Ultimate Nyssa Glass, H. Burke [cat reading book .TXT] 📗

chain, more posh than the rest of his clothes combined.

Nyssa knew that chain.

She’d slipped it out of a fat man’s pocket when she was ten. She remembered the gray-eyed man snatching it from her trembling fingers, the slap of his hand against her cheek because she’d almost let herself be seen ... crying herself to sleep in the cold, dirty corner of a dark room, praying to be anywhere else.

“Hi, Nyssy, my girl.” The man stepped closer. “You miss me?”

“Uncle Al.” Her voice squeaked like a trapped mouse. “Why aren’t you dead?”

Chapter Two

Uncle Al smirked, flashing yellowed teeth, at least two missing. “Well, that’s a fine way to greet your old uncle after I’ve tramped all the way from New Taured to see you. Those steamer tickets weren’t cheap, I’ll have you know.”

“I thought ships let rats ride for free.” Nyssa steeled her nerves. I’m not a scared little girl any more. He can’t bully me.

His face darkened. “Watch your tongue, girl.”

“Nyss, you all right?” Ellis wheeled to her side. Nyssa placed her hand on his shoulder, drawing strength from his presence.

“I’m fine.” She stared at Uncle Al. “Your ‘co-workers’ told me you died in a prison brawl, information they used to compel me to work off your considerable debts.”

Al laughed. “That’s just like them, spreading wild tales. Nah, I got released last month. I’m a free man, debt to society paid.” He paced over and stared at the display cases. “Nice setup, here. It’s yours?”

“Mine and … Mr. Cormac’s.” Even if Al knew who she was, he didn’t need to know Ellis was a Dalhart. No, a hint that Ellis came from money would be blood in the water to good old Uncle Al.

“Speaking of rumors, lot of mixed ones about you.” His eyes glinted. “They say after I was nabbed, you went straight for a while. Then up and murdered your employer, stole his life savings, and fled the country. You must’ve come away with a pretty score to be able to afford all this.”

Nyssa exhaled. She was innocent, but it was hard to prove that.

“Nyssa’s innocent. The funds for setting up here were my contribution, not ill-gotten.” Ellis rolled back to his desk and pushed a button. The shop door swung open. “I’m sorry you came this way only to have to leave immediately.”

“So you caught yourself a rich pigeon?” Al’s eyes burned into Nyssa. “You plan to murder him in his sleep too?”

Nyssa’s jaw clenched until it hurt. “Leave. Now.”

“They say you fled New Taured in style—on a zeppelin—and when the crew got wise to you, you blew the whole ship to evade capture. Don’t deny that. The explosion was in all the papers.”

Ellis snorted. “You did sort of—”

Nyssa glared at him, and he subsided.

“And in spite of that, you’re living safely in a tropical resort, and the San Azulan government refuses to extradite you. Whose bed did you warm for that protection?”

Nyssa’s cheeks burned.

“You need to leave.” Ellis’s voice was dangerously low.

“I will when I’ve got what’s mine.” Al stepped closer to Nyssa. He grabbed her upper arms, his hands rough through the cloth of her gray blouse. Memories of kicks and blows, of raging voices, swearing at and deriding her … it welled up like a fog in her mind, and she shrank before him.

“I took you in when your parents died. I gave you a trade, my trade, and here you are, sittin’ pretty when I’ve got naught but lint in my pockets.” He leaned closer. His rank breath singed her skin.

She squirmed.

Snap out of it, Nyssa. She tried to claw him, but fear weakened her blow. His fist hit her cheek, and her ears rang.

“After all I put into you, you owe me.”

“Let. Her. Go.”

“I’m not going anywhere until I’ve got at least ten thousand.” Al released her and turned on Ellis. “What are you going to do about it, you cripple?”

A sharp buzz and Al’s back arched at an unnatural angle. He convulsed then collapsed. Ellis scowled at him, the fly zapper in his hand and murder in his eyes.

“Did you … kill him?” Nyssa gulped.

“Unfortunately, I think he’s just stunned. I should’ve made it stronger.”

Al moaned and twitched. His hat rolled to Ellis’s feet.

Hot and cold danced in Nyssa’s brain, rage and terror. She drew a deep breath, and the air stoked the rage into an inferno.

“Get out of my home!” She kicked Al’s side. “Now!”

“You ungrateful … harpy.” His voice jolted as if a current still coursed through his body. “I taught you everything. You’d have died on the streets if not for me.”

Ellis knocked Al’s hat out the open door with the zapper. “Nyss owes you nothing. In fact, you’re lucky she’s not calling the police.”

Al stumbled to his feet. “You won’t be rid of me so easily. You owe me, girl, and you’ll pay your debts one way or another.”

The door slammed behind him. Nyssa’s knees buckled, and she leaned against the wall for support.

Ellis turned a dial on the arm of his chair. With a whirring of clockwork, the seat adjusted, pushing him upright. The metal rods formed braces that supported his lower body so he could stand.

“You all right?” he asked.

She nodded but wrapped herself around him anyway. Burying her face against his firm chest, she tried to push down her throbbing pulse. Ellis’s embrace surrounded her. His arms were strong. He smelled of mechanic’s grease and pine soap, and his breath tickled her forehead, warm and soothing.

“I’m sorry I … When that rat put his hands on you, I would’ve given anything to throttle him.” Anger tinged his steady voice.

She laughed a wavering laugh. “I think you did one better. That zapper of yours packs quite a punch.”

“Yeah, but I had to wait for him to let go of you. If not, the current might’ve gone through him into you.” He ran his hand down her cheek. “Do you want to call the police?”

She shook her head and pulled away. “I’m not hurt.