*
Walking into Ferryman’slair through the front door—after refusing to pay him, stealing his dell, and scalding him with hot oil—was probably the most idiotic thing King had ever done. Which was precisely why he was doing it. No one would expect this—least of all Ferryman.
King spotted the arch rogue as soon as he entered. The gang leader sat in a large armchair near the fire facing the door. Several of his men sat near him, hunched over tankards of ale and looking somewhat worse for wear after this afternoon.
Ferryman didn’t see him immediately, but one of his men near the door did. “What are you doing here?” the large man bellowed. King looked up at him. The man was most likely chosen to stand at the door because he was large and imposing.
“I told you we shouldn’t have come,” Joshua said loudly.
King flicked a look at Ferryman. One side of his face was red and shiny with some sort of salve. The gang leader had come to attention, though, his ice-blue eyes fixed on King.
“And I told you to stubble it,” King said, cuffing Joshua on the side of the head. It was a light cuff, but Joshua reacted with a yip, as though he’d been struck hard. The lad might have a futureon the stage. King looked at Ferryman. “You’re the last person I want to see tonight, but we have a problem.”
Ferryman rose. “You are my problem, Lord Kingston. Or is it Mr. Kingston now?” It was Mr. Oxley, but Ferryman didn’t wait for a correction. “Now that you’re here, I can squash my problem.” He made a sign, and the thug at the door grabbed King and pulled his hands behind his back. King had been expecting this and didn’t resist. Another man grabbed Joshua, who made a show of struggling, but not with enough vehemence to warrant retaliation.
“I told you this would happen,” Joshua said. “We should let Resurrection Man take over.”
Ferryman had been about to issue another order—probably something about tossing Joshua and King in a dank room and throwing away the key—but now he froze. “What did you say, boy?” He hobbled across the room. Up close, the oil burn looked even worse. King could see where the skin had bubbled up and swelled in angry protest.
“It’s nothing,” Joshua said, defiant. “Askhimif you want to know. It was his idea to come here.” He jerked his head at King.
Now Ferryman turned those pale eyes on King. “What did the boy say? Spit it out, or I’ll have you spitting out teeth before I ask again.”
“It’s Resurrection Man,” King said, watching as Ferryman’s nostrils flared. Joshua had told King that Resurrection Man was Ferryman’s arch nemesis. Apparently, he hadn’t exaggerated. “Resurrection Man and his gang are on Clover Lane, breaking windows and demanding security payments.”
Ferryman reared back as though struck. “That’s my territory!”
“Not anymore,” King said.
“You couldn’t hold it, so Ferryman is taking over,” Joshua added. “Some people say they’re glad.”
“Why, you little brat.” Ferryman raised a hand to strike Joshua.
King tried to lunge in front of Joshua but was yanked back by the man holding him. “Wait! We’re here for your help.”
Ferryman stilled then looked slowly at King. “Why would you want my help? You’ve been doing everything you can to rise up against me.”
“Vi is scared,” Joshua said with a roll of his eyes. “Resurrection Man wants more coin and use of the tavern. She told us to come and apologize.”
“We don’t like you, but we like Resurrection Man even less.” King pretended to swallow a bad taste in his mouth. “We’re here to ask for help.”
“Oh, I’ll help you, I will,” Ferryman said. “I’ll have both of you beaten bloody.” He signaled, and a man stepped forward and slammed King in the belly with a fist. King doubled over and coughed.
“Tell him, Joshua,” he wheezed. Holy hell, but that punch had hurt.
Joshua shook his head.
“Tell him!”
Ferryman looked from King to Joshua then grabbed the boy’s chin. “What are you hiding, brat? Tell me.” Joshua shook his head, and Ferryman grabbed his cheeks with one hand until his mouth opened. He grasped the boy’s tongue and held out a hand for a dagger, which he then put to Joshua’s face. “Use your tongue, brat, or lose it.”
“Fine,” Joshua said, the word almost unintelligible. Ferryman released him. “Resurrection Man is coming here. We heard him say once he finished on Clover Lane, he was coming to the Black Bear to finish the job.”
“He’s daft!” one of Ferryman’s men called.
“Oh, he’s been spoiling for a fight,” Ferryman said.
“If ’e wants a fight, we’ll give it ’im!” another gang member said, and the sentiment was echoed by loud calls and cheers. King and Joshua were thrust aside as Ferryman directed half his men to go cut off Resurrection Man and the other half to prepare to defend the Black Bear.
