The Song Bird (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (15 page)

It hurt to turn her head, so she swung only her gaze back to him. She reached out to grab his hand. “You okay?”

He nodded. “Don’t ever do that again. I couldn’t bear it if anything else happened to you.”

She cracked a weak smile for a moment before she frowned. “Already…had an accident.”

“What do you mean?”

“Visited Doll. Eugene Behr threatened me with a runaway cart.”

“Goddamn it. When?”

“Day this happened.”

“That was yesterday. You’re safe now, Avilon. I’ll protect you. I swear it.”

“Protect yourself and Jason, too.”

“Always. Now, finish up this water.”

She grimaced. “Tastes bad.”

“I know,” he replied then proceeded to help her drink all of it. Seconds later, she was asleep.

* * * *

Eli looked at Jin Li. “I need you to stay with her.”

“Of course,
lǎobǎn
.”

“Shopkeeper, eh? I’m a little more than that.”

“Ah, good. Your Mandarin is expanding.”

Eli snorted. “I’ll be back later.”

“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”

“I don’t believe in philosophy, no matter who says it.”

“Don’t disparage Confucius.”

“And I see your English is expanding as well. Take care of her.”

Jin Li bowed, and Eli left.

* * * *

Clouds obscured the sunlight, turning the unusually balmy May day into a gloomy afternoon. Eli reached up to hold on to his hat as a gust of wind swept through the streets, making his coattails flap in the breeze. He hailed a horse-drawn hackney and sat back as they made their way briskly to the office of Eugene Behr.

Behr’s bank lay directly across the street from Wells Fargo, with no love lost between the two competitors. Back in February, several banks failed to open due to bad investments, greed and corruption, leaving a lot of people panicked. The day after one major bank, Page Bacon, had closed their doors, Wells Fargo had issued a statement saying they could cover deposits and now, three months later, they rested on high as king of the western banking system.

Eugene Behr had also survived the panic, but not because of honest funding. He relied heavily on gambling deposits, so Eli’s prosperous business actually hurt his expansion.

Once the hackney had stopped, Eli paid off the driver. He didn’t know how long he’d be. He entered the opulent teller room, with its walls paneled in rich silk burgundy brocade and hand-painted golden trim. The floors were pink Italian marble with large veins of deeper red running through the exotic tiles. A black marble table waited for patrons to sign documents for either withdrawing funds or depositing them. The teller windows were gold-painted metal bars offering only a small area for one to conduct transactions. Guards stood at the door and throughout the room, their guns riding high on their hips. Security was tight.

“What an unexpected surprise, Mr. Masters,” came Behr’s mocking tone from the right. Eli turned and eyed the banker up and down. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

“Just wondering about your whereabouts yesterday. Maybe around Pacific Avenue?”

Behr’s lips twisted into a broad sneer. “I’m not one to visit that area.”

“What about down at the docks, dealing in shanghaiing?”

Behr shrugged with an evil little smile plastered on his mouth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“And I suppose you also have no idea about my attempted murder last night.”

“I had heard there was some excitement in Sydney Town last night. Though I thought it was the cheer of decent citizens everywhere when learning of El Dorado’s closing today.”

Eli felt his stomach clench painfully. “What do you mean?”

“Surely you remember the antigaming law that was adopted not too long ago. The closing of the El Dorado is the first victory of that law. So I’d be careful, Masters, because your club could be next.”

Eli took a step closer. “Are you threatening me, Behr? Because your hired gun missed last night and hit Avilon instead.”

He saw annoyance in Behr’s narrow-set eyes.

“She’ll be fine in a few weeks, in case you were wondering.”

“If a whore wants to align herself with you, then so be it. A rat never knows when to get off a sinking ship.”

“Why you—” Eli muttered and took a step toward Behr, when the distinct click of a gun could be heard behind him. Cautiously, he peeked over his shoulder and saw one of the guards holding his pistol, the barrel leveled at him. “Not afraid to shoot in the back, I see.”

At that moment, Behr sidled next to him. “Where’s Amelia, or should I call her Louisie?” he asked angrily, keeping his voice low so as to not travel through the spacious room. “I know she’s the sister of your song bird. I want my property back. Tell Amelia I want what’s mine, plus the coin, and I’ll make sure Mayor Webb overlooks your establishment.”

Something cold flashed through him. “What coin?”

“Don’t act stupid,” Behr taunted. “The legacy of the committee is legendary and the perfect way to bring the gaming establishments under my control.”

“Is that what this is about? You want to be some type of…overlord of gambling?”

“Of the banks,” Behr corrected.

Eli shook his head. “You’re mad. You can’t have both hands in the pot.”

“I can and will. Just watch what I can do when I convince the people of this city how your in-house banking system is meant to defraud them.”

“The house has to be the bank,” Eli reminded him.

“You’re taking the money out of a man’s pocket and putting it in your own. That’s how the public will see you when I’m done. So picture a mob of a thousand people marching onto your doorstep. Nothing will stop the torches.”

“Is that another threat, Behr?”

The banker only shrugged and stepped away, a smirk resting on his face.

“Fuck you,” Eli told him and then turned and stomped out the door.

Annabel sat next to her on the bed, brushing Avilon’s long hair. The blonde was in her usual late-morning attire of a size-too-small wrapper, messed-up curls with her mask buried in the mass, and yesterday’s makeup strewn all over of her face.

“I can’t believe you got shot in the club, dearie,” she said as she carefully dragged the brush from Avilon’s crown to the tip, removing all the stubborn tangles. “Of course, that seems mild compared to what happened at Madame Duplee’s.”

Avilon felt ice water flood her veins. “What happened?”

“One of the girls, murdered in her bed.”

“Oh my God! What happened?”

Annabel shrugged. “A girl was strangled by one of her johns. Sydney Town might be dangerous, but that and what happened to you brings a whole new level of treacherous.”

“Do you know who the girl was?” Avilon asked.
Please not Doll, please not Doll…

“Girl by the name of Doll. I think she worked here at some point,” Annabel said. “At least, that’s what I heard.”

Avilon thought she was going to be sick. She reached up and halted Annabel’s brushing. “You know, I think…my shoulder really is starting to ache. I think I need some rest.”

Annabel jumped up, her face concerned. “Should I fetch you the laudanum?”

Avilon shook her head. “I think I’ll just lie down.”

“Well, if you need anything, dearie, just let me know,” Annabel said, patting her hand with motherly warmth.

“I will,” Avilon replied as she watched Annabel leave.

Dear Lord, had she gotten someone killed? She didn’t believe in coincidence, but the thought of Doll dying over her visit made her light headed. Nausea churned in her stomach. Everywhere she went, every person she talked to, something terrible seemed to happen. How could all this be over a stupid coin? A woman had lost her life over something that seemed so petty and…political. How could one coin advertising a vigilante militia, one not even formed, wreak so much havoc?

* * * *

When she opened her eyes, night had fallen. The horrible fate of Doll had given her a headache, and the weight of depression had lulled her into fitful slumber. She had welcomed it, wanting to forget in the blissful nothing of sleep. But when her nap was over, reality returned with all its weighty consequences.

“How are you doing?”

Avilon started and swung her gaze over to the doorway, where Jason lounged, arms folded across his chest. Of course he would show up when everything was jumbling around inside her head. He and Eli fit right there with all the other confusing stuff.

“I’m okay,” she answered softly. “Jin Li’s medicine has been very helpful.”

He walked over and sat at the edge of the bed. “You look like the weight of the world is on your shoulders.”

She sighed. “Did you hear that Doll was…killed?”

He nodded, waiting for her to continue.

“I saw her, the day I was shot. And Eugene Behr cornered me. He must have been following me,” she said, reasoning out the facts even as she said them. “Somehow, he knows Amelia is my sister. And I think…oh my God, Jason, I think I was responsible for Doll dying.”

He put his arms around her, pulling her resistant body into his, being mindful of her still-healing shoulder. “From what I heard, the john was a regular of hers, who liked making it rough. It was an accident you had nothing to do with, Avilon.”

The tightness in her stomach slowly began to uncoil. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” he confirmed.

The tension drained out of her. “Just a coincidence,” she murmured, relaxing into his muscles.

Jason rubbed his hands up and down her back. Slowly, she became aware of a slow heat building deep within her.

“You know,” he continued in a low voice, “I have a confession.”

She pulled back a little to look at him. “What is it?”

“I’m…torn.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You threw yourself in front of Eli and probably saved his life. But to do that, you got hurt, so I have mixed feelings inside of me. Relief, horror, fury. When I saw all that blood on you, my heart stopped.”

She looked away from the turmoil churning in his eyes. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“How long have you two been lovers?”

There was a long pause. Unable to contain herself, she glanced at Jaso
n.
His face was blanketed with fear. His arms dropped from around her, and they sat staring at each other.

“I know there’s nothing I can offer you, but I beg you, please don’t tell anyone.”

“Of course I wouldn’t tell. Why would I?”

“What Eli and I…have…is punishable with imprisonment. Death. Even the hint of it is enough to throw us under suspicion. Eli would lose everything.”

“Just Eli?”

He rubbed the back of his neck with a hand. “Nothing would matter without him. I…love him.”

She turned her head so he wouldn’t see how his words hurt her. “I realize that.”

“I came to Philadelphia from England when I was ten. My parents died not long after we arrived, so I was left by myself to fend for survival on the streets. I was fourteen when I met Eli.” The way he said his name sounded like a heartfelt sigh.

“You never answered my question. How long have you two been lovers?”

“It was on the trail to Oregon,” Eli answered as he moved into the room and pulled the chair closer. He gestured for Jason to resume sitting. “In Kansas. There are a lot of tornadoes in that part of the country, and one night, during a storm, we had to take cover. Our feelings for each other led to intimacy.”

“If you two love each other so much, then why bring me in between you?” she asked bitterly. “Were you playing a game with me?”

“What?” Jason asked, shocked, before shaking his head no. “Of course not.”

“Jason wants a family,” Eli told her. “But…obviously, we can’t because we’re two men.”

Rage billowed up, threatening to choke her. “You want a broodmare?
That’s
why you want me?”

Eli grabbed her hand. “No, Avilon, no. That’s not why we were attracted to you, why we want you. How can I say this…You were so defiant that day you auditioned. And you’re beautiful, compassionate, loyal—qualities that are so hard to find, especially here in San Francisco. I never thought I’d find a woman who could incorporate all of those qualities, and who happened to come to care for us. Then…then—”

“We could be a family,” she whispered.

He nodded. “I’ve never had a family. My mother was…was a whore who left when I was six. I might not be too good at subtlety, but I assure you, it was never about using you. Or hurting you.”

Her gaze darted back and forth between them. Eli’s hard edge had cracked, just a little, allowing his vulnerability to shine through. That one sentence had said so much about him. And while Jason had always shown his brightness and approachability, now he wore an earnest, heartfelt expression.

“If you two love each other,” she finally said, licking her lips, “then show me.”

Confusion clouded their eyes.

“What do you mean?” Eli asked.

“Kiss him,” she ordered and pointed to Jason. “Love him. Convince me the emotion is real.”

The bedroom was suddenly filled with heart-pounding tension. Eli’s body hardened, the muscle of his jaw tightening. Jason’s eyes narrowed as he regarded her warily.

“How far do you want us to take this?” Eli asked softly.

“If you want me to be comfortable with you, to trust you, then you need to trust me,” she answered equally as softly.

That must have been the right thing to say, because in the next instant, Eli reached for Jason, sinking his big hand behind Jason’s neck to pull him into his body. Their lips met, crashing together in a bruising kiss.

Their bodies gravitated toward each other. She watched Eli grab Jason’s hips and pull him into his body. They were equal in height and stature, but Eli simply oozed dominance. Both men ground against each other as if they couldn’t get close enough.

Hands roamed over hard abs, seeking. Clothes started to shift. Layer by layer it was discarded as the room became thick with passion. Avilon watched them. Her heart pounded, and her blood boiled. She felt her feminine folds become slick as their hands traced over sleek muscles and tempered strength. Eli’s cock jutted hard and proud from the smattering of dark hair that surrounded the base and traveled up to form a line that rode the center of his tight abdomen to furl across his chest. A heavy sac rested at the apex of his thighs, almost begging to be fondled.