“Sometimes delay is all civilization is.”
I laugh once, without humor. “That sounds like Lenrog.”
“I worked for him a long time.”
“And now?”
His face tightens. “Now I try to keep his dead son from becoming king of ashes.”
“Ron is not Lenrog’s son anymore?”
“He was always Lenrog’s son.” Arturo looks toward the smoky skyline. “That was the tragedy.”
Cleo approaches with the portable screen. “We cracked a partial message from Nessa. Margrave Hotel confirmed. Ron is gathering whoever still answers him.”
“How many?” Arturo asks.
“Unknown. Enough to be stupid.”
I turn from the edge. “We go.”
Cleo looks me over. “You look like hell.”
“I have been there.”
“Poetic.”
“No.”
Arturo blocks my path before I can move toward the stairwell. “You need to understand something before Margrave.”
“I understand enough.”
“No, you do not.” He lowers his voice. “If Ron is there, if we go in hard, this becomes the pivot. Whoever walks out controls what remains of the lower syndicate. My people will follow the force that stabilizes them.”
“I am not your leader.”
“You may not get a vote.”
The words hit too close to Lenrog’s warning.
Men like us do not remain outside power structures for long.
I step closer to Arturo until he has to lift his chin. “I am doing this for Halo.”
“And Evie.”
“Yes.”
“Good. Keep saying that while men start taking orders from you.”
“I do not want orders.”
“But you give them well.”
I hate him for noticing.
Cleo’s screen pings before I answer. She reads, goes pale, then looks at me.
