The Clockwork Menace

by Bec McMaster

  "One crucial mistake, my lord." Garrett gave a pained laugh. "You should never underestimate a woman with a gun."

  Rommell looked like he was crying. "You b-bitch! Don't you know who... I am...?"

  Perry stuffed her handkerchief in his lordship's mouth, and gagged him. "Of course I know who you are. You're the man who's going to be decapitated for his crimes. It's going to be all through the papers, so all of London society shall know who you are too."

  "Nice work," Garrett said, leaning back against the wall, and pressing his hand against the bullet wound in his shoulder. Pain flared up his nerves, but he breathed through it.

  "I just needed his attention focused elsewhere." Perry gave a fluid shrug. "Thank you." Then her eyes locked on him, her irises darkening as the hunger within her rose. "You're bleeding."

  "I'll live." Garrett slid down the wall, his back pressed hard against the timber paneling. Bloody hell. His legs felt like jellied meat.

  Stepping over Rommell, Perry hurried to Garrett's side and knelt, the tight leather of her trousers straining over her lean thighs. "Are you all right?"

  "Rommell's about as good a shot as he is at seducing women."

  "Bad jests? I guess you can't be that injured." Still, she frowned. "Let me look at it."

  Garrett endured her poking and prodding. Her dark hair tumbled over her eyes as she bent her head closer to examine his wound. "Through and through," she said, in relief. "By the time we get back to the Guild, it probably won't even require stitching. It's already healing."

  "Excellent." He felt somewhat dizzy; just enough that he actually leaned toward her.

  Perry slipped her shoulder under his. Vanilla oil flavoured the air he breathed, along with the faint scent of the soap she used. "Do you think you're well enough to stand? I'll need to contact the Guild so that they may fetch Rommell."

  The faint flicker of her pulse in her throat caught Garrett's attention. His vision blackened out again, becoming nothing more than shadows as the hunger surged within him.

  Garrett squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed. "Perry," he warned.

  She knew better than to come near an injured blueblood. Stillness radiated through her as Perry realized it. Feeling her gaze upon him, he opened his own eyes.

  Hers were very big and gray, surrounded by thick dark lashes. She was so close, that if he wasn't reigning himself in sharply, Garrett could have closed his fist in her hair, and dragged her head back to reveal that tantalizing throat.

  And she knew it too. Perry's startled outtake of breath dampened his lips. Her eyes widened even further, and for a moment he was lost in them, as blackness chased the color from her irises.

  So close... And he wanted to do it, Garrett realized. Wanted to taste the sweet, cool slide of her blood. Every muscle in his core trembled from the sheer want of it. Hell. He turned his face away, letting out a shuddering breath.

  "Here." Perry tugged a flask of blood from inside her coat, and unscrewed the lid, her cheeks flushing with color. "Drink this."

  He could almost scent the heated blood in her veins, and his darkened gaze dipped to her throat once more, but Garrett forced himself to drink from the flask, sating some part of his dark hungers, at least.

  A bloodletting was always an intimate event between a blue blood, and the woman he drank from. It was also highly pleasurable for both of them. His cock hardened at the thought, and Garrett shifted his knee so that Perry wouldn't notice.

  Hell, if she even suspected where his thoughts were going she'd probably drive a knee into said balls. She'd never let him forget it either. Or no, he thought, glancing at the color in her cheeks - perhaps she would. Perhaps they'd both pretend it had never happened.

  It's not going to happen. Not her, he told himself angrily - or the darker, hungrier part that didn't care that she was his friend and partner.

  The hunger. That was all this was. Though he'd never felt its grip quite this tightly before.

  You've never been shot before, either, he reminded himself.

  "Thanks." Garrett handed her the flask, and tipped his head back in a sigh. The burning sensation in his shoulder had lessened, and the room wasn't swimming as much as it had been.

  "Think you can manage?" she asked.

  "I'm fine. I'll keep an eye on Rommell."

  "Good." Perry straightened. "I'll go send a 'gram to the Guild."

  Garrett watched her go, and breathed a little sigh of relief that she was no longer here to torment him.

  16

  Lynch leaned back in his chair, his fingers forming a steeple in his lap as he listened to their report. "The one thing I don't understand is how Rommell thought he would get away with murdering two Nighthawks, let alone three other people?"

  "It's a particular failing of his," Garrett replied diplomatically. "Rommell seems to think he can buy his way out of any problem."

  "His head is in his arse, sir," Perry added.

  Lynch's firm mouth softened into a faint smile as he eyed them both. "Is that everything?"

  "Yes, sir," Garrett said, standing to attention. "Though Rommell's demanding a trial before the Council of Dukes. Says no human murder is going to bring down a man of his standing, and that he didn't get his hands dirty - that Millington planned it all."

  Lynch grimaced. "That's going to be hard to prove."

  "Not impossible. We have bank records for Millington, proving a rather substantial sum was deposited there by Lord Rommell, plus Rommell's stated confession to both Perry and I. And the murder weapon was discovered to have come from Rommell's collection - he's a weapons enthusiast, though he has more skill at collecting them, than using them. Both the Webley and the Colt are accounted for, according to his records, and Fitz is adamant that they were used in the murders."

  Lynch slowly nodded. "Good work. I'll see if I can place some pressure on the Council to make the right choices. An example should be made. If the human classes realize that the Echelon is trying to hush this up, they'll end up rioting."

  "Thank you, sir," both Perry and Garrett echoed.

  The chair creaked as Lynch leaned back in it. "And your argument? You've worked matters out between you?"

  Without looking, Garrett knew Perry was blushing. "We have," he told Lynch. "A minor disagreement, nothing else. It's done."

  Or at least, he hoped it was bloody well done.

  "This doesn't happen again, do you both understand?" Lynch's eyes were lazy and hooded, but Garrett knew that it didn't make the guild master any less dangerous.

  "It won't happen again," Perry said. The vehemence in her voice made him look at her.

  "It won't happen again," Garrett agreed, in a quieter voice, though he was thinking of what had almost happened to her, rather than the argument.

  That was over now. He had to keep telling himself that. Perry was safe, and now that she'd accepted the knife from him, he'd always have a way to find her if he needed to. The tracking device was a small, hard lump in his coat pocket, correlating directly to the beacon in the knife.

  A crisp nod - the matter was evidently finished in Lynch's eyes. "Dismissed, then."

  They both let out a sigh of relief.

  Two days later...

  * * *

  The teahouse near the Guild was filled with the noise of teacups rattling against their saucers, and the dull murmur of conversation. Perry sank back into a studded, red leather armchair, and shook out the paper.

  Garrett leaned on the edge of her chair, and peered over her shoulder, tugging at the top page. "Not even the bloody front page. How's that for gratitude?"

  "Lynch is trying to keep Rommell's part in this quiet until the court case is finalized," she said irritably, shaking the paper free of his grasp, and smoothing the crumpled sheets. "His house is a powerful one. The Duke of Morioch is his cousin, I believe."

  "Don't know how you keep track of them all..." His voice trailed off, which was good, as she didn't quite know how to answer that.

  Lie to him a
bout her origins? The thought made her feel uncomfortable. They rarely spoke about where they'd come from, and she was quite content with that. After all, what was she to say? Surprise, Garrett, I grew up with a copy of Lady Hammersley's Guide to the Peerage in my hands. I know every lord in the land, and even their consorts and thralls - or I did once. I also know how to curtsy and dance, and play the pianoforte horrendously...

  And I'm not quite as innocent as you presume.

  After all, Perry knew what had put that look into his eyes that day in the theatre, when he'd been shot. The craving. It wasn't the first time that a man had looked at her like that. She knew what it felt like for a man's weight to press down over hers, his lips to brush against her throat, his blood-letting knife finding purchase there with a sharp sting...

  Perry suppressed a shudder of mingled lust and fear. The duke will never find you. You know that. And you're a blue blood now, not a frightened young thrall, with no allies, no one to turn to...

  That girl is dead. You buried her - and the past - and no one is ever going to find out she still exists.

  A part of her wished she believed the words she told herself.

  The sound of heeled boots on the timber floorboards caught her attention. That, and the sudden stiffening through Garrett's hard frame. Perry looked up, pushing away thoughts of the past.

  Miss Radcliffe swirled her parasol on the floor, her lacy gloves tightening over her knuckles. She smiled hesitantly, dark eyes flashing over the pair of them. "I apologise for the interruption. I called at the Guild, but your friend, Mr Byrnes, gave me your direction here."

  She wasn't speaking to Perry. Perry tried to sink into the armchair, but there was nowhere for her to go. She had a great deal of respect for the young lady. Miss Radcliffe had shown incredible grace during a difficult time; what with Nelly's murder, the pressure of stepping into the lead role, and Rommell using Millington to try and scare Miss Radcliffe into his bed, with his fake-kidnapping attempt in the back alley, and the red roses from a 'mysterious suitor'. That didn't mean that Perry wanted to witness this conversation.

  Garrett straightened. "Miss Radcliffe, you're doing well?"

  Perry dragged the newspaper up in front of her face, in lieu of escaping.

  "I-I hope you don't think me forward." Miss Radcliffe sounded breathy. "I thought perhaps you might care to... to take a stroll in the park? Or perhaps that play we spoke of?"

  Every muscle in her body locked up tight, and Perry flipped the page, trying to focus. She'd made a promise to herself to guard her emotions better. It was harder to keep than she'd expected.

  Garrett hesitated, then let his weight sink back onto the edge of the seat. "Some other time, perhaps."

  It was a clear dismissal. Perry shot Miss Radcliffe a shocked glance, then looked away swiftly, knowing that guilt drove him. Miss Radcliffe would never grace Garrett's bed, because he'd never be able to look at her without thinking of Perry's near-drowning.

  Perry tried not to listen as Miss Radcliffe stammered her goodbyes. It didn't matter if he said no this time. There'd always be another Miss Radcliffe. Another blonde, or brunette, or redhead, but it wouldn't matter, because it would never be a young woman with dyed black hair, and the harsh black leather body armour of a Nighthawk.

  It would never be her.

  "What's wrong?"

  Perry looked up, hot blue eyes meeting hers. There was nothing of guile about his gaze. Perhaps that was what she admired most about Garrett. What you saw was what you got. He truly cared for people, and was astonishingly perceptive toward their moods. Particularly hers. "Nothing," she lied and tried to paste a smile on her lips. "You should go after Miss Radcliffe," she made herself say. "The case is over and she... she has my approval. She's much nicer than your usual standard of conquest."

  "Is she now?" He grimaced. "No. I don't think I will."

  "You deserve to take some time off after such a case. A walk in the park would do you good."

  "No, Perry." His expression twisted. "My heart's not in it. Besides, I had something else in mind." Reaching inside his jacket, he produced a pair of tickets. "'A Lady Well Educated.' It's playing at the Royalty this evening. Not quite the tragedy you prefer, but I'm told it's hilarious. Somewhat risqué perhaps." His shoulder nudged hers, his gaze a challenge. "You might enjoy it. Care to join me?"

  Perry stared at the tickets, her heart starting a slow kick in her chest. It means nothing. And perhaps it would be good to do something together. Something that would reaffirm their friendship, and place this whole mess in the past.

  A truce.

  "I'd much rather see something like a 'A Gentleman Well Behaved'," she drawled, "but why not?"

  "A well-behaved gentleman is a rather boring affair." He caught her fingers and dragged her to her feet, the paper tumbling to the floor. "And good, for they cost me a small fortune. Best seats in the house... and I don't just do that for anyone, luv."

  His wicked smile turned her heart, but Perry ruthlessly fought it down. It was past time to put aside her hurt feelings - and these newer, troubling ones that afflicted her. Time to bury them for good, for nothing could ever come of them.

  "Aren't I special then?" she said, and knew the words meant nothing.

  BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE LONDON STEAMPUNK WORLD

  * * *

  Dear Reader,

  * * *

  Thanks for reading The Clockwork Menace. I hope you enjoyed it! Want to know what happens when Perry finally reveals her hand? Enjoy their romance in Forged By Desire.

  * * *

  If you want more fantasy-fuelled romance, I recommend starting my London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series.

  * * *

  Mission: Improper kicks off with Caleb Byrnes encountering an old flame from his past….

  Available now:

  * * *

  Mission: Improper

  The Mech Who Loved Me

  You Only Love Twice

  To Catch A Rogue

  Dukes Are Forever

  * * *

  Want to know more about future release dates?

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  Make sure you sign up to my newsletter to be the first to know when they’re available.

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  Here are some other ways to stay updated:

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  I hope we meet again between the pages of another book!

  * * *

  Cheers,

  Bec McMaster

  * * *

  P.S Not ready to leave London? Read on for a preview of what's next for Byrnes and a mysterious femme fatale in Mission: Improper…

  READ NOW

  * * *

  Entire families have gone missing in the East End.

  * * *

  When Caleb Byrnes receives an invitation to join the Company of Rogues as an undercover agent pledged to protect the crown, he jumps at the chance to find out who, or what, is behind the disappearances. Hunting criminals is what the darkly driven blue blood does best, and though he prefers to work alone, the opportunity is too good to resist.

  * * *

  The problem?

  * * *

  He’s partnered with Ingrid Miller, the fiery and passionate verwulfen woman who won a private bet against him a year ago. Byrnes has a score to settle, but one stolen kiss and suddenly the killer is not the only thing Byrnes is interested in hunting.

  * * *

  Soon they’re chasing whispered rumours of a secret project gone wrong, and a monster that just might be more dangerous than either of them combined.

  * * *

  The only way to find out more is to go undercover among the blue blood elite…

  EXCERPT

  “Miss you?” Byrnes stated flatly, though the gleam in his blue eyes wasn't cold.

  Not at all.
/>
  He took a menacing step toward her before pausing, his lean form falling into absolute stillness.

  Ingrid Miller smiled. She'd worked with Byrnes for only two weeks—or worked against him, perhaps, when he'd declared that he didn't need her and could find the suspect before she could—but in that time she'd come to know him well enough to predict him.

  He hated emotional displays, especially in himself. His control was absolute. And she'd just caused him to break both of those self-governed rules.

  Call it the devil on her shoulder, but when it came to Byrnes, she absolutely could not help herself.

  "Miss you?" he repeated. "Why yes... I believe I did. I have a little debt to repay."

  "A little debt?" Ingrid glanced at him from beneath her lashes in a most un-Ingrid-like way. "What a curious choice of words."

  Instantly his gaze flattened, and she laughed.

  "I searched for you," he said stiffly.

  "Did you?"

  "I spent months looking for you."

  "You wouldn't have found me, no matter how much time you spent looking for me."

  You wouldn't have found me, because I wasn't here.