my heart, andIswallowed thickly, raising my good hand to brush her hair back from her face.Sheflinched away from me, butBlackjackmanaged to get some zip ties around her wrists in the car, so she couldn't do much to prevent my advance, and she couldn't escape me in the tiny confines of the cage.

Shedidn't whimper, she didn't mumble, she didn't even cry.Ihad to commend her; she was certainly a hell of a brave woman.Butat the end of the day, we needed answers, and we wouldn't get them from a girl in the throes of shock.

"Heythere, sweetheart,"Icrooned softly, letting my hand drag along her jawline. "Rememberme?"

Hereyes shot to my bandaged shoulder and then back up to my gaze.Therewas a new fire in them, one of triumph.

Yeah, she remembered me, all right.

"Good, good,"Iquickly hedged, moving on before she could get any ideas. "Weneed to ask you some questions, and if you answer honestly, well, it might go easier for you."Ipulled her knife from my back pocket, flipping it open pointedly with no lack of skill in handling one. "Ifyou're bad, they'll let me carve you up in whatever wayIsee fit to get the information from you."

Iwatched her eyes follow the knife as it flicked back and forth in my hand, the shiny metal glinting against the light overhead.Sheknew what was in her best interests.Shewas a smart girl, this one.

ButIwas smarter.

"Youknow why you're here?"

Hereyes moved toAce, who'd asked the question with a grumble of irritation.

"No," she whispered, trying to find her voice. "Idon't know.Please," she begged, turning back to me, "please don't let them hurt me!Letme go;Iwon't say anything about tonight.Nota word."

BlackJacklaughed from his perch on the side table. "You'renot leaving here."

Hereyes were wild with fear now, and the shock made way for the fight or flight, the rush of adrenaline to renew itself as she tugged against her restraints. "Thisis insane; my friends—"

"Yourfriends ditched you at the bar,"Acegrowled. "Wewere watching you."

Sheshivered violently. "Let'sjust forget this all happened," she tried again. "Please,I'mnobody to you;I'msomebody's daughter—"

Ace'ssmirk looked out of place behind the curve of the moist towel, but no less threatening. "Unfortunatelyfor you, those psychological tactics won't work on any of us here."Hepointed toJoker, his finger slightly off-center, but the direction was solid. "Yougot her into this, now explain to her what's going to happen."

Jokercleared his throat, andIwinced when the little whimper slipped from between her lips.Asthe man stepped closer to her cage, she withdrew backward and inevitably scooted closer to me.

Notthe wisest choice, typically, but something in me ached to save this little fiery goddess locked in our gilded cage.

Iwrapped my arms around her, tugging her body behind mine asIstepped to the entrance of the cage and went toe-to-toe againstJoker.

Heknew as well asIdid that if it came to blows,I'dbe the one coming out on top at the end, injured arm or not.

"Comeon,Spade, move out of the way."Hishands moved to my good arm, andIwhirled on him with fiery fury, headbutting him so hard it made his nose bleed.Whenhe retreated,Istepped forward another foot or two, completely outside the cage now, face to face with the idiot who put us all in this situation.

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