I roll my eyes. As if I’m not aware.
Returning Ruby to the ground, I speak in a low voice. “This is it,” I tell her. “This is where you can finally meetthe goods.”
“Meet?” She tilts her head. But before she can ask any more questions, she jumps at the sound of Bertie hacking off a huge lock attached to a barn-style door. As the door swings open, more than a dozen people pour out onto the street.
But not just any people. Young women. Teenagers.Children.
Each one of them is dressed in rags barely thick enough to cover their half-starved bodies while desperation ravages their hollow features. A few are barely strong enough to hold up the shawls that my crew are hurrying to hand out to each of them.
“Mr Bailey wasn’t just starting a gentlemen’s club,” I explain, stepping to Ruby’s side. Her eyes are wide as she stands rooted in place. “He’s been trafficking people. Most of these are from the slums, and he planned selling them to anyone rich enough,or depraved enough, to find a use for them.”
Ruby just stares, sadness chipping away at her brow. “But, I don’t understand. I thought?—”
“That I was just stealing from an innocent tavern owner?” I offer, lifting an eyebrow. “I’m not evil, Ruby. Like I said, I’m selective with the targets I kill, and sometimes,” I shrug, “I find my own targets. The people who deserve it most, like the men in that room. They were all traffickers.”
Ruby’s lip trembles. “You saved all these people?”
“You helped too.” I grin as her gaze catches mine. “We needed a distraction while Meera set up the poison and Bertie found out where the people were being kept. Also I needed to build more rapport with Mr Bailey so he trusted me enough to get close to the members. Your dance helped with that. The perfect distraction.” My hand slips into hers as I add, “You look beautiful tonight, by the way. Crime suits you,Miss Diosa.” I smirk, lifting her hand to plant a kiss on her skin.
She smiles back shyly.
“Ami!” Meera’s shout makes us flinch apart. Probably deliberate, judging by the scowl the woman’s giving me. “Comeand help us with these survivors?” she shouts again, her tone softening a little as she waves a pile of blankets from the wagon.
“I should help them,” Ruby says nervously, turning to me. “Thank you. For letting me help with this. It means a lot.” There’s a genuine appreciation in her eyes, but before I can acknowledge it she hurries off to help my crew.
I watch her for a moment, settling in naturally to help the others. She doesn’t hesitate to reach for the pile of blankets, making sure each person is bundled up enough to fight away the cold in the night air. It’s so heartwarming, I barely notice Meera as she slides up beside me.
“This ends tonight,” she grumbles.
Flinching, I tear my eyes from Ruby. “There’s nothing to end,” I lie.
“Stop it.” She scowls. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you’re looking at her. I know that look, and it’s not the sort you should be giving to a princess. Of all the people in the realm…”
“You were the same with Isabelle,” I snap, thinking back to when Meera first introduced me to her then fiancée. “She was a noblewoman too, and I had no issues with you bringing her here.”
“Isabelle is different,” she hisses. “And don’t bring my wife into this. She was a lord’s niece, while Ami’s a bloody princess. That’s a big difference. Huge!”
I grit my teeth while Meera shakes her head.
“At the very least, you’ll be heart broken,” she carries on. “And at worst, you’ll be executed! It was risky enough just having her here tonight. What do you think the king would do if he found out about this? And if you’ve taken her virtue?—”
“I haven’t,” I growl. Not that I haven’t thought about it – too many times. But there’s no point in arguing. I know she’s right.
Meera shuts her eyes, letting out a breath. “Look, I didn’t come over here to lecture you. I’m sorry, but you have tounderstand thatthis,” she gestures between Ruby and I, “cannot happen any more. It’s not safe for either of you.”
My heart stills. I hadn’t even considered the risks for her.Fuck.
“If her father finds out about tonight, she’ll be ruined,” Meera presses. “So if you won’t stop this to save your own skin, at least do it for her.”
I glance over again to see Ruby chuckling as a little boy tugs on her skirt, asking in a sweet voice if she’s an angel.You and me both, buddy.
Swallowing, I nod as Meera slaps my shoulder.
“Take her home, Kaz. Toherhome.”
17
AMARYLLIS
