Ultimate Nyssa Glass by H. Burke (best value ebook reader .txt) 📕

niece. When I say you’re family it means something. Your mum didn’t realize that either. Kept me from you when she was alive, tried to hide you when she croaked. The harpy. I’ll teach you a trade, my trade, and you’ll be grateful, not like that brat my brother spawned.”

“I will. I’m sorry, Dad.”

Nyssa closed her eyes. He’s not just going to let me take Theo. He’s got it all twisted around in his head. I’ll have to sneak Theo away.

“Get some sleep,” Al continued a little calmer. “Our boat sets sail at midnight. We need to lie low ‘til then. Quiet like.”

“Yes, Dad.”

Footsteps and scuffling gave way to silence. The rope creaked under Nyssa’s weight, but she waited, counting minutes in her head until she was ready to risk her next move. If she was right about his drinking, he’d be out like a burned-out bulb.

Leaning forward, she eased the shutters open a crack.

The room was tiny and mostly in shadow with a table under the window and a bed against the opposite wall. Al lay on the bed, his bowler hat tipped over his eyes. Nyssa eased forward until she could rest on the sill. No sign of Theo.

Wait. Nyssa listened. Yes, someone was sniffling.

“Theo?” she hissed.

The sniffling ceased. A disheveled head of hair and red-rimmed eyes peeked over the table top.

Nyssa smiled. “I got your note.”

Theo grinned, then winced and glanced back over his shoulder at Al. “I didn’t want to steal from you, but my dad—”

“I know. We’ll talk about it later. Climb over the table to me. Hurry, but quietly.” She beckoned.

“Wait, he’s got your money under the bed. I’ll get it.”

Nyssa’s heart rate spiked as Theo turned from her. “No, it’s not worth it.”

The boy darted across the room and reached under the slouching mattress. Nyssa’s pulse ticked like the triple-faced clock.

The boy withdrew a paper sack. Nyssa’s muscles relaxed as he started back.

Al sat up with a snort. His eyes met Nyssa’s.

“You?” he snarled. His hand clamped on Theo’s shoulder.

Chapter Twelve

Al wrenched Theo backwards. The boy screamed as his back hit the wall.

“Stop!” Nyssa yelped.

“So you bought his loyalty with those fine clothes?” Al’s lips curled. “Even my own son, a back stabber. It’s his mum’s fault.”

“Let him go. I don’t care about the money, but let me have Theo!” Nyssa begged. “He’s not meant to be a thief, Uncle. Please!”

“So you think you’re too good for my trade?” Al shook a fist at Theo.

“I … I don’t …” The boy’s whole body quivered.

Oh why didn’t I call the police before climbing up here? Time to bluff.

“Look, you’ve got my money in that bag, and I’ve already called the police,” Nyssa said. “Let Theo come with me, and you can be gone before they get here.”

“Or I could just leave now with him.” Al snatched the paper bag from Theo’s hand and yanked the boy towards the door.

“No. Stop!” Nyssa sprang through the window only to have the rope stop her with a jerk. Turning back she found it caught on the shutters. “Shock me!” She fumbled with the knot. The door across the room slammed. Al and Theo were gone.

Nyssa grunted, jerked the rope from the shutters, and clambered out the window. As she rappelled down the side of the inn, she dug in her satchel with her free hand, finding a penknife. When she reached the bottom, she sliced through the rope. Nyssa stuffed the blade in a pocket and ran for the back of the inn.

Al burst through the door, pulling a red-faced Theo behind him. Nyssa tackled Al.

Her uncle hit the muddy streets with a grunt. Nyssa tightened her hold about his neck.

“Theo! Run!” she ordered.

The boy froze, blinking at her. Al’s elbow jabbed into Nyssa’s ribs. The sharp pain knocked the breath from her lungs and her body from her uncle’s back. He sprang to his feet.

“Come here, boy.” Al reached towards Theo.

The boy pressed himself against the door frame.

“You’re my kid, and you’re coming with me,” Al snarled. He lunged towards Theo. Nyssa wrapped her arms about his legs. Al stumbled and landed with a splash in a puddle of muck.

“I’ve about had it with you, girl.” His heel hurtled towards her face. Nyssa rolled out of the way.

He’s bigger than me. I need a weapon to even out this fight. She whipped the penknife from her pocket. Rising to a crouch, she pointed the two inch blade at him.

Al regained his feet, eyed the knife, and roared with laughter. “What are you gonna do with that? Your nails? Come on, Theo …” He turned back towards the boy, and his face went pale. Theo had a matchbook in one hand and the paper bag of money in the other.

“I’ll burn it. I’ll burn it all. You hit Nyssa one more time and I’ll burn everything,” he snarled.

“Son, you don’t … that’s our future right there.” Al stepped towards his son. Theo lit a match, and Al’s body went rigid.

“It’s your future, but I don’t want a future based on stealing. Nyssa says I don’t have to be a thief forever just because I have been, and she’s not a thief even though she was. She used to be just like me, and now she’s got a shop and fixes things and I want to be like that. I don’t want to be a thief.”

Nyssa picked herself up and skirted her way around Al until she could stand at Theo’s side. The match flame, their only insurance, flickered. The fire was dangerously close to Theo’s fingertips now, but the boy held steady.

“I … I only have my trade to give you, but with that money, we won’t need to steal for a good long while.” Al stepped closer.

Dropping the knife, Nyssa took the matchbook from Theo and struck another.

“He wants to come with me.” Nyssa frowned. “Look, you said you’re all about family? Well sometimes what’s best for your family isn’t best for you.