"Turn against you?" Ace scoffed. "That's crazy, Tyce. Ya don't gotta worry about that."
Tyce stepped further into the room as his shoes made footprints on the dust-covered floorboards. From the look of his cold gray eyes that served as the only miniscule gateway to his thoughts and closed-book personality, Gabby and Ace's tardy appearance did not seem quite the issue they had imagined. Then again, Tyce was infamous for surprises.
"Well, good," Tyce replied as the floor creaked eerily underneath his lean yet muscular weight. "I'd hate fer you'se two to suddenly have a change 'a heart. Or even worse, get caught." His voice in the last statement had a subtle questioning vibe as his eyes burned into them.
Ace gulped and his fingers began to fidget slightly at his sides. "I'se been doin' good."
Tyce's sharp gaze turned quickly then to Gabby, yet softened ironically. Gabby's eyes darted to Ace then to Tyce again, an uncomfortable feeling washing over her. Tyce had always looked at her in that mysteriously twisted way. It was worse today, though, since Gabby had been dressed up due to the funeral. His stony eyes traveled slowly from her pale face, to her suffocated chest beneath her corset, to her black-clothed hips, and even to her toes.
"You'se, a'right, Gabrielle?" questioned Tyce in a level that was just above a whisper.
Even from five feet away, Gabby could feel the seductively alluring yet sickening warmth of his breath escape from his mouth which had been devoured by countless prostitutes or other unfortunately willing female creatures. A stinging heat panged to her cheeks, but not in the sweet, blushing way. Nevertheless, Gabby had to answer the boy's question; after all, once her deceased parents' money ran out, Tyce would be providing for her. And that money was starting to diminish.
"Good, but," Gabby responded quickly with a mixture of uneasiness, firmness, and fear. "I had a close call," she squeaked.
Ace shot his head to her direction. Tyce locked his jaw as the previously softened expression morphed to one of demand.
"What're ya talkin' about?" Tyce inquired firmly.
Gabby took a deep breath as her heart rate jumped up rapidly. She knew she had spoken too fast. If she did not underplay the situation soon, she would be a goner. Tyce was powerful and domineering. Tyce could do whatever he wanted to her, even kill her.
"Just an itty, bitty close one, Tyce." Gabby demonstrated by positioning her forefinger and thumb to be less than an inch apart.
Tyce stepped toward her with phony sympathetic eyes. "Just how close?"
Gabby kept her cool and proceeded. "Well, Spot came over one n-night and said some of the, uh, boys were suspicious of me, since Spot's been talking to me so much…"
"That is true," Ace added from the side. "I was there," he said proudly.
Gabby's shoulders fell slightly at what Ace had just said. Idiot, she thought. If Ace made it a bigger deal that she was almost caught, her ass would be on the line completely.
Gabby anticipated Tyce's reaction as he glared at Ace for a moment. Still to answer, he turned slowly and picked up a small chair from the ground. He walked behind it and curled his short fingers around the back. With his lips smirking slightly, he gestured with his other hand for Gabby to take a seat. Gabby looked at Ace, unsure, mentally asking him what Tyce was going to do. Under the added constraints of her corset, her breathing quickened to short and quick beats while she took a hesitant seat.
Gabby suddenly felt Tyce's cold fingers snake their way to her shoulder and onto one side of her bare collarbone. They traveled with incredible, forceful ease; she wondered when they would stop, considering there was not much room between that and the lining of her low-cut dress, and that and her chest. Thankfully, the tips of his fingers halted an inch from her chest.
"Gabrielle, are you developin' feelings for Mr. Spot?" Tyce asked out of the blue, shoving the other issue aside.
"Of course not," Gabby answered quickly without thinking. Her hands placed themselves upon her lap as her fingers fiddled with the dark fabric.
"None whatsoever?" Tyce repeated and put his other hand opposite of his right on her collarbone. "So tense, Gabrielle. Loosen up," he coerced.
Both hands' presence worsened the feeling deep in her stomach as she closed her eyes tight.
"None."
Tyce began slowly messaging her shoulders with subtle strength, every motion sending another wave of tension through Gabby. She then found herself questioning her own answers.
"Ya sure?" he repeated. "I mean, all that time spend with someone—"
"I'm sure," Gabby blurted out in interruption as Tyce's fingers worked deeply into her skin. Her fingers now scratched at her dress and her eyes remained straining to keep closed. Was she sure?
"C'mon, Gabrielle, don't lie…"
Don't lie, don't lie, she thought. Gabby could now feel Tyce's insistence in his fingertips. But I'm not lying! She needed a difference answer for this to stop. Anything. She couldn't take the way Tyce got answers from her anymore.
"You know I don't like liars, Gabrielle."
St-Stop it; don't call me that! Gabby screamed in her mind. She brought her fingers to link betwixt one another as she could feel her knuckles turn white. She could else tell that just above her chest would be the opposite: red. Just say anyhting.
"Fine!" Gabby shouted in defeat. She felt her eyes wet as she opened them, thought she was not sure if it was from tears or sweat. She saw Ace standing before them nervously; Gabby could tell he was fighting the urge to defend her. Yet, if he did, they would both have to pay.
Tyce's hands stopped rubbing and rested at her bone in expectation. His fingers were still cold.
"I just like spending time with Spot," Gabby said in an exasperated voice.
Movement ceased while Tyce pondered briefly over this statement without flinching a muscle. Gabby could feel her heart beating high in her throat. Then, Tyce bent his knees quickly to speak in her ear.
"I suggest ya work on that," he whispered as his breath filled her ear, sending chills to her whole body. He let go of his hold on her, placed hands on either side of the chair's back, and crouched down in front of her. His hard chest touched her knees as he gazed ardently at her. "I'se wouldn't wanna be havin' to hurt you, now."
Gabby swallowed through her hard jaw without moving her lips as they stared at one another.
Tyce brought his hand up to just barely hold her left cheek while the back of his other hand brushed gently against the right side of her face. "Such a beautiful face; wouldn't wanna ruin it."
Gabby could not help the involuntary, disturbed shudder raking through her body. Tyce then got to his normal stance and turned to Ace.
"So, Ace, tell me somethin' good." His voice returned to its normal speaking tone.
With her gag reflex being tough to fight, Gabby struggled and swallowed it back down. She held her corset-laden stomach and wiggled around to become less tense while Tyce's back was turned.
"Well, Brooklyn's gettin' fired up. I can assure you 'a that," Ace informed him. "They've yet to talk about what they'se plan to do exactly, though. I think they're waitin' to see yah next move."
"Good, good…" Tyce responded, basking in the evil satisfaction he was clearly getting from all of his wicked plotting.
"And, uh," Ace stuttered meekly, raising one hand lowly. "Can I ask why we killed Blink?"
Tyce raised one eyebrow at him distrustfully.
"J-Just 'cause, well, I didn't know that was part 'a the plan," Ace said with a cowardly shaking voice.
With a heavy sigh through just his nose, Tyce walked slowly over to a dust-filled window. He smudged a small circle to peer through with his dark red sleeve. "I s'pose it wasn't. But I needed to let Conlon know officially. I nevah trusted that 'Kid Blink' neither. That eye patch always had me suspicious."
Ace and Gabby exchanged looks with one another quickly before Tyce turned around once more.
"But there's no time to discuss why I have ya guys do things," he said with two quick, hasty claps. "I need you'se guys outta here and in that lodgin' house. I need to know what these guys plan on doin' next. Ace, keep annoyin' Conlon; it gets him pissed enough to talk to her." He nodded to Gabby.
"Will do," Ace assured him with a sneaky smile.
"And you," he said to Gabby, "keep playin' innocent, a'right? I think he's intrigued by you." Tyce turned to face her completely, and in a low and serious voice, asked, "fucked 'im yet?"
Gabby scoffed to herself slightly. "No."
"Good. Bettah stay away from the sex. He won't tell ya anythin' anymore if ya sleep with him, I think. You'll just be another one'a hiswhores. No offense.I mean, you can have as much fun as ya like with him, but make sure he don't get tired with you."
With a roll of her eyes, Gabby got to her feet without haste, grateful to be out of that chair. As she and Ace made their way down the creaking staircase, she looked back above her. Tyce stood at the rail that outlined the hallway around the building for overseers to watch the employees. For a split second, the stern look on his face made Gabby think he was about to whip out a pistol and finish her off right here. But with a simple nod of his head, Gabby knew she would make it out of that building once more alive. Still, the remnants of Tyce touching her made her stomach lurch painfully. It wasn't the first time he had done something like that.
Once outside, Gabby took a breath of much-needed fresh air. She walked next to Ace in silence as they made their way to the lodging house to dig up anything worthy of advancing Queens against Brooklyn.