Chapter ONE - Weebly

As Ethan approached the Derne house, Nigel and
two of his friends stepped in front of him, blocking his
way. Ethan halted, and the toughs remained where they
were. But the grin on Yellow-hair’s face told Ethan that
he would have been grateful for any opportunity to pick
up right where things had left off the previous evening,
before Pell and the sheriff interrupted them.
“You’re not welcome here, Ethan,” Sephira said,
stepping out from behind her men and walking to him.
She was dressed in her street clothes again—a long
coat over the usual breeches, shirt, and waistcoat—but
her lilac perfume smelled stronger than usual. Maybe
Ethan wasn’t used to seeing her so early in the day, or
maybe she put on extra scent when visiting men as
wealthy as the Dernes. Either way, it was too much; no
one as hateful as this woman ought to have worn
anything that smelled so sweet.
“Are you and your boys the Dernes’ personal
guards now, Sephira?” Ethan asked. “Have things
gotten that difficult for you since I started taking away
your wealthy clientele?”
She laughed. “You really are an idiot, aren’t you?