She pushed thoughts of Griffin aside as Emily joined her, supporting her physically and emotionally as Finley acknowledged the crowd with a cocky grin. Together, they made their way to the place where all the fighters had waited for their turn. Emily had to hold the ropes as far apart as she could for Finley to slip through. As it was, her ribs cried out in protest.
Bloody hell, she needed a hot bath and bed. And maybe some laudanum for the discomfort until the Organites did their work. She didnt care if people noticed how fast she healed. She wasnt allowing this pain to linger. The little beasties from far below the earthsupposedly the ooze from which life beganwould fix her up in no time.
Those dreams were dashed when a behemoth of a man stepped in front of them. Finley looked upway up. The man was bigger than Sam. A giant. Emily stiffened at the sight of him.
Mr. Dalton wants to meet you, he said in a voice that sounded as though it came from his toes.
Finley scowled at him. This is what she had hoped to achieve, and now that she had, she was annoyed. Mr. Dalton can wait.
The man straightened, making himself even taller. Mr. Dalton doesnt wait.
A sharp glare wrinkled Emilys brow. Look, you ... gargantuan, shes hurt, and shes not running off to meet your master until Ive addressed her injuries. Is that understood?
Surprise lit his large face. He nodded. Yes, maam. Ill wait here.
As they walked away, Finley turned her head to look at her friend, admiration taking the sting out of her wounds. Youre a fierce one, Emily OBrien.
I dont like being ordered about or bullied was all the explanation she offered. For the second time that day, Finley had violent feelings toward whoever had hurt her friend in the past.
I dont like being ordered about or bullied was all the explanation she offered. For the second time that day, Finley had violent feelings toward whoever had hurt her friend in the past.
Ill clean your wounds and apply some cosmetics so no one notices that you heal faster than regular folk, but Im going to inject beasties into your ribs to mend themand remedy any chance of internal injury.
Finley assumed her insides would heal just like everything else, but serious internal injuries could kill her faster than she could repair herself. She knew this because she had once injured Sam and almost killed him. She nodded in acquiescence.
They found a bench toward the back of the hall, and Finley gingerly sat down. Emily rummaged through her bag and removed a metal syringe, which she filled with an earthysmelling substance Finley recognized as Organites. Griffins grandfather had discovered it on his property years ago. It was also believed to be the cause of these evolutions she and the others had gone through. Her father had experimented with the stuff, and so she had been born with her abilities, but Emily, Sam and Griffin had developed theirs over the years. Sam was part machine and wickedly strong. Griffin could harness the Aethera dimensional energy unnoticed by most of the living. And Emily could talk to machines.
Organites were everywherepart of the earth. Who knew who else had been affected around the world? Jasper had developed abilities while living in California, though theyd increased after using some of Emilys healing salve.
This may hurt, Emily warned as she positioned the needle between the plates of Finleys steel corset. The sharp point went through her shirt to pierce her skin. Finley hissed as it struck one of her abused ribs, but she remained still. The last thing she needed was for Emily to puncture her lung.
Sorry, her friend whispered. There, done. The needle slid out.
Almost instantly, Finley felt the Organites go to work. There was a tingling sensation, almost like a tickle, and then the pain in her torso began to ease. It would take a little while to heal completely, but at least it didnt hurt so much.
Then Emily cleaned the blood from her face while Finley unwrapped the damp and soiled bandages from around her hands. She flexed her fingers. Her knuckles were sore, but none were broken.
Ready? Emily asked when she was done.
Finley nodded. Em, maybe you should go back to the hotel with Sam and Griffin.
A dark flush rose in the other girls cheeks at the suggestion. And leave you to face that giant and Dalton alone? I dont think so, lass.
Perhaps not, but all Finley could think of at that moment was how badly hurt Emily had been when they went up against The Machinist and his automatons. She would never forgive herself if anything happened to her friend while she was with her.
Em ...
You just shut your mouth. I am not letting you do this alone, so you can either let me go with you, or I can march out there and tell that mountain of a man that youre the Duke of Greythornes girlfriend.
Finleys jaw dropped. You wouldnt do that.
Movements stiff, Emily crammed her supplies back into her satchel. Dont push me. Im all for bravery, but theres a fine line between that and buffoonery. Youre quickly siding on the latter. She hoisted the bag, face impassive, and jerked her head toward the entrance. Lets go.
Gingerly, Finley rose to her feet. It didnt hurt as much as she expected. She was able to walk by herself as they made their way to where their escort waited.
Right, then, Finley said to the giant as they approached. Lead on.
He pointed at Emily. Not her.
Emily opened her mouth, but Finley cut her off. Sorry, mate. She goes where I go. She had to stop herself from putting on an accent as atrocious as Jacks butchered English. She wanted to sound a little lower class than she actually was, but not so much that Dalton felt too superior.
The big man didnt like this change of plans, but he didnt argue with her. Fine. Follow me.
Finley had to walk faster than she wanted, to match his long stride. Poor Emily practically jogged beside her. Somehow they managed to keep up as he led them from the fighting area to a small parlorfor lack of a better termjust off the main vestibule.
The room was sparse and in need of fresh paint and paper. The furniture was aged but sturdy. Dalton sat on a small blue sofa, while Jasper and the Chinese girl were seated to his left on a red love seat. Three armed men, looking as though theyd just stepped off the cover of a cowboy dime novel, stood behind Dalton.
Finley stopped in the center of the room, trying not to look at Jasper, who had been a gentleman and stood when they came in. He was supposed to be a stranger, after all. Hopefully Emily remembered that, as well.
Hello, Dalton said. He stood, too. Im Reno Dalton. And you are Finley ... Bennet, is it?
She almost snorted. Shed wager ten quid he knew exactly what her name wasor rather what she pretended it was. Instead, she smiled. Thats right. Your man said you wanted to see me, so what do you want?
Emily shot her a startled glance at her abrupt tone, but Finley ignored it. Shed known entirely too many young men like Dalton, and shed knocked out over half of them. She knew just how to get their interestby being disinterested in them.
Dalton arched a brow. Blunt little thing, arent you?
She shrugged. In my experience people only want to talk to me when they think I can be useful to them. Im assuming theres something you think I can do for you, so lets not beat around the bush, eh? Im hungry. She was, too. Fighting burned a lot of energy.
Dalton walked toward her. The closer he came the more she realized just how utterly beautiful he was. Really, it was a wonder he didnt leave a trail of swooning women in his wake. Then he smiled, and Finley felt like she was facing a sharkone that smelled blood. Dalton was bad news, and part of her liked it. Not him, but something about him.
Forgive my manners, Miss Bennet. We tend to do things differently in America than in England. I understand that you must be sore and tired and understandably hungry. Perhaps you would care to meet me for dinner tomorrow night? I have a business opportunity I would like to discuss with you. His pale gaze traveled over her. You like money, dont you?
Finley took a step toward him and peered up at him with a smirk. As much as the next girl. When and where?
My driver can fetch you.
Ill fetch myself, thanks. She couldnt very well tell him to collect her at the Waldorf-bloody-Astoria, could she?
Dalton inclined his head, curiosity lighting his already bright eyes. Very well. He withdrew a card from inside his gray coat. There was an address on it. This is where Im staying while Im in the city. Come around seven.
Finley nodded as she slipped the card inside the top of her corset, between the garment and her shirt. It wasnt completely risqué, but she could tell Dalton appreciated the action. Seven it is. Then she turned to Emily. Come along, ducks. Ive a craving for pudding.
Dalton bid them good-night, and Finley returned the sentiment. She managed to sweep out of the room without directing the barest glance at Jasper. Hopefully he was the stand-up sort she believed him to be and wouldnt give away her true identity to Dalton.
It would be a shame if she got all dolled up for dinner only to get herself killed.
Chapter 4
Do you know her?
Jasper looked up when Dalton spoke to him. Who? he asked, playing dumb.
Blue eyes rolled heavenward. The Queen. Who do you think? The scrappy girl.
Finley hadnt even left five minutes ago, and already, Dalton was asking questions. She must have made an impression.
Uh, England might not be as big as the States or even Texas, but its still a country with lots of people living in it. Just cause Ive been there doesnt mean I met them all. Though I did hear stories about a girl linked to Jack Dandy who was incredibly fast and strong. If he was right, and Finley was trying to get into Daltons gang, she would need the worst reputation she could get. She was suspected in the death of an aristocrat, but nothing was ever proven.
Daltons expression was all curiosity. Really? She does sound like an intriguing female. He paused. How many more pieces are there to retrieve?
Half a dozen, Jasper replied. Give or take.
The other mans expression turned hard. You better hope you remember where you hid them all.