Innocence Read Online Free PDF Page B

forward and a bracelet slid down her arm. The stone set into the silver caught the light and blazed. The jewelry was new; she had forgotten to remove it before working. It was a simple piece, a silver chain that thickened into a setting for a fine, red stone. She had never seen anything so fine or delicate before, much less worn it unthinkingly on her arm.
    Suddenly, she felt very homesick. She had spoken before to Marcus about visiting her aunt. He said all the right things about making arrangements, but nothing had come of it. He doesn’t want to let me go, she thought suddenly. The thought, which would have been quietly pleasing as a sign of his devotion a week ago, was now unsettling.
    A long time later, Maeve found Cora sitting in one of the cages surrounded by cleaning supplies, one rubber glove on and the other off. The woman who ran the shelter had long red hair she mostly kept braided back. She came to check on her volunteer, briskly rebraiding the long auburn tresses threaded with grey.
    “Cora,” Maeve called, and the young woman seemed to come awake. The hand without the glove was on her other arm, rubbing it as if the work had given her a rash.
    “There’s a man out here, looking for you.”
    Cora looked up at the clock. Seven o’clock.
    “Oh,” she found a curse coming to her lips. Maeve’s eyes widened, although the older woman wouldn’t take offense at the word, she looked surprised to hear the normally prim volunteer use it. Shocked at herself, Cora brought her hand up to her lips to keep the word in. Maeve saw what she had been fiddling with—a small chain that encircled her left arm.
    “You okay?”
    “Yes, I’m just late, I better go.”
    Maeve hesitated, “Are you sure? He’s kinda rough looking; I nearly sent him away. Are you sure you want to see him?”
    “Yeah, it’s fine.” Cora mumbled, stripping off her apron.
    Maeve looked at her critically. “Careful,” she finally said. “You’re a sweet girl, Cora. I hope you know how to take care of yourself.” She moved so Cora could go hang up her apron, but went on chatting. “This city is as dangerous as it ever was. I mean, look at this—“ The redhead held up a newspaper, the top one on the stack they’d be using to line the cages. “ Known crime boss surfaces at club. The Underworld Emerges. Can you believe this? Mob men, right on 35th street! This was at the club that’s just opened, what’s the name?”
    “Elysium,” Cora whispered. She had gone all still. She recognized the marquis in the picture splashed across the front page. Silently, Maeve handed her the newspaper so she could get a closer look. The photographer took the picture just as a black car was pulled right in front, and a familiar dark head was emerging from it into the marquis lights.
    Maeve was watching her. “Take care of yourself,” she said gently.
    Without asking what the woman meant, Cora turned away. “I have to go.”
    Thoughts buzzing, Cora readied herself to meet Sharo, smoothing her hair with her fingers nervously. She would have to ask for a few extra minutes time to change out of her work clothes. Marcus wouldn’t be happy. Marcus didn’t like to be kept waiting. Marcus—
    She took a deep breath, almost dizzy. Waiting until she had steadied, she opened the door.
    The front of the rescue was a little shop for pet goods. Cora come out, an apology ready and on her lips even before she saw who it was that waited between the aisles of dog food. Rounding the corner, she stopped dead. The hair on the head of the waiting man was curly, brown. His back was to her, but at her voice he turned around.
    Cora gasped. Instead of stepping back, she stepped forward in pity. “What happened to you?”
    The man’s face was misshapen, bruises covering his face in mulit-colored patchwork. It was the man from the club, from her first night out in the city. She should run, or speed-dial Marcus on the cell phone he insisted she carry. But he wasn’t making