Wildstar

Finally, he stood up, his teeth flashing white. "You just lie there and enjoy it, Miss Jess."

He left her alone then. Simply turned and walked out, taking the lamp and shutting the door behind him.

Jess lay there shuddering, relieved that Purcell was gone but terrified by the pitch-blackness he had left behind. It was much like the horrible darkness that had accompanied the mine cave-in. The lack of light frightened her even more than Purcell's threats of sexual assault had, for it brought back that terrible nightmare.

Stop it, Jess! Think!

She bit back a sob and forced herself to take a deep breath. Any minute now she might have to fend off a visit by one of Madam Wong's patrons, and she stood little chance with her hands and feet tied to the posts. She also stood little chance of escape unless she could get loose from her bindings.

With renewed deliberation, she went to work on the cords at her wrists, plucking with her fingers. With her hands stretched above her head, she couldn't use her teeth as she would have liked.

She made no progress whatsoever. The knots resisted her every attempt at untying them. She tried clawing with her nails then, with marginally better results. The rough hemp began to fray after a time.

She didn't know how long she struggled—at least an hour, perhaps—before the door suddenly was flung open.

Jess jumped, and then winced at the bright stream of light flooding the small room. She couldn't make out the menacing figure standing in the doorway, but she was des­perately afraid it was one of Madam Wong's special cus­tomers.

"Jessica?" The word was a harsh rasp. She knew that voice. It belonged to a man she'd declared she never wanted to see again as long as she lived.

Devlin stepped cautiously into the room, his revolver drawn.

Jess let out her breath on a sob. She had never been so grateful to see anyone in her entire life.

Chapter 16

Because of the darkness, Devlin had to fetch a lamp from the hall. Setting it on the small table just inside the room, he barred the door to prevent anyone else from entering, and knelt beside Jessica. His chiseled features were tight with anger as he loosened the knots of her gag.

"Are you hurt, Jess?" he demanded, going to work on the rope that held her tied to the upper post. The cold fury in his voice made her shiver.

"N-no," she croaked faintly. "Not much."

Devlin swore as he wrestled with the knots. When they finally came loose, Jess didn't wait for him to untie her bound hands or feet but threw herself at his chest with a grateful sob. Immediately she was enfolded in strong, comforting arms.

Devlin held her tightly, his cheek against her hair, his relief so profound at finding her unharmed that he was ac­tually shaking. He could feel Jess trembling as well. She pressed herself fiercely against him, as if she wanted to burrow deep inside him.

"It's okay, sweetheart," he murmured raggedly, sooth­ingly. "It's okay. You can cry."

She shook her head. "I'm too mad to cry." Her voice was muffled against his shoulder, but the vehemence of her tone reassured him. Relief surged through Devlin, sav­age and sweet. He had his stubborn wildcat back. Any other woman who'd endured such an experience would be in deep shock, but not his Jess.

With fervent gratitude, he pressed his lips to her hair, which smelled faintly of opium. He knew he ought to fin­ish untying her and get her out of here, but at the moment she seemed to need, more than rescue, just to be held.

Jess clung to him, soft and pliable, letting his strength renew hers. "How did you find me?" she finally asked.

"I called at your house," Devlin answered thickly. "You weren't at home, so I went to the boardinghouse. Mei Lin met me at the door, frantic because she wasn't sure where to find your father and didn't know what to do. She'd just been given a message for him."

"A message?"

"From the madam here. It seems Madam Wong recog­nized you and sent for Riley."

"My father's here?" She sounded alarmed. "I don't want him to see me like this."

"He won't," Devlin soothed. "He doesn't even know about it yet. Mei Lin's husband helped me find this place. I showed up here ten minutes ago and threatened to burn this building down if Madam Wong didn't produce you immediately."

Jess shiver

ed. She had no trouble envisioning Devlin getting his way with Madam Wong; he could be devastatingly forceful when he chose. "I don't think it was her fault that I'm here. Hank Purcell is the one to blame. He brought me here and tied me up."

"So Madame Wong said," Devlin returned grimly, re­calling the score he had to settle with Purcell. "Thank God she was more interested in earning your father's goodwill than in profiting from your services. She's a good busi­nesswoman. She knew Riley would be grateful for her keeping you unharmed, and her calculation paid off. I in­tend to reward her well for her trouble."