Wild immediately snatched it from her grasp, and she noticed how his face turned a shade paler. It should. The list of names and addresses and items, printed clearly in neat rows, detailed exactly what Wild had stolen from each house. And how much the owners had paid to get it all back—in reward money, of course.
“Very nice of you to keep such meticulous records of your crimes,” Grae said. Arista tried not to laugh. Wild crumpled the paper in his fist and glared at her.
“I have the rest of the ledger somewhere safe,” she said. “Now, what do you have for me?” He reached into his jacket and pulled out a thin stack of papers, tied together with butcher’s string. The rest of the secrets that Nic had stolen from Bones.
They would meet the same fate as the ones had Nic left for her, and be returned to their owners. Arista took the packet from Wild and pushed her chair back. “I expect the other terms of this deal to be implemented without delay. I’ll wait for word that everything is in order.” The sum she demanded was more than they needed, but Wild had the money, and she wanted to make sure that he paid for the pain and suffering he’d caused.
Wild glared at her, and she had no doubt he was contemplating sticking a dagger through her heart right there in the coffeehouse. But he wouldn’t dare. Without the upper hand, he was a coward.
“If you think to double-cross me, don’t,” she said. “The information I have is in very capable hands, and if anything happens to me, it will be posted on the front page of the Spectator. Are we clear?” Wild didn’t answer, but his clenched fists and hard jaw said it all. He would cooperate. He knew he had no choice.
“It’s been a pleasure doing business,” Arista said with a big smile. She closed her eyes for a brief moment. Thank you, Nic. You did set me free, after all.
Wild stood and pushed back the chair so hard, it almost tipped over. He left without a second glance. Only then did Arista dare to exhale. “We did it.”
“I would love to show you how happy that makes me,” Grae said, “but we may raise a few eyebrows, even in this tolerant atmosphere.” Laughter danced in his eyes.
Arista smiled back—a real smile. A happy smile.
“So, are you ready for this?” Grae asked.
Arista took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes.”
They stood and went outside to where Tomas waited with the carriage. “All set, miss?” He already knew where to go. Arista gripped Grae’s hand and nodded again. He squeezed it back, and she took some of the strength he offered. It was strange to rely on someone else, yet at the same time, she couldn’t imagine him not being there.
Tomas guided the horse through the crowded streets with precision and skill, and soon they were back at Grae’s home. Arista changed quickly, and soon they were off again. It was not long after that that Tomas slowed the carriage to a stop in front of an iron gate. The sign read CROSSING ROADS CEMETERY.
Grae got out first and helped her down. She still had to be careful until Wild cleared her of murder, but not many people knew that she had escaped from Newgate. The ones who did would not turn her in—either out of love or fear.
“Would you wait here?” she asked Grae, half expecting him to argue. He had barely let her out of his sight to sleep.
“Of course.” He crossed his arms and leaned back against the carriage. “Take all the time you need.”
She couldn’t thank him enough, for this and for making sure that Nic wasn’t thrown into an unmarked pauper’s grave. He’d made sure that Nic had a proper spot, with a simple stone to mark it.
“Here are the flowers you asked for, miss.” Tomas handed her a large bouquet of daisies.
“Thank you, Tomas.”
A groundskeeper directed her to where Nic had been buried. The mound of fresh dirt made the tears flow again. She’d cried more in the past few days than she had in her whole life. She ran her fingers over the three letters carved on the stone:
NIC
That was all she had known him as. None of them had ever had a last name.
Tears dripped off her chin and fell into the dirt below as she laid the flowers down. Nic would have hated getting flowers. She thought of the face he would have made, and smiled. “Thank you, Nic.”
She took out the letter that she’d found wrapped in the papers Nic had stolen from Wild. She smoothed the paper and stared down at the crudely written words.
Gypsy,
This weren’t how it were supposed to go. You and me, that were always the plan, but you wanted out—I saw it in your eyes that night. I’m not good like you. My soul were blackened a long time ago. You’re right, I took the letters and money that night and left you behind. I did let you suffer and I will never forgive myself for that.
I didn’t kill Huntington. I did take your knife, but I gave it to Wild. I didn’t know what he had planned. I hope you used what I gave you, and got everything you want deserve. I’ve always wanted you to be happy.
You always thought you were nobody because you didn’t have a future, but you do, gypsy. Everyone does. Find yours. Find it so you can finally be free.
Live happy, gypsy. Out of all of us, you deserve it the most.
Nic