Morgan set aside his tea that had been laced heavily with laudanum. He’d not wanted to use it before, but the pain in his side had grown to such a distraction that he’d had no other choice. Movement was making it all the worse, but he refused to miss the meeting with Silas.

The bald man sat at a table in Morgan’s upstairs sitting room and leaned back in his chair as he spoke. “I know nothing.”

Simon, who rarely sat for long, was standing and placed his hands on the table as he stared down as Silas, giving him his most intimidating look. “So, you would like us to believe that three men are missing from your operation and you’ve no clue where they’ve gone?”

Silas lifted his blue eyes and stared directly into Simon’s eyes. “They’re the reason I left. I thought to do so before I went missing as well. I thought you might have had a hand in that. If not you, then Creed. I knew it was time to leave.”

“You suspect Creed?” Morgan rested his hand on the table, tapping his fingers gently against the hardwood surface. “I thought you said you never met Creed.”

“I haven’t,” Silas said. “But when men the size of Thomas, Luke, and John go missing, it’s only a matter of time before I disappeared as well.”

They’d been asking him the same question all morning, having him answer in circles just to ensure his story was always the same. So far, it was. Silas wasn’t very good at lying and, even better, he was easily threatened or bribed. He didn’t have much of a backbone. He adapted to his environment and that was how he’d survived these last few years.

Warren sighed and stood. “It was probably best that we left him to his roses.”

Morgan silently agreed. Thomas, Luke, and John had all been criminals and leaders in a drug operation under Silas, who was actually in turn, but unbeknownst to them, working for the O.S.S. Only Silas had known the truth, that the operation was actually not criminal at all. The drugs that the men smuggled from Morgan and Lucas’ docks were actually returned to their rightful owners. The operation was all set up in the hopes of getting Creed’s attention. Creed liked to think himself in charge of all the illegal business in the city, and the men had known it would only be a matter of time before he tried to take over.

And while he’d not done exactly what the O.S.S. had hoped for, three men were missing, and those men had possessed minds as sharp as their hearts were cold. They’d also been imposing, the perfect leaders for Silas’ ‘illegal’ business, but now they were gone.

Lucas leaned forward in his chair. “Do you think they’re working for Creed?”

“Maybe,” Silas said listlessly.

“Did anyone search their homes?” Morgan asked.

“Yes.” Simon turned to him. “There was nothing of value there. The men kept to their habits, always eating at the same places, buying from the same markets, using the same tailors. Nothing could be found amiss.”

“So, three men went missing and you said nothing to us?” Warren asked.

Silas looked around and shrugged. “I was scared.” He adjusted himself in his chair. “You scare me.” He met everyone’s eyes with meaning.

Morgan stared at him and asked, “And you noticed nothing unusual about the men before they left?”

Silas looked away in thought and slowly shook his head. “No.”

Simon narrowed his eyes. “Go to the corner.”

Silas made a sound that sounded part grunt and part groan. “Not again.” He scoffed before standing and taking his chair to the corner where he fell into it with a huff.

Simon took his own seat and leaned forward to talk. “Anyone have any ideas as to how we should be moving forward?”

“We could put Morgan back on the streets. Who knows? Perhaps Thomas might stab him next.” Lucas looked around with a lifted brow as though the thought deserved considering.

Warren chuckled.

Simon’s lips twitched.

Morgan narrowed his eyes. “While I like the thought of being outdoors, I’d be more than thankful if I manage to make it to my engagement party without another hole.”

Simon asked, “How are you feeling?” His voice was a little louder so that he could be heard above the sound of male humming.

“Better,” Morgan said. “Wonderful.”

“With as much laudanum as you took, I’m not surprised,” Warren said, even louder than Simon. “That stuff is addicting.”

“Which was why I didn’t take it yesterday,” Morgan all but shouted. “I won’t overuse it.”

“Good,” Simon said before saying, “Because, we might need you in working order again soon. We work better together.”

Morgan nodded, but his irritation was growing by the second and he couldn’t figure out why.

Simon turned toward Silas and said, “Would you please be quiet!”

The noise stopped, and Morgan let out a sound of relief. The annoyance had been Silas.

Lucas turned around to glare at him. “I mean, really, what is that song? You keep humming it, over and over again.”

Silas shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t even remember where I heard it.”

Warren shook his head and turned back to the group. “We should search their homes again.”

“Agreed,” Morgan said. “And the building Silas works out of. Perhaps something is missing from there.” The buzzing started in his mind again.

“All shipments were accounted for,” Simon said. “If the men ran, they didn’t take anything of value with them.”

Morgan rubbed his head.

Simon turned to Silas. “The next note that leaves your lips will be you squealing when I strangle you.”

“Pardon me.” Silas lifted his hands with wide eyes. “I didn’t even know I was singing it again. It’s driving me mad.”

Warren started to hum, and it was the same silly tune that Silas had been humming earlier. Everyone looked at him. He shrugged. “It does stick to one’s mind.”

“I know where I heard it.” Silas pointed to Warren. “You sound just like him when you hum it.”

“Who?” Warren asked.

“Thomas. He was humming it over and over again for weeks before he left.”

“I’ve never heard that song.” Simon looked at Morgan. “Have you?”

Morgan shook his head and looked at Silas. “Where did he get it?”

Silas shrugged, a move that was starting to raise Morgan’s pulse. “I don’t know.”

“Are there words?” Lucas asked him.

Silas’ shoulders lifted again, and Morgan looked away before the urge to cross the room took hold of him. He leaned back in his chair and sighed, listening to the conversation.

“I don’t know,” Silas said. “Thomas only hummed or whistled.”

“It sounds bawdy,” Simon said. “Maybe he heard it at a tavern.”

“I don’t know,” Silas said.

“You think we should have some of the other men to go around and ask if anyone knows it?” Lucas asked.

“The song could mean nothing,” Warren said. “We need words.”

“I told you,” Silas started. “I don’t know any… Oh, wait. There were words! John was singing words to the same tune.”

Morgan opened his eyes to find Silas grinning and looking at the group as though he’d found money on the street.

“There were words,” Silas said again.

“What were the words?” Simon asked impatiently.

Silas made a contemplative sound and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“I need my gun,” Morgan said.

Silas’ hands were up again, and his eyes shone like twin blue moons. “I don’t know.”

“Can he say anything else?” Lucas rubbed his eyes.

Warren stood and walked over to Silas and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll say nothing and do nothing until you recall the words.”

Silas’ head fell, and he murmured, “It might help if I can... hum it a little…”

Morgan stood. “Let him hum but not around me. I’m likely to shoot him if I hear that tune again.”

Simon stood as well. “Yes, go rest. We’re closer to finding the others than we’ve been all year. I’ll let you know what we find.”

Morgan left the room, holding his side as he went. It wasn’t that it hurt as much as he wanted to ensure his stitches didn’t tear.

He‘d just sat down on the side of his bed when Ralph came to his door. “She’s here. Do you want her to come up?”

Morgan’s earlier irritation vanished and he smiled as Philomena walked into the room, passing Ralph and heading in his direction as though she had every right.

And she did.

“I thought he was lying about your condition and wanted to see you myself.” She stopped a foot away from him, her blue eyes soft with concern.

He wanted to touch her. He wanted to fill his mind with visions of her until nothing else existed.

Ralph left, closing the door behind him softly.

Philomena’s eyes never left him. “How are you?”

Morgan lifted a brow. “What?”

She stepped closer. “I asked—”

Morgan’s arms shot out and pulled her closer, their faces only a breath away. “That’s better.” He settled his arms around her, her body coming to stand between his spread legs, his skirts brushing his knees, their fronts touching. “Now I can hear you perfectly. Where’s your lady’s maid?”

Philomena’s hands had found themselves on his shoulder, and she lightened her touch slightly and blinked. “She’s decided to stay downstairs. That way she’ll be unable to lie about what happens. We’re much too close,” she whispered.

“I disagree. I think you’re much too far.”

She smiled. “Morgan, if I were any closer, I’d be on top of you.”

He groaned.

Her lips parted and the touch on his shoulders became stronger as she began to push away. “Morgan, you must let me go. I’ve obviously hurt you.”

He decided not to tell her that it wasn’t his side that ached and said, “I’m not hurt.”

“But you are. You were stabbed.”

“A small dagger. It barely did any harm. Also, I happen to have consumed quite a bit of laudanum.”

“Ah.” She settled and smiled. “Then you’re in a good mood.”

He nodded slowly and almost groaned at the sweet floral aroma that seemed to pour from her body and capture him whole. He wanted to bury his nose against her throat but feared what she’d do if he tried.

Her hands slid up to his neck, and he lifted a brow as she cupped his lower jaw. “How good of a mood are you in?” She batted long lashes at him, and her eyes seemed to dance with heated warmth.

Morgan felt that warmth spread through his entire being and his mind went blank, lost in her eyes and the small smile on her lips. It was a look that was as innocent as it was seductive. He felt his thoughts swimming and had to pry his mind from the cool lake of her eyes just to hear her next words.

“Would you do me a favor?” she asked with a slightly tilted head.

He’d do anything for her. If she asked him at that moment to cut out his heart, he’d have done so and presented it to her on a silver platter. He blinked and asked, “You’re a very clever woman. Where did you learn to do that?”

She straightened her head, and her fingers tightened on him. “What?”

“That thing you do with your eyes. Where did you learn it?” He tightened his hold around her waist. “It’s captivating and done very well. Had I been any other sort of man, I’d have signed my business over to you without a second thought.”

She worked her mouth, but nothing came out. Color filled her cheeks.

He chuckled. “Surely, you’re aware that you were trying to manipulate me.” And he wasn’t upset by it in the least. In fact, it attracted him all the more. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Oh, dear.” She released his jaw and leaned away. “It usually works.”

He frowned and pulled her closer. “With who?”

She looked away. “Servants if I wanted more dessert, teachers so they wouldn’t yell when I was in error, guards who blocked my way anywhere, and a slightly different look always worked with my father. He’d give me anything I asked for.” She returned her eyes to him. “It works on everyone.” And apparently, it had been so useful that she’d become a master at it.

Outstanding… and something to keep in mind.

He smiled. “It won’t work on me.”

She bit her lip.

He touched her chin and chuckled again. “But you’ve no need to use that look on me. I’ll already do anything you ask.”

She smiled sweetly, no manipulation in sight. “Really?”

He nodded. “But it will cost you now.”

Her expression changed to worry. “And what would it cost me?”

“A kiss. It’s only fair after that performance—” His sentence was caught off by the quick press of her lips. The kiss was so fleeting that it was there one second and gone the next, but her taste and the feel of her lips lingered and warmed his blood.

Her color rose again and when she spoke, it was shaking. “Now, as for my favor.”

His hands slid up her sides, trailed up her shoulder, and captured her face just as she’d done to him. “You can do better than that.” His own voice was hoarse, and his stomach burned with hunger. “Kiss me.”

---