Read Cloaked in Danger for Free Online

shadows on his skin, mottled with aging bruises, a muddy mixture of fading yellow and black. Scabbed-over scrapes and cuts framed his right eye, which had been swollen shut when he arrived. A bandage was wound around his hair to protect the still-healing wound above his ear.
    Aria unlaced her slippers, then sighed. She sunk into the nearest chair, weary in every inch, but itching to demand answers. To know more.
    But she wouldn’t wake John, no matter what she’d said to Emily.
    Not when the even keel of his breathing was the first thing to settle her all day.
    She reached up and pulled the pins from her hair. The curls bounced out of their restraints, and after she set the pins down, she ran her fingers over the achy parts of her scalp.
    She stood and moved to the window, pushed open the pane to watch the spires of red-hued morning light that slashed across the buildings.
    “I miss you, Papa,” she said to the icy wind. The now-familiar ache oozed like an open wound inside her chest.
    “Scamp.”
    “Uncle John.” Relief buckled her knees. It was startling to realize how deep her fear had gone that she would lose him.
    She hurried to the chair by his side, her feet sinking into the plush Turkish rug. “I was starting to worry, old man.”
    He gave an almost imperceptible shake of the head. “God Almighty, my head feels like it split in five parts. And not one of them filled with spirits, shame.”
    Her gaze lifted to the bandage wrapped around his head. “It was. Split, that is. The doctor was here again today. The blood has stopped—he said ’tis a good sign.’”
    John winced. “No talk of blood. Ye know I can’t stomach it.”
    Her lips twitched. “I recall a bloody knee of mine you had particular issues with.”
    “I failed ye.” Somber regret and pain was etched in the set of his brow, the downturn of his mouth.
    She placed a hand on his arm, squeezed. “You couldn’t fail me. Or Papa.”
    “I’d been drinkin’. We all had, to be certain. Celebrating, as it were. But it was my job to protect him and I failed.”
    “Tell me what happened. The man that brought you home told us nothing.” Not that she hadn’t tried to demand answers.
    “I told him to keep his mouth shut, for your own good. I didn’t want you getting involved and getting into trouble.”
    “Papa is missing. ”
    “I know. But this isn’t for you, dearie. You leave it alone.” He reached up, grabbed her hand. “Promise me.”
    She squeezed back, alarmed at his lack of strength. “I can’t, Uncle John, and you know that.”
    The single light in the room dimmed. “What trouble have you found?”
    Aria stood, walked to the desk in the room, pulled out another candle. “I have done naught but attend parties.”
    “I don’t believe you. These people are not to be trifled with. I need your word.”
    She held the candle to the stub that remained lit and watched it flare with light. John turned his head away from the small flame, and Aria realized he was in more pain than he let on. “Let me get you some laudanum.”
    “No.”
    “I love you, but you look like hell. Take the damned medication.”
    “Watch your language, young lady.” He sucked in a slow breath. “No medicine. And I’m not telling you a thing. I’m not getting better, and I can’t go chasin’ after ye.” His words came out in dry croaks.
    “Why are you talking that way?” A painful lump ballooned in her throat. “You need to rest, reserve your strength. Take the medicine, John.”
    “Damn female.”
    “You’ll do what I say eventually. Might as well give in now.”
    The quickness with which he surrendered added to her fear. But she quickly administered it, before he regained a burst of energy.
    She sat back in her chair. “Tell me about that night.”
    “Forget it.”
    “John, where was my father when you last saw him? What was he doing?”
    “I’m not answering your questions, scamp.”
    “Did you find the treasure?”
    “We found two