Tommy was cresting the top of the ladder onto the pier. In the boat, Lenny grinned. “I think we got friends coming.”
“Not yours. Theirs.”
Wesley had only a moment to register the shock of relief that Jade’s voice brought before an invisible force swept across the pier. The gun flew out of Lenny’s hand and into the Hudson just as Tommy appeared to be dragged by an invisible hand on his trouser leg and thrown bodily into the boat next to Lenny. A moment later, the ropes around the crates had unwrapped themselves and were twining around Lenny and Tommy like snakes.
“What the fuck is going on?” Tommy said, eyes wide.
“You shouldn’t sample your wares, it’ll make you see funny things.” Wesley’s eyes were on the figures struggling in the river. “Miss Robbins, I don’t know why you’re here instead of at the hospital with Mr. Findlay, but if I could beg of you—”
“I’ve got them.” Jade’s hand was up as she scrambled with impressively quick steps down the pier in her ruffled coat and dainty high heels. Sebastian and Rory were already gliding through the water as if she’d grabbed them by the scruff of their collars and bodily yanked them back toward shore. “I’ll fill you in on Alasdair momentarily; let’s get these two safe first.”
A moment later, they were flying out of the water and landing on the pier at Wesley’s feet. Wesley heard Sebastian’s grunt of pain as his back hit the wooden dock, his arms still gripping tightly to Rory.
“Sorry, sorry,” Jade said hastily, as she joined them. “I’m still getting the hang of how strong the magic is now with this brooch relic. Is everyone all right?”
Wesley had already dropped to a crouch next to Sebastian and Rory on the pier, reaching for Rory’s wrist to check his pulse. “Brodigan, are you—”
Rory abruptly coughed, rolled off Sebastian and onto his side, and vomited river water all over Wesley’s shoes.
“—alive,” Wesley finished. “Yes. It would seem you are.”
“Ugh.”Rory made a face. “Sorry, Fine.”
“Better my shoes than your lungs.” Wesley’s heart was still pounding too fast. Sebastian’s eyes were open at least, a little hazy as he coughed himself. Down in the boat, Lenny and Tommy were securely hogtied and—hang on. “Miss Robbins, did you gag our would-be assailants with their own neckties?”
“Useful trick I picked up, a few years back.” Jade was kneeling on the decrepit dock in her fashionable trousers at Rory and Sebastian’s other side. “What on earth happened?”
“Assholes tried to swindle you.” Rory pointed with a wavering hand. “They didn’t like getting caught.”
“What Brodigan means is that when he discovered their attempted subterfuge, he lost his temper and ran his mouth and we found ourselves in a fight,” Wesley said, with an edge. “And one of said arseholes shoved him into the river.”
Jade raised her eyebrows.
“Something like that,” Rory said weakly.
“Oh, Rory.” Jade bent to wrap him in a sisterly hug. “I’m so glad you’re all right. You’re terribly lucky Sebastian and Lord Fine were here.”
And now she was leaning across to squeeze Sebastian, who gave her a tired but real smile.
“Yes, and you know, that’s actually another way to say Sebastian flung himself into the river so that when he was shot, he could conveniently sink his own body to the bottom of the Hudson for our assailants,” Wesley said, again too sharp. Ugh, he had feelings rattling about his chest, knocking into his hard heart. Unacceptable.
Sebastian turned his head to look up at Wesley. “But we were safe because you had our backs.”
“Put the doe eyes away; they don’t work on me,” Wesley lied. He slid his overcoat off his shoulders. “Here—”
“Put it on Rory,” Sebastian said firmly. “My coat is dry in the boat and his lips are blue.”
“What color do you think yours are?” Wesley said, but he was passing the coat over to Jade, because Rory was shivering so hard his teeth were chattering and Wesley didn’t actually want him suffering either.
Jade helped Rory sit up as Sebastian’s coat came sailing through the air and landed in Wesley’s lap. Christ, telekinesis was useful.
Jade turned to the empty air at her side. “We take them straight to the Magnolia, I think,” she said, as she wrapped Wesley’s coat around Rory’s shoulders while Wesley mirrored her actions with Sebastian, getting him upright with the coat around him. “Ace is going tocast a kitten no matter where we take them; we’ve got to get them warm and the club is closest.”
“Call the bulls first and have them come get these assholes,” Rory said to the same empty patch of air. “I’m fine, don’t make Ace worry until—” He groaned. “You’re already on the phone with him?”
Ah. Mr. Zhang must have been there as well, somewhere on the astral plane.
A small movement from Sebastian caught Wesley’s eyes. He was staring at Jade and Rory, his expression unreadable.
