Read Online Demons & Pearls (The Razor's Adventures Book 1) by P.S. Bartlett - Free Book Online Page B

fast with ye,” I heard someone say.  I turned and looked over my shoulder to find Watts and Townsend wearing sour expressions.
    “Can’t ye see I’m makin’ amends with the laddie? Let’s all go and have a drink. ” My now remorseful attacker smiled.
    “The laddie here’s our mate. We’ll take care a’ the drink,” Watts said as he stepped toward me and began examining the trickle of blood coming from my lips. Townsend crowded my attacker, effectively pushing him back into the tavern.  Then, both he and Watts stared at me, waiting for my explanation.
    “Look, I don’t want any trouble.  I just…” I mumbled and spat out the blood.
    “Ye just want a drink, aye?” he asked. “Rip, how’s about ye bring us a bottle?”
    “This one’s on me,” Townsend said with a wink and stepped inside.
    “Have ye lost yer mind, Ivory?” Watts inquired.             
    “Don’t call me that.”
    “What do ye suggest I call ye then, laddie? ” he laughed.
    “I can take care of myself, and I don’t need you and Townsend to buy me a drink, either.”
    “Okay, I’ll play along with ye fer a bit. Rip and I have been on ye since ye left the Captain’s house. Now who is it that don’t need watchin’? By the way, Townsend was one a’ Barclay’s close mates. Keep yer trap shut, will ye?”
    “But how did you know?”
    “We’ve been here more times than I can remember, and there’s plenty a’ times I can’t remember.” He laughed. “We seen ye headed fer the alley. We know’d where it comes out. I tried ta’ tell him ta’ forget it, but he’s got this bet thing in his head.”
    “I meant how did you know I’d sneak out?” I leaned in and whispered as several tavern patrons staggered by.
    “How do we know anythin’ is the question.  It’s just one a’ them things we’re paid ta’ do. I have ta’ tell ye though, most a’ the young ladies that come ta’ stay with Millie sneak out fer reasons that don’t include fightin’ in an alley. Them’s the ones that don’t go home.”
    “What do you mean ‘go home’?”
    “Cap’n gonna put ye all on a boat soon and get ye outta here. Didn’t ye know?” He leaned in on his elbow and signaled with a finger to his lips for me to keep quiet as Townsend arrived with three glasses and a bottle.
    “Me mate, Watts, and I got a bet goin’ about ye, Shepard. Maybe we can settle it over this drink,” Townsend said in his husky rasp of a voice as he poured.
    “Ha!”  Watts barked.  “The Ripper here has an idea ‘bout ye, and I say he’s bloody addled. Don’t mistake me, now. Ye’s as far from a lady as he is.”
    “I have no interest in what either of you think of me,” I groaned and raised my glass before swigging it down.
    “Holy shite, the wench be a lush!” Watts laughed.
    “Maybe so, bucko, but that don’t mean ye win,” Townsend said with a sharp elbow to Watts’s ribs. “Let’s get it settled, so I can gets me winnin’s.”
    “Pour me another one, and I’ll settle it,” I said and held out my glass.
    Townsend leaned across the table, and as he poured he asked, “Do ye prefer tits or cock?”
    My reflex reaction sent the contents of my freshly poured glass of rum into his grimy mug so fast he didn’t even have time to get out of the way. “What the ‘ell did ye do that fer?” he shouted at me as I stood and shoved him back into his seat. “I’ll skin ye, ye witch!” he shouted, and his chair toppled over. Watts fell into hysterical laughter.
    “She’ll wipe up this alley with yer arse, Rip, so ye better stay down there!”
    “What a couple of no good bastards you are,” I said, and I snatched the bottle and poured myself another glass. I stood there and watched as Watts helped his mate back to his feet, when Townsend lunged across the table and snatched me by the front of my coat.
    “Sit yer arse down, ye crazy wench, afore I sit ye down meself! I already gots me loot fer ye, so who cares if ye