“It’s not getting lost,” I said.
Every head turned toward me.
I looked at Twister.“I remember.”
Wheels’ hand settled on my knee.
Twister nodded once.“Then talk.”
I took a breath.It didn’t feel like enough air.
“He said Hollis was wrong.That The Ledger started as protection.”My voice sounded steadier than I felt.“Families protecting what they built.Influence.Money.Power.They thought they were controlling the city for the right reasons.”
Hodge scoffed.“Of course they did.”
I nodded.“But Gene said it changed.He said The Ledger wasn’t what it started as anymore.”
Podge’s fingers moved over his keyboard.“Changed how?”
“They don’t just want influence.”I swallowed.“They want ownership.His word.He said they want to own every door, every official, every deal, every piece of dirt under our feet.”
Tempi’s hand tightened around mine.
Rev rubbed a hand over his beard.“That tracks with the shell companies.”
Podge nodded.“And the property acquisitions.”
“And the permits,” I said.“And the inspections.And the way they buried things in records until no one questioned them anymore.”
Twister’s eyes narrowed.“What else?”
I closed my eyes.Gene’s face flashed behind my eyelids.
Tired.
Defeated.
Already dead, even before the bullet.
“He said he kept records.”
Podge looked up sharply.“Where?”
“He wouldn’t say.”I opened my eyes.“He said not there.Then he said if he told us, they’d know.”
Nugget frowned.“How the hell would they know?”
Swift looked toward the front windows.“Because they were watching.”
The room went cold again.
“They saw us go there,” Magnum said.“They were in position before we walked inside.Had to be.”
Twister nodded once.“Or they were watching Gene already.”
“That makes sense,” Rev said.“If he was wavering.”
“They knew he was a risk,” I whispered.
