Free Glorious Victorious Darcys 01.5 - His Broken Angel by Beth Ciotta Page A

though they’re not your style. I’ll fetch you some ties for your braids.”
    Lily sat ramrod still, sensitive to the tension in the air. P.J. prattled on as a habit, but instead of sounding confident and cocky, she sounded distracted. “Did you learn anything about Jasper?”
    “No, I did not. No word on Joey or Viper either.” She clanged a tray to a table, at least that’s what it sounded like to Lily, then stomped across the room and rifled through something—a box, a jar. “They’re probably leading Crusher on a wild goose chase. Away from here. Or maybe they shot him down—that would be spectacular—and are in the process of covering their tracks.” She sniffed. “I’m not worried.”
    Liar
.
    Lily flinched when P.J. moved swiftly in front of her.
    “Didn’t mean to scare you,” the woman said while securing the ends of one braid.
    “I’m not scared,” Lily said. “You startled me, is all.” She hated that everyone, including Doc, consider her a flighty mouse. Then again, up until now, she hadn’t shown much sass. P.J. Darcy, on the other hand, was a ball of fiery confidence. An impervious scrapper, all rough and tough and lacking girlish foibles. Except when it came to her squad leader.
    Lily cleared her throat, curious about the cocky aviatrix and her more feminine side. “Have you loved him for long?”
    “Who?”
    “Jasper.”
    P.J. snorted. “Don’t think I’m soft in the head just because you’re soft on Doc Blue.” She tugged on Lily’s second braid. “What do you see in him anyway? That is … You know what I mean.”
    “Yes, I know.” Feeling distressed and lonely, Lily pretended she’d known P.J. for a million years and that they spoke of intimacies as easily as the weather. “I find Doc fascinating. He’s committed to healing the sick and injured. He’s an orphan. He’s a—”
    “Freak. I understand. They’re a supernatural curiosity. A forbidden fruit for Vics.”
    “That’s not it.”
    “If you say so.”
    “I say so.”
    P.J. pulled at Lily’s braid, a sign that she was done. She grasped her elbow. “Come on. Let’s eat.”
    Lily followed to where she was led. She sat in a seat, inhaled the hearty scents. “Beef stew?”
    “And a mug of ale. Ever had ale?”
    “No.”
    “Splendid.”
    “Are you laughing at me?”
    “No.”
    “You don’t think I’ll sample alcohol?”
    “On the contrary. That’s why I like you.”
    Lily blinked. “You like me?”
    “Now that you’re showing some gumption, yes. I’ll like you even more when you clear up the mystery.”
    “What mystery?” Lily asked as she tasted the stew.
    “Forget I mentioned it.”
    Lily angled her head. “I’m too intrigued to forget it. What would you like to know?” Was the woman curious about her background? Her brother? As a dime-novel hero, the Sky Cowboy roped a lot of interest.
    P.J. fidgeted and stalled and suddenly Lily realized the “mystery” had something to do with her current predicament. Bolstering her spine, Lily abandoned her spoon and slid her hand across the table, feeling for her mug. P.J. helped her connect with her drink and Lily persevered. “Please tell me, P.J. I want to leave here as soon as possible. If you know something that will expedite the process—”
    “
You’re
the one with the knowledge,” she said.
    Lily bristled. “You’ll have to be more direct.”
    “I’m not supposed to talk about it,” P.J. snapped. “Every time one of us brings up the
Brittania
debacle, you have one of your spells. Jasper said we shouldn’t force it. But honestly, Lily, the sooner you describe the assassins, even one of them, the sooner we can clear Jasper’s name and the reputation of the Freak Fighters!”
    Lily’s pulse raced and her breath quickened. Instead of gulping air, she gulped ale.
    “I say, slow down before you get pished.”
    Setting aside the mug, Lily tempered the panic whispering through her veins.
    “You’re not going to have a conniption