Except I never flirted with him.
He’d lavished his attention on her without provocation. Now she knew why.
“Gideon Sharpe doesn’t act like a husband because heisn’tone, is he? Can you explain to me why a Blood Guard captain is smuggling a fugitive witch back into the New Republic?”
Rune’s gaze darted to either side, looking for something to defend herself with. There was nothing but coal and oversized crates. And by the time she grabbed her knife from underneath her dress, he’d have put three bullets in her.
This was the end. And Gideon didn’t even know where she was.
Nor does he care.
The gaslight flickered again, changing the shadows behind William.
“I’ll make you a deal, Rune Winters.” William stepped closer. “If you come back with me to my room, I won’t shoot you.”
The insinuation of what he would do to her in that room was unmistakably clear.
Rune lifted her chin, staring him down. “I’d rather be shot.”
“And if I don’t give you a choice?”
The shadows moved again. Only this time, it wasn’t because of flickering lights.
A few paces beyond William, someone stepped out from behind a tower of crates, silent as a wolf. Gun drawn. Rune’s pulse hummed as his furious gaze met hers over William’s shoulder.
Gideon.
The sight of him lit a flame inside her.
When had he entered the room?
William took another step toward Rune, oblivious to the man behind him.
Before he came an inch closer, Gideon said, “She said no,William. Didn’t your parents teach you that when a girl says no, she means it?”
His voice was like a barrel full of gunpowder, ready to be lit.
William went still as a statue.
“You’re not her type,” Gideon continued. “That’s what she’s been trying to tell you. You should have taken the loss and left her alone.”
William licked his lips, staring at the door over Rune’s shoulder. “And whatisher type, Captain Sharpe?”
Rune studied the witch hunter in the shadows.Stupid brutes, apparently.
“Drop the gun,” said Gideon.
William narrowed his eyes, pointing it more firmly in Rune’s direction.
“Drop. The. Gun.”
His voice was a dangerous growl.
The pistol clattered to the floor at William’s feet.
“Kick it toward Rune.”
The pistol came skidding toward her. Rune bent to pick it up. The metal was still warm from his grip.
