Free The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton Page B

mouth.
    “Tiki.” Fiona jumped to her feet. “This is—”
    “Johnny Michael Francis O’Keefe, Miss.” He bobbed his head, his cap clutched in his hands. His face had a boy-like charm to it, but Tiki didn’t miss the hollows under his cheeks and the way his second-hand clothes hung on this thin frame.
    “Johnny O’Keefe?” Tiki eyes narrowed. “Also known as Johnny the Thief? I’ve heard of you before.”
    Johnny tugged the lapels of his rumpled, threadbare jacket straight. A nervous smile creased his lips revealing teeth that were surprisingly clean. “I swear I don’ know where you heard such a thing as that.” He waved a hand in her direction and cleared his throat. “Being the lady you are, an’ all.”
    Fiona snickered, then guiltily raised a long-stemmed red rose to her nose to hide her smile. Tiki chose to ignore her. Johnny the Thief had quite a name among the pickpockets who worked the streets of London. Not only for his quick hands—but also for his close escapes. There’d been more than one tale of Johnny eluding the bobbies by the seat of his threadbare pants.
    “It doesn’t matter where I’ve heard it. We’ve met before—at Charing Cross.” Tiki wasn’t smiling now. “I believe you stole my bag.”
    Johnny’s cheeks turned red. “About that…” He turned his crumpled cap in his hands and shuffled feet that looked too big for his lanky body. “I only did it because the blond lady promised me a quid. She was the one who told me to lead you to that little room.” He held his hands out from his sides and his face twisted in a look of disgust. “But in the end, it wasn’t even worth it because I lost the bloody money. Put it my pocket and found a dead leaf there later.”
    Tiki frowned at his mention of the blond lady. “What did this woman say to you?”
    Johnny shrugged. “I don’ know. She just came up and offered me a quid. Showed me the little room with the back door then pointed out you two fine-looking ladies.”
    Fiona blushed, and Tiki didn’t miss the pleased expression on her face. Tiki threaded her hands together, still standing stiffly erect. “How exactly did you find out where we lived?”
    “Oh, that part was easy. I just followed you home.” Johnny gave her an endearing grin. “Then I waited for a chance to talk to Miss Fiona.”
    Tiki’s stomach twisted at the thought that they were being followed by Johnny and hadn’t even noticed. Who else could have been following them? She would need to be more alert in the future. But right now Fiona’s face was bright with excitement for the first time in a long time. Tiki tapped her thumbs together, trying to make a decision as she eyed the painfully thin boy. Finally she heaved a sigh. It hadn’t been long enough since their fortunes had changed that Tiki had forgotten what it felt like to be hungry all the time. “Have you had breakfast?”
    SHAMUS JOINED THEM at the table as it was Saturday and pulled a chair up next to their guest as they nipped into platters of sausage gravy over biscuits. In typical fashion, Mrs. Bosworth had cooked enough for everyone to have seconds, so there was plenty for an extra mouth.
    Tiki cut a bite of gravy-soaked biscuit listening to Fiona and Toots chattering on while Johnny practically inhaled his food. “Where are your parents?” she finally asked.
    Johnny paused with a bite halfway to his mouth. “Debtor’s prison.” His voice held little emotion. Tiki noticed he handled a fork with practiced ease and swallowed his food before he spoke. “Didn’t see m’self living in that place so I set about my own business.” He elbowed Toots. “Went to Charing Cross and met a few blokes in the trade.” He took another big bite of food and swallowed. “I’ve done all right for m’self so far.” He grinned. “Not dead or in prison yet.”
    “I see.” Tiki moved the food on her plate around, her appetite suddenly diminished. There were so many children who were orphaned or