The Sapphire Gun (20 page)

“No problem.”

“Once I verify the identity of these killers, you'll probably have a reward coming to you,” Roper continued. “They've got a hell of a price on their heads, and Western Union is paying it.”

That wasn't much of a surprise to Clint. Even though Galloway had been one of the men to hire the sapphire guns, it only made sense that Galloway's superiors would pay to have the witnesses to the botched assassinations captured as soon as possible. For the moment, Clint just wanted to put the whole thing behind him.

“I'd shake your hand, Adams,” Roper said, “but mine are full right now. Why don't I buy you breakfast tomorrow and I can get you that reward? Some of my men will stay here just in case any more of these killers gives you any grief.”

Clint was already heading back up the stairs. “I appreciate the thought,” he said. “But I think these fellows have had enough.”

Clint opened the door and stepped into his room. He could see Victoria laying under the covers, so he closed the door behind him and stripped out of his clothes.

“No need to worry,” he said. “It was just one last try before the cavalry arrived. The Pinkertons are downstairs, so I figure I'll let them sweep up whatever's left so they don't feel like they wasted a trip.”

Laying down, Clint felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He was also exhausted after carrying that weight for the last few days. He felt Victoria's hands rubbing his chest and didn't make a move.

“I could use some sleep,” he said. “Why don't I wake you up later?”

Her answer to that was to throw the covers aside and crawl on top of him. Her nails clawed into his chest and she was breathing heavily as she leaned forward to lick his neck.

“I guess that got your blood going, huh?”

“Just glad you're safe,” she whispered.

Clint paused, but before he could say anything, he felt her soft pussy grinding against his cock. She kept rubbing against him until he was hard, and the way her hips were moving, that didn't take long. Finally, she reached down to take his penis in her hand.

“Victoria? What's wrong?”

The muscles in her legs were taut against his thighs. She guided him into her and slid all the way down his cock. Clint strained his eyes, but could only see the shape of her moving above him. It didn't help matters that he'd just come in from the much better lit hallway.

Victoria straightened up and ground her hips against Clint's. She rode his cock like she'd been craving it for weeks, and started letting out a series of throaty moans.

As good as she was making him feel, Clint knew something was wrong. Forcing himself to think clearly just then was like trying to read a newspaper through a thick fog. Then, Clint gave in and focused completely on what he'd been trying to ignore.

He concentrated on how her body rocked on top of him and how it felt to slide in and out of her.

Clint pulled in a breath and let the scent of Victoria's hair flow through him.

And then he knew what was wrong.

That wasn't Victoria.

Just as Clint put that together, he felt one of the woman's hands leave his chest. It was at that same moment that he knew who she was.

“I wish I could see your face right now,” Rosa hissed. “I'll bet you look so surprised.”

Reflexively, Clint reached out for her hands. One was still on his chest and he grabbed it at the wrist. When he reached for the other, he managed to knock it away as it swung toward him. Clint felt cold steel graze the palm of his hand, and he knew Rosa was holding a knife.

“I'll have plenty of time to see you when you're dead,” she snarled.

Clint waited until he felt her shift her weight forward. Once it did, he swung his arm in a wide, powerful arc that caught Rosa's elbow. She writhed on top of him, still grinding her hips as if she was about to climax while in the middle of the fight.

While their arms were tangled together, Clint got his fingers around her wrist and just got ahold of her when Rosa's blade brushed against his cheek. Even now that he had a hold on her wrist, it still wasn't easy to push her back.

She leaned forward, shifting all of her weight behind her thin knife. The sapphire in the handle glittered like a single star in the shadowy room. “I'll bet you never suspected me of anything, Clint. You're like every other man. Thinking with your dick, and not enough balls to stand up to a woman.”

“Of course I suspected you,” Clint said as he pushed the blade an inch or so back. “In case you don't remember, you never did get out of those ropes.”

“Yeah, but you had no clue I was the one setting up all the deals and handling all those jobs.”

“I guessed it might be you. That whole sapphire thing could only be a woman's idea.”

Just then, the lantern blazed to life and filled the room with a rich glow.

Clint could see Rosa on top of him. She was naked and sweating with the exertion of the fight. She also held a slender knife in her hand that looked more like a sliver of steel.

Victoria had been the one to turn the knob on the lantern. Rosa turned to get a look at her, which gave Clint a chance to make one more push. That was all he needed to twist Rosa's wrist and force her to drop the knife. His other hand went to her throat as he sat upright in bed.

“What . . . now?” Rosa croaked through the grip Clint had on her throat. “You die . . . or I do.”

Clint sat there with her life in his hands. He started to squeeze, but couldn't help from feeling the pang of guilt for strangling a helpless, naked woman. The same instincts that had saved his life before now caused his fingers to loosen.

The second Rosa felt his fingers let go, she smiled and pulled free of his hand. She started to dive for her knife, but couldn't find it on the floor.

That was because it was no longer on the floor.

The knife was in Victoria's hand and she buried that blade deep into Rosa's shoulder.

Rosa turned and showed a savage mix of pain and rage in her eyes. Victoria pulled the knife out, balled up her other hand, and punched Rosa square in the jaw. Finally, Rosa dropped. She landed half on the bed, with her arms and head dangling over the side.

Pulling Rosa all the way up, Clint jumped off the bed and picked up his gun. Before the Colt was securely in his grasp, Victoria rushed over to him.

She dropped the knife so she could wrap both arms around Clint. After hugging him, she looked up at him. There was a fresh bruise on her face and some blood in her hair running from a cut on her scalp. “She came in while you were downstairs. She . . . tried to knock me out, but . . .”

“It's all right,” Clint said. “Are you hurt too badly?”

Reluctantly, she shook her head. “I feel better now that I paid her back for bushwhacking me.”

Clint laughed and held her close. “Maybe you should run for sheriff.”

Watch for
ONE MAN'S LAW

306
^th
novel in the exciting GUNSMITH series from Jove

 
Coming in June!