Jamie cleared his throat from where he stood behind them all in the kitchen. “Have you forgotten that we have no allies? If it’s true that this reaper woman is plotting the downfall of humans and she has allies in high places, we are mincemeat in the face of her attacks.The new monster she’s rearing has already almost taken you out twice. What will make this event any different?”
Elise clenched her jaw as everyone turned to look at her. “Josi might be there. We have to try.”
Sterling reached a hand toward Elise as if he meant to comfort her, but it fell, and his fingers clenched by his sides. “If it makes you feel any better, your father is losing control over his weapons supply, and his factories have been shutting down, so even if he wanted to fully arm the rest of us, he would barely be able to do so. The loss of the Saint empire on your side is really no loss at all.”
“What happened to his weapons?” Elise asked.
“Total theft and seizure of one of the Saint training centers,” Sterling said.
“By whom?”
“Criminals, Elise. Who else?”
Everyone looked at Jamie. The gangster lifted his hands and scoffed, his face turning red beneath their assuming gazes. “I did not do a damn thing. I’ve kept to myself per her orders.” He gestured to Layla. “That’s why it’s so cold in here. I can hardly afford to heat this place. My son hates me for it. You’re welcome.”
Sterling choked back a laugh. He rubbed his hand over his face and cleared his throat when Elise scowled at him. “Can I trust you this time?” she wondered aloud.
The other Saint member sighed. He pulled his overcoat back, revealing empty and barren shirt lapels. Even his gun holsters were empty. Sterling produced them from his pockets instead, wrappedin protective cloth. “I was on my way to hand my badge and guns in to your father when Celie found me. As soon as we’re done here, I’ll go back and finish the job.”
A smile spread across Elise’s face. “Sure. But we need that badge for tomorrow.”
18
Saint badges had less and less power in Harlem these days. Sterling wore his proudly as they approached a line of police officers outside an apartment building. Elise stood close by, unable to stop staring at the cold metal of his badge. It was odd, seeing the shine of the Saint seal in the early-afternoon light, knowing that her home and its empire had been destroyed. Elise swallowed hard while Sterling introduced himself and gestured to their group. Though it was small at a glance and only consisted of her, Sterling, Jamie, and Layla for now, Jamie had his crew hiding out nearby for backup.
“You are not permitted to enter this event. It is invitation only, for the residents of this building,” the police officer said in a flat voice.
Sterling blinked. “Do you not think if this man is to represent the people of this city, the people of the city should be invited to these events?”
The police officer’s jaw tightened. He lowered his hand to thegun at his hip and sighed. “Look, kid, you should just go. Don’t give us any trouble.”
A young Black couple shuffled right past them. One of them, a man wearing a hat and a casual suit, stopped as Layla muttered something beneath her breath. He gave her a knowing smile, then handed Jamie something before continuing on with his girl. Layla nodded for Elise to come over, and she did, leaving Sterling to converse with the officer.
“What was that about?” Elise asked, gesturing to where the couple had disappeared into the building.
Layla nudged Jamie, and he brandished a small piece of paper with print that read,You can wake up the devil, raise all the hell; no one will be there to go home and tell, on top of address and time details. It appeared to be an invitation, though for what, Elise had yet to determine.
Jamie let out a low whistle. “This is nothing we should be getting involved in. I don’t want to see you in such circumstances. We are notthatclose.” He looked behind Elise at Sterling and lifted a brow. “He might enjoy it—”
“Jamie, what are you talking about?” Elise demanded.
His mouth gaped at her confusion as he lifted the card. “Is this not an invitation for a petting party?”
Elise’s heart skipped a beat. “Awhat?”
Layla snatched the card from Jamie and grumbled. “No, it’s not. This is an invitation for a rent party. You know, where people get together to help pay for rent.” She sighed as Elise gave her a blanklook. “Of course you don’t know. Never mind that. Jamie, I told that man you would supply alcohol, so you will have to at least pretend to do that when we go in.”
Elise blinked in confusion. “Why would Mayor Arendale be at a rent party?”
“He isn’t,” Layla said, her voice going hard with exasperation. “But he’s in the courtyard of this building, intending to address its residents. Getting inside is our first step—”
“Step back!” the officer shouted, interrupting their seemingly endless back-and-forth. Elise whirled to see the man pointing his gun at Sterling, who had his hands up and eyes narrowed with anger. “You don’t run things around here. I do.”
Sterling’s breath came out quickly but with considerable effort. “This is my neighborhood—”
“And I protect it. You were a Saint member. I know you understand the magnitude of the danger that has been running rampant in these streets. Your people left one hell of a job behind for us to clean up,” the police officer spat.
Elise couldn’t be sure ifyour peoplereferred to Saints or Black people. Either way, she’d had enough. Stepping forward slowly, she took hold of Sterling’s arm and gave the police officer an apologetic smile. “I am sorry, Officer. We are actually on our way to an event at our family friend’s home. So sorry to bother you.”
