Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

Edward Brill arrived at the Devil’s Den at precisely the appointed meeting time of eight o’clock. John, in his role as security for the evening, greeted the other man when he stepped up to the door, neither giving any sign they recognized one another. When John guided him into the club where Archie held court with Tommy by his side, the Bruisers’ leader let out a short laugh.

“I see you’ve come prepared, Brill,” he remarked sarcastically as he nodded to the two huge men who had accompanied him into the club. By contrast, every fighter in the Bruisers’ ranks had been gathered, and stood throughout the gaming floor, all watching Edward Brill and his two men. Every one of them had been itching for a brawl and there was a murmur of discontent as they saw that the leader of the Limehouse Gang clearly did not have the same intention. Archie held up a hand and the club fell silent. John took a step away from Edward to wait in the shadows, careful to keep his impassive gaze trained on a spot on the wall over Archie’s head and away from Violet, who stood at his side, resplendent in the striped gown, her golden hair caught up in a loose chignon studded with a bejewelled comb. She was the loveliest thing he had ever seen; a spot of light in this smoky, dimly lit room, and he ached for her.

Edward Brill gave a crooked grin as he cast his gaze over the assembly before returning his attention to Archie.

“Cor, they are an eager-lookin’ bunch, aren’t they?” He gave a huff of laughter, and Archie frowned. “My apologies then. If they came for a row, they’re gonna be disappointed. I’m here with an offer.”

Archie stood a little straighter at this, crossing his arms over his massive chest as he regarded Edward.

“What offer?”

Edward let out a low chuckle and once again regarded the dozens of men assembled behind Archie before meeting his gaze once more.

“Perhaps there’s somewhere we can speak that’s a little more… private?”

Archie’s eyes narrowed, as though contemplating whether this was a trap of some kind. He glanced over at his brother, who gave an almost imperceptible shrug of his shoulders before looking back at Brill and tilting his head.

“Alright then. You lot,” he said, glancing back at the men gathered behind him. “Stay here.” He gestured to John, who reached out to close his hand around Edward’s arm. The two hulking men who accompanied him stepped forward, but their boss waved them away.

“This way,” John said, before giving him a little shove towards the corridor at the back of the room. Edward dutifully followed along with his two companions. Archie led the way, his hand clamped down on Violet’s shoulder as he pushed her into his office. Edward’s two men waited in the corridor as the door closed shut behind them, and it was just Archie, taking the seat behind his desk, with Tommy and Violet standing beside him, and Edward taking the seat opposite as John stood sentry by the door.

“So,” Archie began, leaning back in his chair and spreading his hands over his stomach, “what’s Edward Brill got to offer me?”

Edward allowed a small, amused smile as he deftly matched Archie’s posture.

“The docks.”

Archie’s brow rose at this, and John took the momentary distraction to let his carefully disinterested gaze fall upon Violet, standing on the far side of the room with Tommy’s big hand resting upon her shoulder, and noting the firm set of her jaw, the way her hands were fisted at her sides, her lingering fragrance – as always, like a summer’s day, even though the rain continued to pour outside. Her eyes met his, but her expression never changed, and she soon looked away. It took every ounce of his concentration to focus on the conversation being held now, and not think about how just hours ago they had been upstairs in Bess’s room, and he had been buried inside her, hearing her sharp cries of pleasure, drinking in her scent and the softness of her skin. And now… he couldn’t imagine not having that in his life after she left. A dull ache sprang up in his chest and he had to force his attention back to the two men who sat facing one another. Archie was chuckling at Edward’s suggestion.

“The docks?” Archie’s tone was disbelieving. “Are you serious?”

Edward cleared his throat now and sat up in his chair to fix the Bruisers’ leader with a pointed look.

“I know you think I’m the one what turned you in. It weren’t me.” He gave a dark little smile. “Wish it had been.”

Archie’s mouth twisted in a sneer before Edward continued, seeming oblivious to the other man’s reaction. “Two of my men are dead now. We both know that was you.”

To this, Archie said nothing, and John caught Violet’s flinch at these words. Edward continued.

“I don’t want no more violence. I know you’ve been after my patch since before you went away. And I know what you’ll do to get it.” His expression darkened as he looked over the desk at Archie, who responded with a smug grin. Edward let out a heavy sigh and leaned back once more, as though resigned. “I’ll give it to you. The protection racket. No one will challenge you, I can promise you that. But,” he added in a sharp tone, pointing a finger across the desk, “this is under the condition that there’s no fightin’. You’ll get your money, and we won’t stand in your way. My businesses are off the table, but the rest of it is yours. Mark my words, though, Archie Neville.” A short, fraught silence fell before Edward spoke again, his voice low and simmering with warning. “If so much as one person in any part of our territory gets hurt, I will fuckin’ kill you.”

Archie’s smug grin never faded, but Tommy’s broad shoulders tensed, and he stepped forward in defense of his brother, who waved him off.

“And what’s in this for you?” Archie asked. Edward tilted his head as he contemplated the question.

“I know I won’t talk you out of keepin’ to your territory. I know you want what I had. And my people don’t want a war. If this is what it takes to keep them safe, then that’s what we’ll do.” He glanced over at Violet now, as if he were just noticing her presence, and the corner of his mouth turned up in a leer.

“Is this the one you was lookin’ for?” He let out a small laugh as his gaze raked down her figure before he nodded appreciatively. “I can see why you wanted her found. Fine bit o’ tail, that is.” He turned his attention back to Archie now, whose expression had grown ominously dark. “Tell you what, you throw in a swive with her, I’ll even let you use my warehouse for your little fights.”

Violet’s face turned a convincing shade of red as she glared across the desk at Edward who smirked as Archie’s hands curled into massive fists upon the desktop. His voice snapped with rage when he spoke.

“You look at her again and they’ll be findin’ a third body in Covent Garden. Not even your fuckin’ mother will be able to identify it after I get through with you.”

The air grew still inside the room and Edward’s smirk quickly faded, replaced by a threatening scowl, and John felt compelled to step forward and place a warning hand upon his shoulder. The tension mounted as the silence drew out until Edward blinked, and the scowl disappeared. He leaned back in his chair once more and John stepped away.

“Do you want the deal or not?”

Archie observed him for a moment, the corner of his mouth turned up before he looked over at John.

“Whaddaya think, Johnny?”

John glanced over at him, startled, but he did not fail to notice Tommy’s reaction. His head snapped up and his eyes widened in shock that his older brother, his leader, had failed to turn to his long-time right-hand man for advice. John, for his part, did not react beyond a small shrug.

“All that money just to keep them other gangs out of the East End? Cor, we could do that standin’ on our heads,” was John’s reply as Tommy’s seething glare bored into him.

“Do you not think he’s up to—” Tommy began to object, but Archie cut him a sharp look of warning and his brother’s mouth clamped shut as he took a reluctant step back. Archie returned his attention to Edward with a cunning grin.

“How do I know I can trust you? We ain’t exactly on good terms, are we?”

Edward sighed. “You can believe me or not, but I don’t want a bloody turf war. Better my people should give you money than lose their lives. Just understand, I don’t want this and I ain’t doin’ it for you. I’m doin’ it ’cause I know you’re a selfish bastard who’ll burn down the East End to get what you want. And since I can’t fight you and your crew of animals without a lot of pointless bloody deaths, this is the next best solution.”

Archie seemed to mull this over before he responded.

“And what’s to stop you goin’ back on your word?” His lips curled in a nasty sneer as he leaned forward in his seat. “Because if any part of what you’re offerin’ ain’t true, I’ll fuckin’ annihilate the whole lot of you.”

Edward’s expression didn’t change; he simply stared back at Archie across the desk before shrugging.

“No goin’ back. Everyone’s already been informed, it’s all yours. I told you; you just make sure no one gets hurt, and no one will stand in your way.”

A long silence fell over the room and John found himself holding his breath, praying for Archie to take the bait. He risked a glance over at Violet and saw that she, too, was watching Archie as though waiting for his reply. John vowed to himself then that he would get her out of this place, and so help him, if this didn’t work, he would find another way. She would not spend one minute longer in this place than necessary, and he breathed out a long sigh when Archie finally rose from his chair and extended his hand.

“Boys’ll be disappointed they didn’t get their fight.”

Edward stood and took the proffered hand with a little smirk.

“Offer’s still on the table for the warehouse,” he said, winking over at Violet before he laughed and waved a hand at Archie. “I know, I know, she’s yours. Bit skinny for my tastes, anyway.” He turned before Archie could reply and opened the office door.

“We’re done here, boys,” he said to the two men who waited in the hall for him. “Let’s go.” And without another word to the people inside the room, he disappeared down the hall.

Archie let out a disgusted snort before shaking his head and turning to Violet, his face now wreathed in a smile.

“You see, Violet? I told you I’d get you the docks.”

And this time, Violet did not sneer or scoff. Instead, she looked at Archie now in mild surprise before murmuring, “Yes, you did,” and dropping her gaze to the floor, a small furrow between her brows. Archie was practically triumphant, but Tommy was scowling as he pushed Violet to the side to interject.

“Archie, we killed two of his men – do you really think he’s just gonna hand over control of the East End to us?”

John watched, wary, as Archie turned to his brother, his broad face growing red with anger. “Yes, because he’s smart enough to know that there’ll be a lot more if he doesn’t. This is what I’ve always wanted, Tommy. If you’ve a problem with it, feel free to see yourself back to the boxin’ ring. Johnny and me’ll take care of it. Won’t we?” he added, now turning to face John, who was ready for this question, who had been planning for it, and answered with the simplest of ease, “Of course, Archie.”

Tommy glared at John before he swore viciously and stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him. John looked back for a moment at the door as it rattled shut, frowning, before he slowly turned to the Bruisers’ leader who was shaking his head.

“Don’t know what’s got into him,” he scoffed as he resumed his seat and took up a bottle of whisky to fill the glass on his desk. “No bloody vision, that’s what.” He swallowed back the drink and jerked his head towards Violet. “Take her back down to the box, wouldya, Johnny? Lots to plan for, now.”

His grin was victorious, and he filled his glass again as John dutifully stepped forward and took Violet by the arm. She put on another admirable display of resistance as he dragged her from the room and back down the hall. They did not speak until they reached the bottom of the stairs and John turned to her with an encouraging smile.

“We did it, Violet,” he whispered, bending to press a quick, fierce kiss to her lips. Just as he started to pull away, though, her fingers clamped down on the back of his head and she held him there, opening her mouth to his, her tongue sweeping over his, her moan swallowed by him folding her up in his arms, reveling in the heat of her, the scent of her – he would remember it until his dying day. A summer afternoon would pale by comparison.

When the kiss softened, and she drew back, he found he could not let her go, and he held her a moment longer, touching his lips to her forehead before finally releasing her. John forced another smile onto his face as he reached up to slide the bolt aside to open the door, and she said nothing as he stepped inside to light the lamp before following him. When he turned to face her, she took a deep breath and gave a little smile.

“I think… I think when this is over, I’d like you to come visit me in Paris. That would be… nice.”

John grinned as a knot formed in his stomach, something between anticipation and appreciation, that this woman – this wonderful, beautiful, resilient woman – was welcoming him to stay in her life; even knowing that they would soon be separated, that they remained on two different paths. But perhaps this would have to be enough; the occasional letter or visit before she inevitably met some charming Frenchman who would sweep her off her feet. He swallowed at the thought before answering.

“I’d like that.” He cleared his throat and glanced over her shoulder towards the door. “I should be going. Archie will want to begin planning.” He took a step towards her to lay an encouraging hand upon her arm. “We’re getting closer. You’ll be out of here soon.”

She nodded, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shining. It took everything in him at that moment not to kiss her again and, instead, step past her to the door.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. Goodnight, Violet.”

“Goodnight, John.”