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“When did he put that bounty up?” she asked.
“Oh, not a bounty; an offer,” said Loir, staring at his painted toes. “It did specify he wants you alive, and he’s willing to pay two million just for any piece of info. Maybe you should sell yourself if you need money...”
“Very funny, Loir.”
“I know what I’d do with that much money...”
Eden reacted immediately. She took out the little knife hidden in her sleeve and pointed it toward Loir’s head. He squinted at the blade.
“You better fucking keep your mouth closed shut, Loir. I could rat you out too.”
He chuckled and stuck out his tongue, revealing the large piercing on it.
“Don’t worry, Eden... I sell secrets. People pay me for secrets. ...But a friend’s secret? Now that costs a looooot of money, little mouse...”
Eden lowered her weapon a little bit. Loir was a very strange character, but he had more to lose if they were found out, from what she knew. His bounty was much higher than hers, and Loir had one on each of his fake names. He was working with dangerous people behind all those screens. Moreover, he had never stepped out of this basement since she had met him here four years ago. None of the other residents even had any idea there was someone here; they all thought it was locked by the previous tenant.
She eventually put her weapon back, and he smiled even more.
“...Fine. But do you know what the Tiger’s got after me?”
“Who knows? You probably pissed off the wrong kitty, meow meow... He does send out some minions to retrieve some things for him sometimes. Maybe he’s trying to get rid of the competition or... get it for himself.”
Eden frowned. She didn’t like this at all. Having someone on her tail, one of the mafia lords at that? She’d much rather be left alone. At least, her identity was still concealed for now. No one, except for Loir, could connect Ghost to her. She sighed, crossing her arms with a sour expression. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea if she returned to the Dark Web so soon after all. She had never seen the guy, but she knew enough rumors about the Italian Tiger. He was not someone she could afford to piss off, and if he was looking for Ghost, he probably wouldn’t back down anytime soon. He was known as one of the most dangerous of the mafia lords. They all were, but the Italian had his own fame. She was cautious by nature, but he was probably on top of the list of people she didn’t want to be associated with. Of all the different mafias reigning in the Suburbs, the Italian mafia was the one she hated the most...
Eden clenched her fist without thinking, her memories taking over. She’d never work for that kind of scum again if she was given a choice...
“Oh...”
Loir was watching one of the screens displaying video surveillance. Eden frowned and moved to his other side to look at it too.
“The Eagle’s...” she whispered.
Those were men of the Mexican mafia indeed. Once again, their faces were covered by luchador or eagle masks, but it made it even more obvious. Those men were ruthless, even toward those supposedly under their protection… Eden recognized the narrow street behind their building. She squinted, trying to see what they were doing. It looked like they were shooting at something and laughing.
“You know if we really come from monkeys,” said Loir, “those guys are proof that some people evolved faster than others...”
“Loir, open the back door for me, please.”
He tilted his head, raising an eyebrow.
“Our Kitty is going out? Why?”
“That’s where the dog is.”
“You’ll be in danger, though...”
“Open the damn door!”
He raised his finger and pushed a button on the keyboard.
Somewhere farther in the darkness, a door opened. Eden took a deep breath. She didn’t have her mask with her; she couldn’t afford to stay outside for more than a couple of minutes. Eden ran there, prepared for anything. She wasn’t one to intervene in those kinds of things, but she just couldn’t ignore it.
Every morning, she saw that dog in the back alley. It was a female, a big one, probably a mix of several breeds, with short hair. She wouldn’t let the humans approach her, but she stayed around as the locals fed her. Eden liked that dog. It was rare to see animals around as they usually died young, from hunger or whatever disease they’d catch, being in the polluted streets all day. Most of the locals didn’t have the means to care for a pet, but they still tried to look out for those living in their area if they could. Eden knew that dog sometimes slept in their building or the neighboring ones when someone let her in.
That door led her to another back street. Eden had to climb up some stairs and walked a few steps to get to the right one, but she could already hear them sniggering.
“Come on!”
