To Love a Thief (Steel Hawk) (6 page)

The wooden fire exit hung precariously at the side of the building. Not hesitating, he jumped out onto the platform.

“Nathan! Nathan!”

Rose’s screams scratched at his chest, her desperation eating into his soul. He bounded down the stairs, aware only of the clatter of several rungs smashing to the ground the moment his foot lifted off them.

A cart drew up at the end of the alley, and one of the attackers tossed Rose onto it. Her wrists were bound, and as soon as she hit the cart floor, one of them yanked her feet together and roped them as well. She kicked out, writhed, but to no avail.

Nathan scrambled to the cobbles and charged down the alley. “You bloody bastards, let her go.” He aimed his pistol while still in pursuit and let off a shot.

It whizzed past the brute manhandling Rose, his hat tumbling beneath the cart’s wheels as they began moving.

A second shot hit his comrade in the shoulder, and the man fell.

Nathan latched on to the cart just as it rattled from the lane to the street. Then something hit him. Something vicious and brutal, and he crumpled onto the cart, Rose beneath him.

“Get off me, you fool, or I’ll kick that other shin.”

His face seemed to contort, every action excruciating and extended as if on a time warp. “Squirt.”

And then everything went blank.

Chapter Five

Nathan ventured to open one eye, slowly, then the other. Pain speared through his brain. “Bloody hell, my head.”

“You’re lucky it’s still attached.”

“Rosie.” Nathan tried to turn to see her, only to fall back down. His rubbed a hand across his eyes, fingers massaging his temples. “What the hell did you hit me with?”

“It wasn’t me, it was those two bullies.”

“From Zarrenburg?”

“You know?”

“Hard not to when they sound like Alex.”

“Well, if you hadn’t come along, everything would have been fine.”

“Fine!” He shuffled upright, leaning against the brick wall at his back, legs straight out in front of him. Rosie stood across from him, bedraggled and glaring but otherwise none the worse for wear. “I feel like I’ve been run over by stampeding horses.”

“You look like it, but you’ll get no sympathy from me, Nathan Hawk.”

“Gee, thanks for nothing. If I remember rightly, you were being carted off by those bruisers.”

“Only because they heard you stomping up the stairs.”

“I was not stomping.”

She scoffed. “Could have fooled me.”

“So where the hell are we?”

“I…don’t know. We traveled for hours on the back of that cart.”

“Hours? I didn’t wake up?”

“Slept like a baby.”

“Bloody hell.” He cupped his head in his hands. “It pounds like the devil and everything is zigzagging in front of me.” He sank back against the wall. “Don’t think much of this hotel.” Eyes now fully opened, Nathan scanned their accommodation. A cell more like. Brick walls and floor, a tiny window high up on one wall. “Well that rules out escape,” he grumbled.

“We’ve everything we need. Even water to wash with.” She pointed to the trail of slimy green water dripping down the stone wall opposite.

“Do we get anything to drink?”

“Nothing, and if you need to…well, there’s a bucket in the corner.”

“I see you’ve done a thorough inventory.”

“What else was I to do while you slept?”

“And the years haven’t eased your temper either.”

“Which is all your fault.”

“So you always said.”

“Well, you needle me.”

“You were always hanging around, as I remember.”

“I was not.”

“Were too.”

“Oooh…
Nathaniel Hawk
you are so annoying.”

“And you too. Ben called you a lady, but wearing trousers and that baggy jacket doesn’t do much for your ladylike attributes.”

“It’s to get around the city without being bothered. No one can tell I’m female. I fooled you, didn’t I?”

One corner of Nathan’s mouth twitched. “Indeed. But what does your husband think of this?”

“There isn’t one.”

“He’s dead?” The pain of Nathan’s injuries disappeared, replaced by true shock. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, don’t be a fool, Nathan. There isn’t a mister. Never has been.”

“You live in sin?”

* * * * *

She shook her head and speared him with a hard, challenging gaze. “No. I don’t live in sin. I am not married. I live with Papa.” She couldn’t leave her father yet, though she desperately wanted to be independent, maybe even to marry one day.

She watched Nathan, her gaze slipping to his beautiful mouth.

She remembered his kiss all those years ago. Remembered holding on to his jacket, holding him to her, feeling the frantic thud of his heartbeat as his lips closed over hers, teasing her lips apart, teaching her what a kiss really meant.

That she had definitely never forgotten.

“So you did check on me, then, to make sure I was breathing and not lying at death’s door?”

Rose scuffed a boot-clad foot back and forth across the cobbled floor. “Might have. You’re no use to me dead.”

“So I am useful. Thanks.”

Actually, she’d been very worried about him, constantly alert to his breathing, and even in the feathered light of their prison cell, she’d checked his wounds, secretly relieved that though bloody, he was relatively unaffected from their manhandling. She straightened and pushed her shoulders back. She would definitely not let him see her relief.

“I think it’s about time you told me what’s going on, squirt.”

Instinctively, her foot flexed out, but Nathan jerked away.

“Not this time, Rosie. No more kicking.”

“And no more nicknames.”

He held up his hands. “It’s a form of endearment.”

“People only use endearments for those they like, Nathan, and that doesn’t apply to you.”

“Okay, okay, sorry. Boy, did you get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning.”

With her back pressed hard against the wall, Rose slid her feet out in front of her and lowered herself the floor, too bad that the floor…everything was filthy. She needed to rest. Once seated, she drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around them. “I didn’t go to bed in the first place.”

“Oh, that’s right, you were up all night trying not to steal a diamond.”

“Be quiet! I’ve told you I was not trying to steal the Pasha Star.”

For a split second, Nathan simply stared hard at her, and Rose had the distinct feeling he was trying to look into her mind, see what she really thought.

That, however, she would definitely keep secret.

“So how about you tell me what you were doing? I bet you have a paste diamond in your pocket.”

Her breath stilled.

“And that you were intent on replacing the Pasha Star in the locked case with your fake one.”

Rose hooked her gaze with his, and she couldn’t look away.

“Then you found out there was already a fake one, which foiled your plans. Am I correct so far?”

Lips dry, she nodded.

“So I understand what you were doing, but there’s a big gap, Rosie. One you need to fill in. The why? How about you enlighten me?”

“I can’t. If they find out…”

“Probably a bit late for that, don’t you think, given our current lodgings? They kidnapped you and me, so I guess they believe we’re working together.”

“You can tell them you don’t know anything.”

“No, Rosie.” He softened his tone, which she really wished he wouldn’t. She could manage his antagonism and even his teasing, but being kind and gentle and sweet… Her eyes welled with tears she’d held back for what seemed days.

“Are you crying?” he murmured.

A soft hiccup burst from her chest. “No.”

“So why are your cheeks wet?”

“Why do you always have to be right, Nathan? And interfere.”

He shrugged, but there was no smile. “Second nature, I guess. Where’s Alex?”

At the mention of her father, the floodgates opened, followed by several more hiccups. “He’s…”

“What? Where is he?”

“Gone.”

“Dead?”

“No, no, don’t say that.”

Nathan shuffled across the stone floor, coming to sit alongside her. She glanced up at him, seeing kindness and concern in his gaze. Then he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her to him. That simple kindness was her undoing.

“I don’t know where he is. They came—twice.” Tears trailed down her cheeks in uncontrollable rivulets. “They wanted him to make a replica of the Pasha Star, and I thought if I came to you, though I didn’t know it was you, you would understand, maybe even help. I saw that the owners of Steel Hawk were staying in the Carlton Hotel, so I stole in, but you refused, and I had no choice. They kidnapped him, and you caught me and oh…”

“Who? Whoa, squirt.” He used his nickname for her again, and for once, Rose didn’t mind. It sounded familiar, even comfortable. She stared up at the one person she was uncertain she could rely on, given his deception all those years ago, but also the one person she knew could help her find her father. “Slow down.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just been so hard and…oh, Nathan, I don’t know what to do. They said he must help them or secrets would be told.”

“What secrets?”

“How do I know? They’re secrets!”

“So this is something about your father and Zarrenburg.”

“The men were from there. I heard them speaking to my father as I arrived home, but unfortunately I didn’t understand.”

“What do you know about the Pasha Star?”

“Not much, only that it has been in the Zarrenburg royal family’s possession for hundreds of years.”

“That’s about all Ben and I know too, and that Princess Mary wanted it at the exhibition and felt that our locking system would keep it safe.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had taken the pyramid concept and developed it.”

“Remind me next time I’m designing a system to make sure you’re not listening! So what made you realize that was the system?”

“I recognized you at the hotel, and then when I was trying to open the lock, I remembered your conversation with Papa.”

Nathan grimaced. “Your lucky day.”

“That’s a bad joke. The real diamond is gone, and my father is kidnapped.”

“You’ve forgotten to add that we’re holed up who the hell knows where, with no way out.”

“You could play sick. Pretend that you’re dying and I’ll call them.”

“Have you been reading those penny dreadfuls again?”

She colored.

“Why, Miss Valetta, I do believe you’ve been caught out.”

She shook her head. “Don’t be silly. Besides we’ve got to get out of here, and what I read is none of your concern.”

Nathan scrubbed his hand over his jaw. “Who would have thought?” Nathan chuckled. “Rosie has grown up.”

“I grew up a long time ago.” Actually, she’d grown up that day he’d kissed her. She’d thought he cared, only to realize he didn’t and he let her heart and foolish dreams crash to the ground into a thousand pieces. Broken, never to be repaired.

Pushing herself up from the damp ground, where the chill had seeped through her thin clothing, Rose rested her hands on her hips and stood over Nathan. “Lie down on the floor.”

“What?”

“Don’t argue, just do as you’re told.”

“Bossy boots.”

Her lips pressed together.

“Okay.” Nathan glanced around their tiny room. “Where do you want me? There aren’t many options, given that this place is no more than ten-by-ten feet.”

“To the left of the door. Then when the guard comes and opens up, you can jump on him.”

“You’ve got this all figured out.”

“It’s a plan and better than sitting here doing nothing.”

“Not much chance of that when you’re around. I remember you always putting your nose in, following me around, wanting to know what I was doing. Asking your father to teach you.”

“How else was I going to learn to be a paste maker? And don’t you dare say it’s not work for a female.”

He held up his hands, obviously stifling a chuckle. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Rose clamped down on her annoyance. “You would. Men don’t think women can do anything except breed babies.”

“Don’t you want children?”

She had, but she had also wanted someone special for a husband, except that someone didn’t seem to want her.

Nathan took his place on the ground. “Now what?”

“Start wailing.”

“Wailing? Not sure if I know how.”

“You’d better. Otherwise, this isn’t going to work.”

“I’m not sure I’m that good of an actor.”

“Tough. Try.”

Nathan wailed, and Rose couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s a pretty feeble attempt, Hawk. Try again.”

He did.

“Nathan, this is not going to work unless you get into the role. You’re meant to be dying. Do you want me to kick you again? That would give you something to wail about.”

Nathan rolled to his side, his lower limbs now out of her kicking distance. “I’ll wail.” And he let out a piercing scream. “Is that better?”

“Somewhat,” she conceded with a nod. “But close your eyes. You’re meant to be near death, for God’s sake.”

Nathan closed his eyes, and, satisfied he looked near death, she started banging on their prison door, accompanied by Nathan’s markedly improved howling.

“Help! Someone help! He’s dying. Oh my God, please, help him. He’s…”

Nathan, eyes open and now full of mirth, looked up at her. “What am I dying of, by the way?”

“Too many kicks to the shins if you don’t play your role. Now start moaning, Nathan, as loud as you can.”

He wailed. “Help, I’m dying! Oh, my shins, my shins.”

“Shut up.”

“But you said I was dying of kicks to the shins.”

“Oh, you fool!”

Just then, a scrape of metal against metal echoed from the lock.

Her eyes fixed on Nathan’s, hope welling in her chest. She waved her hand up and down, whispering. “More, more.”

“Please help me!”

“Help him!”

“Shut up, you two.” The clang of the lever sliding back echoed and the door swung open. The guard entered, giving a scant glance to Nathan feigning pain on the floor. “What the hell do you want? I told you to shut up.”

“But he’s dying, he has…”

Rose turned so that the guard had his back to Nathan writhing on the floor. “We need help.”

Nathan sprang into action, grabbing the guard round the shins and yanking his feet out from under him. The man plunged to the ground, his head catching on the side of the stone wall with a cracking thud. He rolled onto his back, a slash of blood oozing from a head wound.

“Is he…?” Rose leaned over the still body, a hand held fast across her mouth.

“No time to worry.”

Shocked into action, Rose spun away from the bleeding man. She didn’t want to be responsible for another’s death, but it was either her father or this man. The choice wasn’t even up for consideration.

Stumbling across the slippery brick floor, she exited the cell just behind Nathan. He swung the door to their cell closed and slid the bolt home. He turned to her. “Did they blindfold you as we were brought down to this hellhole?”

“No.”

“So you would know your way back up?”

“I…I don’t know. It was dark.” Fear scored a path across her heart. “How will we get out?”

“I don’t know, but let’s see where these stairs go. As long as we’re heading upward, we should be moving in the right direction. Take my hand, hold on and don’t let go.”

Their hands linked, they took one step after another. There seemed to be hundreds, each step well worn, the years carving indentations into the treads. Alert for voices, though she could barely hear a thing over the rampant thud of her heart, Rose held on tight to Nathan’s hand.