Blake studied the bar in front of him catching a glimpse of the bartender’s shake of the head as he began polishing a glass with a clean rag.
“Darcy, my darling!” a booming voice cut across the almost empty room. It was early in the day and few patrons had made their way to the speakeasy, but from the dark depths of the hidden room you wouldn’t know that the sun was shining outside on a cool spring day. “Blake, I see you’re keeping watch over my best girl.” The broad man clapped a hand on the woman’s shoulder, and she flinched imperceptibly before turning and throwing her arms around the man.
“Pierce honey!” she squealed twining her arms around his neck. “You’ve been neglecting me again,” she kissed him on the cheek then pulled back with a pout.
“Business is good honey,” the man said, smoothing his dark hair back over a wide forehead. “How am I supposed to keep you in the style you’ve become accustomed to if I don’t work?” He nodded to the bartender who reached under the bar and pulled out a bottle of amber whisky, filling a glass three fingers full and handing it to his boss.
“Blake, I see you’ve renewed your acquaintance with my Darcy. Isn’t she the sweetest thing you’ve ever met?” He grinned wolfishly not catching the narrowing of Blake’s golden eyes.
“I’m sure she is as sweet as you say, sir,” he hedged. There was a questioning light in the other man’s eyes and Blake could feel the hair on the back of his neck prickle in warning.
“Oh, don’t be shy now boy,” Pierce barked. “She’s the prettiest woman in Wyoming and she knows her place too.” He laughed, a deep throated chuckle that sent a shiver over Darcy’s skin as Pierce grabbed her around the waist and pulled her roughly to his side.
“You know it sweetie,” Darcy said, a bright smile flashing as she lifted the drink she still held in her hand and swallowed a large gulp.
“I found this little bit of fluff wandering the poorest part of the city,” Pierce crooned. “Alone and nearly destitute. Her parents had all but disowned her after what one might call a misjudgment.” His chuckle was feral and Blake felt his stomach turn to acid. “Now look at you my dear. Queen of this place and never wanting for anything.” He leaned in expecting and getting a kiss.
Darcy giggled and Blake studied her as she picked at the other man’s lapels. “I don’t know where I’d be without you Piercey,” she tittered then pouted again. “Of course there is that pretty coat I saw the other day when we went to dinner. Why did that fat woman have such a pretty coat and I don’t?” Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she reached out a slim finger to stroke the man’s ear. “You really have been neglecting me.”
“Now Darcy, you know I don’t have time to take you shopping this week.” His eyes flickered toward Blake then back to his moll. “I’ve got an important meeting tonight, and I’ll be out of town for the next two days.”
Darcy wrinkled her nose as if she had caught a whiff of something that smelled bad. “Refill,” she said, plunking her nearly empty glass back on the bar and turning away from Pierce.
“Now honey, don’t go pouting.” Pierce’s laugh this time was jovial. “I’ll take you out when I get back.”
“I’ll have died from boredom by then.”
The laughter increased and the man slapped her bottom making the fringed covering the dress jump and jitter. “How about if young Blake here takes you shopping then?” he asked, his dark eyes turning on Blake who stood, his shoulders rippling with tension. “I can see he’s a smart young man who knows his place too.” The veiled threat in Pierce’s voice was clear. Darcy was his and his alone.
Blake nodded once meeting the man’s hard glare with his own steady gaze.
“Really!” Darcy squealed turning to drape herself over Pierce’s thick form. “How much allowance?” she crooned into his ear.
“Whatever you need honey.” Pierce turned nodding to the bar tender, who pulled a strong box out from under the bar and slid it toward the trio.
Pierce flipped the top of the box open and pulled out a wad of cash shoving it into Darcy’s hands. “That should do it.” He leaned in and Darcy kissed him while stuffing the money into a tiny beaded bag that didn’t look big enough to hold it.
“Get her coat Ray,” Pierce said, squeezing Darcy one more time. “I’ll see you at the end of the week.” Turning Pierce waved a hand in dismissal and began to walk away. Moments later the bartender was helping the slim woman into a long black wool coat.
***
Darcy grasped Blake’s arm surprised at the bulk of muscle under his coat. “Where are we going?” she asked, shrugging her coat a little tighter on her shoulders as she stepped out into the bright sunshine and cool air. Wood smoke hung on the breeze, and the smell of automobiles puttering by tickled her nostrils making her long for truly fresh air.
“Where ever you want to go,” Blake offered, bracing himself as she wobbled on her high heeled shoes.
Darcy snorted but didn’t comment. Instead she pulled him along the street to a shimmering blue car that sat by the curb. It was a stunning sporty model, the dark robin’s egg blue shimmering like diamonds. “You know how to drive one of these Turnip?”
Blake nodded pushing his new hat further over his eyes as he opened the passenger side door and let the woman slip inside. “Is this your car?”
“It’s the one that Pierce lets me use. Of course I can’t drive, but at least I can go when he gives me permission.”
Blake slipped onto the smooth white leather seat and grasped the wheel,
