A Tale of Two Airships (Take to the Skies Book 2) (6 page)

Beside me, Jack’s pistol smoked, and though his brows knitted in concentration, the boy had pulled quite the shot. Spade darted past the open door, and Isabella dove through as well. Peppered shots followed their departure, but I didn’t dare glance back. My senses told me enough hunters in there were drooling over the lump sum to rough us up proper.

“Come on crew, let’s get the hell out,” I bellowed, grabbing Jack by the collar and dragging us both through the door as Mordecai pressed behind us. The bark of more gunfire followed, and Mordecai exhaled a grunt, not stopping his fast stride up the steps. I raced up, boots pounding as loud as my heartbeat slamming in my chest.

At the top of the steps stood one Miss Viola Embrees, hands splayed against her violet skirt and blonde curls artfully pinned back. Her mouth formed a small circle as we came rushing up to her. I clapped a hand on her shoulder and flashed my biggest grin.

“Darlin’, I wouldn’t tromp down there. Bit too noisy. In fact, step through those doors, and I can guarantee a bullet through the brain. My recommendation? Run.”

Chapter Six

To my surprise, when I said run, she did.

The bark of guns echoed from the bar, and seconds after we’d split from the stairs, footsteps followed. I plunged into the darkened streets of Shantytown, oblivious to where I traveled, but sure I raced far away from the Knife’s Edge. The wind whistled through my hair, tossing curls behind me. For a moment, with my heart pounding in excitement and the adrenaline of danger flowing through my veins, I almost imagined I stood aboard my girl, plunging into a storm.

Except the cobblestones were uneven under my feet, and the purplish clouds above drifted too far out of reach. We wound around another bend, but if these bounty hunters had any merit, no matter how far we raced through the city, they’d track us down and collect their reward. All six of us did our best to stick in a tight group, despite our lack of direction.

“Follow me.” Viola ducked into an alleyway, taking the lead. Several wet drops plunked from the roof overhead, slimy as they slid down my shoulders. Even though I didn’t know the woman worth a damn, we were slim on choices. We needed to get out of public view and fast.

Spade kept up the rear, checking behind us for strays who might’ve caught up. All the twists and turns we were taking gave us a couple seconds lead to anyone who tracked. Though, we had to be careful, for if this bounty hunter found out we were for sale, she might decide to play her hand at claiming our reward. My legs strained as we pounded down the cobblestones of alley after alley in an endless maze.

Our bounty hunter friend took charge with a surprising confidence, and she led us through the streets with a familiarity of someone born and bred there. After another couple turns, we came to a halt in front of a street lined with rowhomes. She stood in front of one in particular, marked out by rose globe lighting. Despite the sinking roofs and scum covered siding of the other homes, this door had fresh paint and a complex brass contraption overtop the knob. I lifted a brow—hadn’t expected this from Miss Posh and Professional.

“Let’s get in here before anyone spots us.” She entered in a code and waited as the gears turned, ball dropped, and the door clicked open.

“You are a godsend,” Mordecai purred, squeezing her shoulder as she opened the door.

“It might be a shade early to start thanking me as I’ll be demanding a full explanation once we’re inside.” She pursed her lips and fixed him with a look. Her thick and musical accent lent her words an elegance that fit her whole get-up all too well. I’d never expected to meet someone who could give Isabella a run for her money in the class department, but this woman warranted an entry.

“As you deserve.” He nodded, with an apologetic half-smile on his lips.

She pushed the door open and entered.

“I suppose you’ll want a cup of tea as well.” The way she phrased the words implied the thin ice we skated on. I rolled my eyes. If she didn’t want us here, better she tell us up front and toss us out than make any pretense. For a place in Shantytown, this one cleaned up nice. Paintings of different nightscapes adorned the walls, and the chestnut furniture all matched, creating one cohesive look to the room, which was lit by dangling brass-petaled fixtures with round bulbs on the end.

She gestured to her stiff backed loveseat and the two other mahogany chairs scattered about. I snagged one of those delicate chairs and flipped it around, pressing against the back. To my delight, it prompted a curled lip from her and another sigh from Mordecai. While Spade and Jack slouched into the loveseat, Isabella folded her hands over her lap while taking a seat in the other chair. Mordecai leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Is this group why you haven’t been seen for so long?” Viola asked, keeping her gaze trained on Mordecai.

“We kidnapped him,” I interrupted before he got a word in edgewise. Being ignored always made me cranky. “He’s our slave boy, working away his sentence aboard our ship.”

Viola’s brow lifted in immediate disbelief, followed by the stubborn purse of her lips. “Right, and I’m the Queen of France.”

“Thought you looked a bit stuffy.” A grin crept to my face as I rocked back and forth in my seat. Mordecai would probably roast me alive at this point, but tormenting Miss Prissybottoms was worth it.

“I joined with this crew a couple years back and I’ve been sailing with them since. Sometimes they’re more trouble than they’re worth,” he paused to shoot me a look, “but they’re loyal, and as Bea here promised, they’ve kept things interesting.”

“Couldn’t have you getting bored now, could we?” Her perfectly painted lips formed a small smile, and her eyes twinkled when they met his. “So what’s brought you to the area? I assume it’s not for social hour or a cup of tea.”

“Though one would be much appreciated,” Mordecai said with a charming smile. Watching them interact, I gained a new appreciation for our chameleon of a Shadow’s Ward. While he was cutthroat and deadly enough to mingle with us rough folk, he seamlessly interacted with the hoity toity guys on the upscale side of town.

Viola nodded and quick stepped it to the kitchen where several clanks and the hiss of water followed. Before Mordecai lectured me on manners, Isabella nudged my boot with her own.

“Behave, Bea. We’re on her terms right now, and she’s under no obligations to help us.” Even as Isabella made the comment, she couldn’t help the smirk on her face. As much as she could play pretend as well, they didn’t make me Captain for my keen socializing capabilities. They appointed me because I remained honest, loyal, and unafraid to show my teeth.               

From upstairs a man’s voice called, “You’re home late.”

Down strode a figure, tall and lanky with shaggy chestnut hair. For a second my heart stilled, and my mind traveled straight to Geoff. But he was gone, who knew how far out of my reach. My insides squeezed, and pain radiated through me. Upon better glimpse, this man was more filled out than Geoff, packed with muscles and none of his awkward hesitation. In fact, this man had to be the polar opposite with the way he sauntered into the room like a cat on the prowl and the lazy grin widening on his face.

“We’re apparently entertaining, dear.” Viola entered with a tray of six tea cups brimming with the dark, steaming liquid. With this woman, phrasing was everything, and I’d quickly begun to see how much meaning she loaded into each word to come out of her mouth. Sounded exhausting and unnecessary to me.

“Somehow I don’t think these visitors spell fortune and fame for us.” He hooked his thumbs in his pockets as he scanned us over. Those hazel eyes of his twinkled with amusement while Viola fixed him with an arch look.

“No, I think they’re bringing a heaping mess onto our hands. Really, Mordecai, I expected better from you.” The cool confidence from before disappeared, and the stuffy, way too formal woman we’d met returned.

Not a problem, I wasn’t here for her company. “You’re mistaking mess for thrilling excitement,” I said with a grin. “Darlin’, we’ll take you on the ride of your lives.”

She lifted her brows at me, and an exasperated sigh slipped her throat. “Oh lovely. We’ve stumbled upon your sort of rabble, Edward.” Viola placed the tray down, but she made quick work of delivering those steaming cups into each of our hands. I placed mine on the floor beside my feet. Not to say I didn’t trust Mordecai’s contacts, but hell, I didn’t trust anyone and liked having my hands free.

His grin widened, and he swaggered up to the lot of us, sticking out a hand in front of me as greeting. “Love me a woman with some sass to her.”

“Oh sweetheart, your ego couldn’t handle me.” I clapped a hand over his and shook hard.

A laugh slipped from Viola’s throat to my surprise. “Don’t mind him,” she murmured. “His flirting’s compulsory. If we left the room he’d stand in front of the mirror and do it with himself.”

“Why deprive the world of my skills?” He took a seat on the brown leather chaise lounge on the opposite side of the room and leaned back. When he patted the seat beside him and waggled his brows at Viola, she gave him a look and sat next to him, a reluctant smile playing on her lips.

If we were launching into storytime, I had to spin one hell of a tale to convince these folks to help us out. After all, with the city after us, our company became much more incendiary.

“I’m sure you’ll be wanting explanations, am I right?” I glanced to Mordecai who still leaned against the wall, arms crossed in front of him and careful attention on Viola and Edward. Isabella perched in her seat at the ready, unlike Spade and Jack who were about ready to become one with the loveseat. “I mean, acquaintance from past brings a colorful group of crazies with him and it doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Curiosity reflected in Viola’s gaze and a similar expression in Edward’s. At the very least, they weren’t regarding us with cold hostility, which meant we might stand a chance.

“I’m Bea, Captain of the Airship Desire, and this is my crew,” I announced with pride, the same way I always had when referring to my girl. Though I’d been sailing as her captain for a couple years now, it still sent a thrill through me every time I realized she was mine. One of the many reasons those gypsy bastards would pay.

The pistol clicked before I could make a move. Faster than I could blink and much faster than my hand could reach for Matilda, Edward whipped out his revolver and aimed it at my skull.

The moment I stared at his cold eyes, all the laughter vanished. In one liquid movement, Viola’s teacup hit the table, and she rocketed to her feet beside him.

“Edward, what are you--” she started.

“The Desire’s crew caused the whole debacle that got half my squad killed and the rest dishonorably discharged. They were the nightmare of a mission that sentenced my fate with the redcoats for good,” he growled, his posture as rigid as the dozens of redcoats we’d come across those years ago when we first snatched the box.

Well, this was turning out to be the day from hell.

In an eyeblink, Mordecai’s sword whipped out, tip to Edward’s throat. “Lower your gun. This doesn’t have to get messy. There are six of us and two of you.”

Edward’s grip around his pistol tightened, and his jaw twitched. He glared venom, but I refused to look away. If he wanted quivering and remorseful, he wouldn’t find it here. I stood by all of our decisions back then, foolish or no, because we’d been in a desperate scramble to survive. Mordecai flashed signs at a blind man with all his common sense talk. When the rage of old wounds gripped you that fierce, no way you’d be thinking with a level head.

Viola pursed her lips, those green eyes frosting over as she scanned the lot of us. With a gentle hand, she tugged him back. Edward let out a hiss of a sigh before he pulled the pistol away. The second the shiver of cold steel left my forehead, I breathed a little easier.

“You’ll be leaving—now,” she said, her voice iron resolute. With Edward’s white-knuckled grip on the pistol, I had no doubts of his intent to use it if we wore our welcome out. Anxiety prickled through me. These were our sole contacts in a city where the bounty hunters, the Morlocks, and the redcoats all had it out for us. While I didn’t need them to like me, I needed them to believe I was indispensable. Bounty hunters were governed by the same rules as smugglers and pirates—alliances could be struck with enemies if the benefit outweighed the risk.

While I might not be able to bullshit my way out of a paper bag and our assets amounted to the lint in my pockets, I had one thing in my favor. Close experience with the inner workings of bitter war vets, and information where he had none.

“They never explained what was in the box, did they?” I asked.

Like that, the question disarmed him. Nothing immediate or explosive, but his gaze and stance switched to alert as he gave me his full attention. I pitched the salesman’s swing, the home run where I had the information he sought.

I relaxed into the seat, gripping the chair as the events of those fateful months returned to me. “We didn’t know either at first. Not when we stole it. The man who ordered the job was a manipulative psycho who’s sailing those skies free. We had no idea we were stealing government secrets, but my Cap, he was an Old Germany vet from the wars and would’ve done anything for his country.”

Edward plunked his pistol into his holster as he listened, but we both understood with keen awareness the impulsive moment passed. He might bear a grudge against us for eternity, but right now, he’d hear what we had to say. Isabella crossed her arms over her chest, her lips downturned and eyes distant at the memories. I understood.

“After everyone and their mother hunted us for this box and my Captain died over it, we opened the thing up. Box contained secrets volatile enough to restart the war—the original demarcation lines signed on in the treaty granting Germany almost double the land they received.” Regret ached in my bones that the box had gone overboard with the traitor.

“You’re lying,” Edward said, though no real conviction hid behind his voice. After all, if his big bad military gave him the boot over the debacle, loyalty only traveled so far.

“I have no reason to lie. You already see us as the enemy, and I’m not retracting our actions. We did steal the box from the ship, and we did retaliate upon pursuit. It escalated, sure, but a large part was due to the man who hired us in the first place.”

Edward simmered with a quiet anger as he stared at us, but since he kept his accusations on lockdown, it seemed he chewed on my statements. Whether or not he’d swallow was another thing. Viola’s gaze swept over him, and in lieu of his response, she took control.