Free Seducing the Ruthless Rogue by Tammy Jo Burns

to save your neck from being stretched.”
    “Please, Cassie, don’t get in trouble for us.   We’ll go with the Runner,” a delicate, feminine voice said behind her.
    “No, Abby.   We all go, or none of us go.”
    Miss Graham lifted her chin in a stubborn gesture he was growing used to seeing in their short acquaintance.   “Miss Graham, if you do not accompany me, you all will end up in prison.”   He watched her cross her arms in defiance.   At the same time, a little girl peeked timidly around her skirts.   He saw her big brown eyes, fringed with thick, dark lashes blink up at him curiously, and he could have sworn his heart melted just a bit.   “Who’s this?” he asked gruffly.
    “This is Jemma, and this is her mother, Mrs. Abigail Thompson.”   He watched as Cassie stepped aside to reveal a woman with sunken cheeks and bruises beneath the same color eyes as her daughter.   He did a quick scan of her from head to toe and saw that her brown hair looked thin and listless, although tidy, but what truly caught his attention was the fact that she was with child.   “Mrs. Thompson’s husband was killed in a battle in Spain.   She has no more money to pay rent or buy food, and she has nowhere to go.”  
    “What do you expect me to do?”
    “I expect you to not be a bloody right bastard!” Miss Graham charged at him.   “They will put Mrs. Thompson in prison and Jemma in an orphanage.   Haven’t they lost enough already?”   Cassie implored.
    “What did Mrs. Thompson do?”
    “I tried to steal money from a gentleman, sir,” Mrs. Thompson answered on her own behalf.
    “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.   Now, come with me, Miss Graham, you’re wasting my time,” Mack turned to leave, the word bastard ringing in his ears.
    “Ask her why, or are you afraid to hear her answer?”
    “It doesn’t matter.   Mrs. Thompson was caught stealing money, and she must be punished.”
    “You are a cold-hearted—”
    “Careful what word you choose to describe me.   I would suggest veering from the one you previously used if you value your health.”
    “Do not threaten me.”
    “Come along.”
    “Not until you ask her.”
    “Miss Graham—”
    “Ask.   Her,” Cassie gritted through her teeth.
    “And what were you going to use the money for, Mrs. Thompson?”   The woman sat down and looked as if she would collapse at any moment.   The little girl did not look much better.
    “I just wanted to buy some bread for my little girl,” she answered, tears forming in her eyes.   “I know we won’t last very long on the streets.   I don’t even know that the babe will survive being born, but I just couldn’t stand one more night of hearing Jemma cry because her belly hurt from not eating.   I’m her mother and as much as I try, I cannot do anything about it,” she finished with a sniff.
    “There, there,” Cassie said wrapping her arm protectively around the other woman.   “He won’t let anything happen to you now, Abby.   Will you, Director McKenzie?”
    After a considerable pause, Mack looked at the two Runners who were having difficulty making eye contact with the women after hearing Mrs. Thompson’s story.   “I will be taking the two women and the child.   Tell your director I will stop by and explain everything later.”
    “Yes, sir,” the men muttered.  
    ***
    Cassie knew she put Director McKenzie in a tenuous position.   In all honesty, she had been ready to disable the Runner and help Abby and Jemma to disappear.   She did not mind prison for herself, but she could not stand the thought of that little girl and her mother being separated after all they had endured.   Cassie had spent most of the night composing her next article in her mind.   She made notes in her journal she carried and could not wait to be in the quiet of her house so that she could think clearly and write the story.
    “Director McKenzie, I want to…”
    “Not now, Miss Graham.”
    “But,