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I hope when I return home tonight she won’t throw a glass at my head and watch it shatter completely unphased, but something tells me I might walk into the same mess I left. I can’t figure out why she doesn’t want me to go. Even after I promised my best behavior and everything. Oh well, I sigh. It seems like there’s no pleasing her these days. First, I don’t pay her enough attention, then I’m smothering her. Honestly, I wish we could just go back to our days at the safe house. At the time, it felt like our relationship was crumbling, but I think spending that time together helped us heal. We certainly grew closer during it, and the sex, well, the sex was fucking mind blowing. This arrangement hasn’t been easy to maintain. The Don can call it off at any moment; rescinding his offer, backing out on his word.
My mind runs in a thousand different directions. The sex is still mind blowing. We just feel disconnected from one another. I can’t keep agonizing over her like this. I need to focus on the here and now. Arkham is scrambling to regain control of the birdcage. Each day the whispers of an uprising or all out anarchy grow louder. The governor has even issued a curfew. With crime on the rise, it’s no wonder he’s forcing citizens into the safety of their homes once the darkness creeps in. It seems our little squeeze on the supply lines has everyone on edge. Money is lingering in limbo, with the deliveries delayed, making some individuals more desperate than others. The foot clan is struggling to maintain order amongst itself. Riddled with infighting between their smaller factions as members scramble to pick a side in the inevitable war. I told Clay I planned to start a war, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. Those who stand by Arkham will survive, while those who stand against us will perish from the birdcage forever.
My mind is buzzing in two very different directions still when I barge into Harvey’s office. He’s on the phone with one of his informants is my guess, judging by the way this end of the call is going. When he hangs up, I shoot him a questioning glance from the chair where I’ve made myself comfortable.
“That was an informant,” he says, glowering back at me. “It’s not good news, Christian. Every day, the whispers grower stronger and louder. Things are getting out of hand.”
“And that is why I have devised the perfect phase two, Harvey. What kind of leader would Arkham be if we allowed our constituents to speak so openly of treason?” I remark.
“What exactly have you devised, Christian? Because this mess is about to be bigger than the both of us. We need to get a handle, and fast.” Harvey barks at me, agitation prominent in his tone.
“As I suspected when I targeted the Sparrows I think the poison is coming from the lips of their leader. I’ve suspected him since the day that we met. It might be time to lure the traitorous souls to an empty warehouse and extinguish them all, but then I am getting ahead of myself. I’m reserving the execution for phase three. Back to phase two,” I say, pausing to light a cigar. “Phase two will require that each of the factions of the Birdcage declare their allegiance to Arkham. They will have one week to pledge themselves. After that, I will consider anyone who fails to comply a traitor.”
“And what of the traitors?” Harvey asks, “Is that phase three?”
“Precisely,” I reply, taking a long drag, sporting a dubious smile on my lips.
“It’s diabolical. I like it,” Harvey replies. “How do you want to deliver the message?”
“I think I want to send a runner. Someone or two someones, to keep everyone honest, that can personally deliver my message to the leaders of the Birdcage. He can hand deliver a letter, so there’s no confusion.” I answer.
Harvey thinks things over for a moment before nodding his agreement. “How would you like to select the runners?”
“Give me the name of two men that you trust, but they must also be men we can spare. There’s no telling if these runners will make it back alive. If things are as bad as everyone keeps implying, there’s a good chance someone will shoot the messenger.”
Harvey laughs, “That’s awfully pessimistic coming from you, Christian. it’s nice to see you’ve turned your emotions down, but I don’t think they’re all the way off just yet.”
“I can assure you, Harvey, they are off.” My tone is icy as I snap at him for his treacherous insubordination. I know he only does it to toughen me up. To make me hard, ready and prepared for the battle I’m about to embark on.
“We shall see,” he taunts, “in time, we shall see.”
I glare at him, feeling my jaw twitch in agitation. I take another long drag. “How soon?” I ask. “I have a trip coming up, and I need to leave town for a few days. Can you handle this during my absence? Can I trust you will have everything under control?”
“Of course,” Harvey concedes, “I would never cross you. I can assure you we will have a list a week from tomorrow. Anyone who fails to declare their allegiance will be rounded up, lured to the warehouse, and slaughtered.”
“Excellent, I can rest easy knowing my affairs are in order. Do not hesitate to inform me of anything that may require my attention.”
“There is one thing you may need to handle before you leave. As you mentioned, there is reason and cause for concern that the leader of the Sparrows might be a problem. Shall I invite him to dinner? So that we can make ourselves crystal clear before the messages go out?”
“Murder?” I ask, eyebrow raised.
“Poison, near death, but a full recovery, so he can tell others about what happened when he dared to defy your orders, Christian. It’s time we make the consequences clear.” Harvey answers.
“Send an invitation to my calendar once you’ve had everything arranged. It’s been far too long since we’ve had company for dinner.”
In fact, it’s been years since the last time I used dinner as a means to cover up an assassination or near attempt, but I can still remember the first time. The way it looks for a perfectly healthy man to succumb to poison will forever lurk in the darkness of my memories.
Chapter twenty
Flashback
Mylifeasasailor working various ships traveling from port to port enabled me to rub elbows with members of Le Millieu. It gained me the access I needed to join an established criminal network, putting my skills to work and turning small favors in return for decent pay. I used the money to stay on the move, often times requesting jobs requiring me to travel far from their base in France. I quickly became fluent in French, using my fluency to help me blend in as if I’m local in the area.
Everything I did was petty compared to what I was about to do tonight. Tonight my instructions are for a high-profile run. I am going to appear at a private dinner party. My job is not only to keep my superior safe, but to also slip poison into our guest’s drink. I have no clue how I am going to pull this off. All I know is I need the money so I can get out of town. I’ve had a nagging feeling someone is following me lately, watching my every move from the shadows as they prepare to pounce. At best, it’s only a matter of days before someone gets lucky and brings me in. The next job takes me out of the country and south far away from anywhere I’ve ever traveled before. My continued freedom depends on my success tonight. I refuse to go back to Arkham. I refuse to serve a tyrant like the Don of the Arkham mafia.
I pull my jacket into place and straighten my tie. Inside the breast pocket is a vile full of natural botanical poisons secured from a lab they control. There will be no way to link it back to a chemical poisoning. It will leave no traces in my victims’ bloodstream, no clues for investigators, only witnesses who can speculate on his cause of death, which will, of course, be limited to our small intimate dinner guests. Many of those will probably be paid off to keep their silence. Anyone stupid enough to nark might find themselves at the bottom of a canal.
My superior gives me his nod of approval, motioning for me to fall into step behind him as we descend the grand staircase to greet our guests for the evening. “You will understand your opportunity when it falls into your lap. Work quickly, and do not risk exposure,” He hisses instructions before we reach the foyer.
