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“Are you here on a job?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Yes, I like hanging out on dingy docks all by myself in the middle of the night,” I replied. “Fuck…of course not. We have an agreement with the harbormaster.”
“The agreement changes now,” he replied. “Vito wants his cut.”
I glared at him. “Vito doesn’t get a cut. He didn’t negotiate this agreement, Bash did. I don’t want any trouble, Coco. I’m just coming to collect.”
“You don’t want any trouble?” his smirk widened. “I don’t see you for a couple of years and you have totally changed.”
I took a step toward him. He wasn’t as tall as me, but I knew he could hold his own. I had seen him fight before. “Don’t give me an excuse, Coco,” I replied. “I’m trying not to start a war. “
“Oh, start one,” Coco said, his smirk now a grin. “I can happily tell Vito the Knives didn’t want to play nice. See what happens when you don’t give him a cut and you keep his grandchild away from him.”
I bit the inside of my mouth. I would have really liked to kill him, but now with Sebastian under Justice and Bash’s custody, I had to hold back. I didn’t want to put them in more danger. “I’ll discuss this with the skip.”
“There is nothing to discuss. Vito wants twenty-five percent of whatever you make here,” he said. “And access to his grandson.”
“For fuck’s sake, Coco,” I said. “You know I can’t make decisions like that.”
“A shame,” he said, looking at his watch. “I’ll come to collect his cut tomorrow.”
“Do I work for you now?” I asked, baring my teeth at him.
“Yeah,” he said. “You all do.”
“Fuck you, Coco,” I said.
He looked up at me, dark eyes narrow. “Brave words, Skylar. Just remember, bravery can be a…costly trait.”
“That’s the worst threat I’ve ever heard,” I said. “What are you going to do, tax me?”
He went for his piece before I could go for mine, pointing it right at my head. My hand shook slightly as I gripped the handle of my blade, but I tried to maintain a calm exterior. Coco De Luca was a dangerous man, and facing him down was no small task. But I couldn't let fear dictate my actions. Not now, not ever. I was fast, I could be scary. But I couldn't outrun a gun.
"Hands," he said. "Don't do anything stupid."
I took a sharp intake of breath but let go of my knife.
"You're making a mistake, Coco," I said, my hands by my sides.
"You forget your place, Skylar," Coco snarled, his gun steady against my temple. "This isn't a negotiation. It's an ultimatum. We take our cut, or we take your head."
"Or you can just walk away," I replied, my voice steady despite the fear gripping my stomach. I took a deep breath, weighing my options. "This is a game you can't win, Coco. You're not taking twenty-five percent of anything. And you can't have Sebastian. He's under the protection of Justice and Bash."
Coco's face twisted into a mask of anger and frustration. "You don't understand what you're playing with, Skylar," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you're a stone player? You're a pawn. That's all you are. And pawns are moved, and sacrificed, when the game demands it."
"If I'm a pawn, then what the fuck are you?"
He took a step toward me. My hands were still by me, I was trying my best not to show him how shaken I was. "I'm the kingmaker," he replied. He swung at me with the butt of his gun and I didn't have time to duck. I grunted in pain as I felt the impact of the gun against my temple, my vision blurred for a moment. Fury coursed through my veins as I stared at his silhouette, my head throbbing.
I didn't think.
I should have, but I didn't.
I swung at him instinctively, my hand connecting with the side of his face. The impact was audible as Coco's head snapped to the side, momentarily stunned. I seized the opportunity, rushing forward and grabbing his gun hand, bending it unnaturally behind his back.
I wanted to fucking break something.
The gun clattered to the ground as Coco snarled in pain, his arm limp like I’d dislocated his shoulder. Coco brought his knee up and got me in the crotch with all his strength, and I stumbled backward, doubling over in pain. I wanted to tell him that it was a cheap shot, but I wasn't able to speak. To my surprise, I was still standing, and from the corner of my eye, I could see Coco trying to catch his breath.
