Ultimate Nyssa Glass H. Burke (bookstand for reading .txt) 📖

Several onlookers stopped and stared, all from a safe distance. Down the street the clock tower began to toll noon. Theo stood before Al, quivering.

Al eyed him, then her. He rubbed his cheek. Her hand print glowed beneath his whiskers.

“You owe me, and no one leaves me without paying their debts. No one.” He narrowed his eyes. Theo shied back into Nyssa. “When I take in a family member, when I teach them my trade and give them my food, I expect to get something in return. You think you can just slip into proper society? That’s not what you are. You’re a thief. You may hide it for a while, but when people find out the truth, they’ll toss you back on the street, and you’ll be begging me to let you in on another score. No one leaves me.”

“I already left you.” Nyssa kept her voice steady. “You just haven’t realized it yet.”

“Maybe … but when folks find out the truth, let’s see how your cozy new family reacts.” Uncle Al straightened his bowler hat and strode away.

Nyssa let her muscles relax. The truth? What truth? Ellis already knows everything about my past, and due to Uncle Al, half the San Azulan population now knows as well. What truth is there left to find?

Still, her uncle’s surety left doubt clutching her heart like a cold hand. “Come on, Theo,” she whispered. “Let’s get back.”

Chapter Eight

Nyssa stormed into the shop, the doorbell jangling overhead.

Ellis looked up from the workbench and raised his eyebrows. “Uh-oh. I don’t like that face. What happened?”

Theo slunk past them into the main body of the house, not even stopping to show Ellis his brand new clothes.

Nyssa drew a deep breath. “Have you heard back from Amara yet?”

“No. It’s only been a few hours. I’m sure we will soon.”

She hung her satchel on a hook behind the counter. “My uncle made an appearance, to see if he’d worn me down yet, I’m assuming.”

Ellis’s face darkened. “He didn’t hurt you?”

“No.” Not enough to worry you about. “He just spouted more nonsense. I think I misread him. I thought he was being opportunistic, that I’d be an easy mark, but to hear him talk, he’s actually deluded himself into thinking that because he took care of me in my childhood, I should now support him in his old age.” She shook her head. “Maybe he got knocked in the head one too many times in prison.”

“People can justify just about anything.” Ellis wheeled closer and took her hand. Rage contorted his face, and he held up her wrist. Red welts marked where Uncle Al had grabbed her. “I thought you said he didn’t hurt you?”

“It’s nothing.” She pulled away.

“No, it’s something.” His fingers tightened on the arms of his chair. “You can’t hide things like that from me. If you do, how can I protect you?”

“I can look after myself, Ellis.” She stood straighter. “It’s not your job to protect me.”

“Yes, it is!” His voice deepened. “I may not be able to walk, but that doesn’t make me any less a man, and if your uncle is going to threaten the woman I love, I’m going to deal with him.”

She stared at him. “I didn’t mean … I know you can.”

“Are you sure? Because you aren’t acting like it.” He steered away from her.

Her heart twisted. “I’m sorry. Please.” She cut him off and knelt before him. “I grew up having to look after myself, and it … it’s hard for me to depend on anyone. My first instinct is always going to be to solve my own problems and … I hate when you worry about me.”

He put his hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here for you.”

“I know.” She smiled.

Ellis pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. She yielded to him, his touch unraveling the knot of anger in her chest. His lips glided over her cheek, soft and warm. Her whole being relaxed.

He stroked her injured wrist and shook his head. “I should’ve said it was urgent in the telegram to Amara. This has gone on far too long.”

“What did you tell Amara?”

“Just that we needed to talk at her earliest convenience.” He shrugged. “I didn’t think we wanted the details in any form of written record, even a telegram.”

“You’re probably right.” Kissing his forehead one last time, she stood. “Any customers while we were out?”

“One. An older woman. I think she just wanted to gawk, though. Kept craning her neck to try and see back into the house and asked where my ‘lady colleague’ was.” A smile broke through the grim expression on his face. “I sold her a radio set, though.”

“Good. Our first sale in, what, three days now?”

“About that. Maybe she’ll tell the neighbors we aren’t such vagabonds after all.”

She grimaced. “Your reputation has never been questioned. It’s mine we have to convince people of.”

“As far as I’m concerned, there is no mine or yours anymore. What we’ve built here is ours.” His hand brushed her arm then trailed down to play with her fingers.

“Oh, you’re back.”

The couple looked up as Mrs. H bustled in, carrying a plate of beans and rice, with flat bread on the side to soak up the sauce.

“I didn’t hear you come in, or I would’ve brought out a plate for you as well, Miss Nyssa. Or have you already eaten?” She laid the plate on Ellis’s workbench.

“Not yet. Theo didn’t tell you we’d come back?” Nyssa asked. “I thought he’d head straight to the kitchen.”

“I didn’t see him.”

Nyssa wiped her suddenly damp palms on her pant legs. “That’s strange.” My uncle scared the daylights out of the poor boy. What if he’s hiding in a corner, crying and shivering?

“He’s probably upstairs. I’ll go get him.” Nyssa jogged to the second story. “Theo?” she called into the sitting room. Only the ticking of the three-faced clock answered her. She