Page 12 of Play The Game

With a warning look at Harley, he turns back to me. “I’m not just here about the call, kid. You were heading to the docks tonight, right? For the meeting? It’s being postponed, you’ll need to come back down for the next one once they reschedule. I thought I should warn you before the Crow calls.”

My spine snaps straight. Dammit, none of this conversation is going how I thought it would. Two unprecedented events in the space of a single day? My skin starts to crawl, my instincts telling me to get the fuck out of this city because something is brewing. Meetings don’t just get canceled.

Illi eyes Harley again, and I grit my teeth until he starts talking. “This is the part where I’m asking for something fucking big from you, little Wolf.”

When he pauses to stare at Harley some more, my patience evaporates and I wave my hand at him. “Harley’s mine, and he’s from around here. He knows better than to run his mouth, even if he’s pissed; whatever it is won’t leave this room.”

Harley’s eyebrows furrow a little, but he gives Illi a curt nod.

“The Vulture is dead.”

Fuck.

Oh, sweet lord fuck.

No matter how much I’m reeling, there’s only one answer to this news and while my stomach hollows out, I meet Illi’s gaze easily as I nod slowly. “So, you’re mine now, too.”

Harley blanches, but we both ignore him, because this isn’t up for discussion. The Butcher might be the nightmare of the streets but he’s also my closest ally, fiercest supporter, and number one emergency contact when shit hits the fan. Getting out of the Bay and away from the Jackal was never just about getting myself out; it’s also about keeping him away from the very select few people that looked out for me when I was barely more than a starved Mounty street kid.

Illi scrubs a hand over his face. “This wasn’t planned, kid, but when that fuck called me about your boy, he brought up Odie… I can’t risk the cunt getting his hands on her. Again.”

I’m nodding before he finishes. “I know. You’re mine, both of you. Between us, we’ll keep her safe.”

It’s not cheap talk either; I would do just about anything to keep the Jackal away from both Illi and his wife. I’ve already done unspeakable things for them both, but he’s done the same for me. I never wanted the complication of inducting people, or painting targets on them by association, but Illi only ever downplayed our ties to keep the Jackal off my case. Well, the asshole is on it now, so they might as well have the protection my name can give them.

What’s the point of almost dying to get a seat on the Twelve if I can’t use the power it gives me when shit goes down?

Harley looks between us and grinds out, “How does the death of that sick fuck suddenly mean you’re inducting him? I thought you wanted to stay away from this world, how does taking on the Butcher keep you free?”

How do I even begin to explain any of this without stepping on land mines of trauma, all while Illi gets a front seat to this shit show?

When I hesitate, Illi takes pity on me, cracking his knuckles absently. “I told little Wolf that the Vulture’s death would be mine long before she left the Bay. She gave her word that she’d have my back when the time came.”

Harley bursts out of his chair. It’s a testament to how confident Illi is of his abilities he doesn’t so much as flinch. “The Vult—you killed a member of the Twelve and now you want to risk Lips by having her take you in?! Fuck. That.”

I hold up a hand to stop him, his head jerking over to me like he forgot I was sitting here in his enraged panic. “They’re both in. I should have done it years ago when you asked. I might’ve been able to get away from the Jackal sooner if I had.”

That has him rocking back on his heels. “You’ve asked her before?”

If these two don’t get along, my life will get fucking complicated and fast. I can’t even think about how much Ash and Blaise would both hate this.

Illi pauses for a second, his jaw flexing as he grinds his teeth. “You know who the Vulture was, right? What his business was? That sick fuck sold my wife in his skin auctions. Twice. My closest friend at the time, a man I saw as my brother, betrayed me, allies stopped taking my calls, my contacts disappeared overnight, and all of it landed on my girl. In the worst moment of my life… well, I can count on one hand the people who didn’t just stand ten toes down, but swung for us both, and no one did more than the Wolf. My Odie is alive today because your girl risked everything to save her. Without my wife, there’s no reason for me to continue breathing. I’ve asked Lips to induct me before, and I told her that even if she didn’t accept, I would answer any call to arms from her.”

And he had.

One phone call to him back at Hannaford, and he’d met us at the docks ready to throw down with the Jackal, no matter the cost. I run through the specifics of inducting him in my head and wince. “I’ll get you on my books before the summer is over⁠—”

He cuts me off with a scoff. “Like fuck, kid. I’m a rich man already, I’ll give you a cut of my work. We can call it ‘outsourcing’.”

With a totally embarrassing snort at his twisted humor, I shake my head. “I’m not taking your money. I don’t want to be paid for your work, that’s… fucking gross.”

Other people would think it’s the blood soaking through every dollar of his income that I’m objecting to, but Illi knows mine is stained just the same. I might be predatory and unscrupulous when it comes to the work I do for the other members of the Twelve, and the prices I charge them, but Illi is different. Taking his money feels exploitive, and that’s a line I’d never cross.

Illi stretches his legs out in front of him and laces his fingers behind his head. The move makes him look even bigger, and Harley watches him warily. Illi grins at him, the somber air finally lifting when the fucker blows Harley a kiss like a complete ass. Fucking hell.

“I get how you’re feeling, kid, but that’s exactly why you were my first, and only, choice. I know you won’t use me. You won’t betray me. You won’t grow so fucking conceited that you turn into a cunt like D’Ardo did. You’ve protected Odie from the moment you met her. Working under you, giving you a cut of my work, all of it is fucking nothing compared to what I owe you. I’ll protect you and the boy, whatever the cost.”

Resigned, I nod before exhaling sharply. “Just remember, you’re stuck with me forever now.”