Page 30 of Taken to the Grave
Thornton lowered his hands and raked them through his hair. “Viscount Neatham,” he sighed.
He was certainly not getting his opium locket back after this.
“Well, viscount, your boy has been badgering my employees about his dead father. I, and my club, have nothing to do with Mr. Givens’s unfortunate fate.” He gave Sir another shake when Sir tried to wriggle free. “He’s been given his father’s last wages and now he needs to go.”
“To do that, you’ll need to release him.” Fire burned in Hugh throat, scalding his words. Vance shoved Sir away, uncurling his fists from his collar. With the back of his sleeve, Sir wiped blood from his chin.
“What kind of man strikes a boy less than half his size?” Hugh asked.
Vance laughed but left the question unanswered. “Take your lad, viscount. And don’t come back.”
Sir hung his head, stormed across the office, and pushed past Hugh. He leaped over the guard, now stirring on the floor. The scrappy imp was moving fast, running again. But Hugh had questions for Vance, and after this, he wouldn’t have another opportunity to ask them.
He turned to Thornton. “Follow him.”
His friend eyed the pistol in Vance’s hand and hesitated, but then swore under his breath. He left on Sir’s heels.
Turning back to Vance, Hugh wasted no time. “Travis Comstock. You revoked his membership.”
Vance glared. “What of it?”
“Was Harlan Givens associated with him?”
“I’ve already spoken to therealRunners who came here asking about Givens.”
The waking guard pushed to his knees, then his feet. He slurred, “What do you want me to do with him, Mr. Vance?”
“Tell me what you know about the Sanctuary,” Hugh said before the guard could receive his orders.
Across the room, Vance went utterly still. His scowl softened. But then, a hardness slid back over his features. He raised hispistol again with deadly calm. “Leave now. Make me say it again and you’ll disappear.”
The gaming hell owner had enough power and connections to make a reality out of the threat. Hugh held up his hands and backed toward the stairs. It was a wonder when he reached the main floor without a bullet lodged in his spine. Across the room, Thornton descended from view as he took the stairs to the entrance at a fast clip. Hugh ignored looks of alarm from the other patrons as he sprinted after him. Forgoing his coat, he rushed out onto the front step, into the brisk air. Sir was already halfway down the block, still running with Thornton on his tail.
“Sir, stop!” Hugh bellowed.
The boy ran a few more paces, enough for Hugh to begin sprinting again. He’d been searching for him for days; he wasn’t about to lose sight of him now.
But then, all the sudden, Sir seemed to give up. He quit running and started to walk. Thornton reached him first, circling around in front of him while Hugh came close enough to snag his arm and jerk him to a halt.
“Where the hell have you been?” he shouted while also heaving for air.
Sir hung his head and wiped his nose. His clothing was dirty and stained; he’d changed into street clothes at some point. Patched trousers, yellowed shirt, threadbare sack coat.
He kept his chin tucked into his neck, the brim of his cap obscuring his face. But another sniffle and another wipe of his sleeve across his face, and Hugh realized he was crying.Hell.
“Thornton, could you get our things?”
The porter at the Seven Sins would still have their coats and hats and gloves. Hopefully they would be returned, even if the opium locket would not be.
“Never. Anywhere. Again,” Thornton said, clipping each word as he stalked back toward the hell’s entrance. Hugh would try to find a way to make it up to him.
Once they were alone on the pavement, he drew a long breath. “It’s been days, Sir. I was worried.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” he said, his voice constricted. He still stared at the pavement under their feet.
“Is that so? I just found you getting knocked around inside a gambling hell, so I would say I do.”
Sir spared him a brief glare before turning away. At least he didn’t try to run again. Even though he was furious with the boy for disappearing for nearly three days with no word, he was equally relieved. He was tempted to shrug it off and just be grateful he’d been found. But in the end, that would do Sir no favors.
