The Gadget: The Rondon Chronicles Book One by V. Timlin (speed reading book .TXT) 📕

when she comes around, I’ll make her tea for a headache.”

“Not the white stuff, eh?” Anouk asked, with a mischievous grin.

Vari frowned. “No, but we can apply some on your gun wound. I’m sure it’s not healed yet.”

Anouk stifled a groan.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t make jokes about the white balm,” Nat whispered to Anouk.

“Gotcha.”

Rose stirred and moaned when Vari rubbed arnica on the back of her head.

“Be still, Rose. You’re with friends now,” Vari said with a soft voice.

Rose darted disoriented eyes from face to face. Slowly recognition replaced confusion, and she burst into tears. “I’m so sorry about all this.”

Nat stepped forward and took her hand into his. “It should be us who are apologising to you.”

Rose pressed her forehead on Nat’s palm and cried. Anouk’s heart twisted. The last few days must have been absolute hell.

After some minutes Rose calmed down and pulled away, wiping her eyes. “They broke into my house when I was away and took my girls. When I came back, there were men waiting. They told me if I didn’t do as they said, the girls would die. I had no choice.”

“You need not explain. We understand.” Nat smiled. “Your girls are safe now.”

Rose closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. “Thank you.”

“They were held at Madam Valeria’s brothel and are still there,” Nat continued. “One of the women we trust is taking care of them, and they were sleeping peacefully when we left.”

Rose’s eyes widened, but no rebuke entered into them. “And they are unharmed?”

“Untouched and unharmed.”

Rose closed her eyes again and her shoulders relaxed. “Thank goodness.”

“We’ll take you there, but before that, we need to talk.”

She looked up and nodded. “Certainly. I think I can help you a bit. I managed to do some eavesdropping, you know. We were held in an empty warehouse in the port. They knew you wouldn’t walk straight into another trap, but they thought you might come to investigate the bakery’s neighbourhood. Normally they pay kids in The Pits to take rumours to the bounty hunters, and that’s how they got Rekka and the two others, but they thought a message coming from me would still work better.”

“Aye, the reward is big enough, many are ready to check even the most dubious leads.”

Anouk shuddered. “How cruel!”

Rose continued, “As soon as they knew I sent you the warning, they took my girls, saying if you didn’t come, they would die. So I sent you another message saying as much.” Rose turned to look away. “I’m sorry I deceived you, but it was either Valintina and Danja… or you.”

“We never got the message.”

Rose whipped a surprised gaze towards Nat and Anouk that in an instant twisted into a grimace of pain. “Shouldn’t make any abrupt movements.” She took a deep breath. “I didn’t realise the message never reached you, but it doesn’t matter anymore. They took me to the bakery. I was supposed to assure you it wasn’t a trap and answer any more messages you sent. But when I got your message about Stalo’s escape, I lied to the men saying he’d been caught. They didn’t believe me at first, but then one of their comrades came running and told them Madam Valeria’s was raided. As soon as they heard that, they fled, abandoning me. I stayed at the bakery. I thought I’d find the girls in the morning light. Then I heard someone coming inside and thought Stalo had come to finish me.” Rose swallowed. “I’m sorry I attacked you. You learn in The Pits not to trust anyone after dark, no matter what they say, or who they sound like.”

The Pits was already dangerous during the daytime, and Anouk had some taste of its lethalness in the small hours. So yes, she wouldn’t trust anyone either. She forced a smile. “Don’t worry, Rose. We do understand that.”

“Aye,” Nat said. “You mentioned you did some eavesdropping.”

“Yes. Captain Biddulph came to question one of the men about Garbage Island. The man used to work at the refinery there, but got sacked for too much drinking. The captain’s interest in the island struck me as odd. There is nothing but warehouses, the refinery and some barracks for workers. Also, I learned Stalo has a brother.”

The caravan stopped. Vari looked out of the window. “We’re at Madam Valeria’s. The tea is ready, so if you drink it first, I’ll see you to the brothel.”

“Thank you, but I want to see my girls right away.” Rose pushed to sit up. Her face distorted in pain and she sank her head in her hands.

Vari took a cup of steaming tea to Rose, a waft of herbs followed in her tail. “Drink it, Rose. I’ve added some herbs to help with the pain.”

Rose accepted the cup and sipped from it as fast as the hot liquid allowed. Anouk was sure Rose burned her tongue, but was so much of a hurry to be reunited with her daughters, she cared not.

“It takes some time before the tea kicks in, so before that, I suggest you move cautiously,” Vari said.

Rose handed the empty cup back with a smile. “Thank you. I’ll remember that.”

Anouk cleared her throat. “Ah, Rose, before you go back home, there is something you need to know.”

“Yes?”

“When you sent that first message, asking us to come as soon as possible. Well, we did, that same night. As you know there were men waiting for us. So, you’ll find your home a bit… messy.”

Rose shook her head slowly. “I’m not going back. We’ll stay at my sister’s. She’s been trying to get us to move in with her ever since Alarik died.”

“Well, that sounds like a good arrangement.”

Rose gave Anouk a wry smile. “You don’t know my sister. Anyway, I need to see my babies now.”

“I’ll see you to the brothel,” Vari said. “Let’s leave these professionals to weave their schemes, shall we?”

Vari offered her arm to Rose and she took it. They left, Rose leaning on Vari.

Nat rubbed his