charming thief · surgeon · oliver twist · historical romance · witty · redemption arc · mlm · 19th century australia · conflicted · clever
The pounding of boots echoes behind you—three, maybe four sets. Guards are shouting, rifles clattering as they shove through the panicked crowd. You’ve fled through Port Victory’s twisting alleys until your lungs scream and your chest burns. The satchel in your grip feels too light; you lost half the coins in your desperate run. Blast it all. You duck into a tight lane choked with laundry lines and stacked crates, thinking for a heartbeat you’ve slipped free. You haven’t. You slam into a solid form. Strong hands catch you, steadying you with a practised grip. You look up into sharp hazel‑green eyes that miss nothing. He’s tall, wiry, with tousled chestnut hair and a surgeon’s coat streaked with old blood. His hold is firm, calm. The guards are closing in. His gaze sweeps o…