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“We’re not all going to die knowing our empire is crumbling to its knees and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.” Yusuf grinned that disturbing, bloody smile. “It’s over for you, Sunny. You might as well—”
My hand flashed, sinking my blade in his neck. Yusuf gasped, eyes bugging. I slid back a step as Athena and Ryker let his body hit the asphalt.
“Man, that dude can go on,” I lofted. “Blah, blah, blah all the damn day.”
“He might’ve blah blahed his way into saying something important,” Ryker said. “Or he could’ve been important. If he was waiting around for someone to make contact, we should’ve let him go and watched him.”
I shook my head, walking off toward the back of the alley. “No one in the Brotherhood would’ve made contact with him. Yusuf told us enough. They wait for the enemies they can use to move to Rockchapel. That guy wasn’t valuable to anyone.”
“He was one of the best counterfeiters in the city,” Athena argued.
“You know who doesn’t need fake money?” I said. “People who’ve got plenty of the real stuff. Whoever’s behind the Brotherhood is loaded. Those were Bane-grade weapons they were aiming at our heads. Would’ve cost thousands.”
“Okay,” Makai drew out. “But Grant was a loan shark. All he had to offer was money too. What made him valuable?”
“He didn’t just have money. Grant had dozens of desperate people on his hook. An offer to wipe out their debt could get them to do anything he asked. That’s power, Makai. Power is always valuable.”
Ryker bobbed his head to my speech. “You’re right, Sunny. We can use that to narrow down the list of targets. Dinah Sands is one of the seven that up and moved to Rockchapel. She’s offered her fixer services to some of the richest families in Leighbridge. The dirt she’s hoarding is highly valuable.”
“Now we’re on the same wavelength, brother.” The word popped out of my mouth and I grimaced. I don’t think I’ll call anyone brother for a long time.
We rounded the back of the building, continuing to the end of the street, far from the crime scene. Coming out onto the busy sidewalk, I paused.
Bodies brushed past me. Some made eye contact. Others didn’t spare me a glance. Turning my head up, I fell on the apartment windows, giving a glimpse into the lives of a dozen random people talking, eating, or watching television.
“This is a first.”
“What is, boss?” Makai asked.
“It’s the first I stood on a street in my city... and felt like I was in enemy territory.”
MACKENZIE
“I love the lines on this one, Zoe. It’s perfect.”
“Thanks, Kenzie. I’ll pull the fabric right now.”
Mint soap invaded my nose, preceding the hair tickling my cheek. “Ooh, perfect is such a strong word. I mean, what do we think about that neckline? I doubt the girl’s a nun. And a dress? I’ve met Ava Johnson, and I don’t think she’s the wind-blowing-up-her-crotch type.”
I spun in my desk chair, giving the meddlesome Merchant a look. Despite me reminding her—twice—that we shouldn’t waste time in the design stage because they’re not putting the trackers in drawings, Genny could not resist chiming in on her future wardrobe.
Five days passed since my date with River. I wished there was something to report in that time. Well, I could report that my relationships with Sunny, Liam, River, and Bane had never been better, and I felt like I was getting closer to them every day. Even Bane who insisted my plan to make him fall in love with me would not work. We’ve ended training for the last week with crazy hot shower sex.
The only thing that wasn’t seeing much progress is our plan to find the rat in Caddell House. Everything was stalled until the sketches moved into the creation phase. Then I had to figure out how to be everywhere at once, watching every employee, and catch our culprit in the act.
No pressure.
“It’s not a dress,” Zoe said. “It’s an overskirt. See?” She flipped the page. “Take it off and it’s a casual, but sexy outfit. Put it on and you’re gala-ready.”
Genny’s brows popped. “Damn, girl. Impressive. Get started on that immediately.”
Zoe spun. “Yes, ma— Oh, wait.” She turned to me, suddenly remembering who she worked for. “Can I?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I want it done by the end of the week.”
“It’ll be ready in five days.”
Genny and I shared a look.
“Even better.” I checked the time. “Where’s Jace? He said he had three new summer suits for David Johnson that are ready to be approved.”
Zoe just shrugged and left.
“You’d know where he is if you’d let me put trackers on their asses,” Genny said. She walked, not hobbled to her window seat. Hendrix removed the boot the day before. “Do I need to tell you that we have nine days left to find the bastard?”
