“It wasn’t our idea!” the second man blurted, his eyes wild with panic as he watched his friend’s blood spread across the asphalt. “Nowak’s losing his mind! He’s desperate after you opened negotiations with the city council!”
I turned my attention to him, setting the pliers down with deliberate care on the velvet lining. “Go on.”
If he thought he was safe from the repercussions of his actions, he would be more likely to chat.
“He’s making alliances with some of the Gemini,” the man continued, words tumbling out in a frantic rush. “Says you’ve gotten too comfortable, that your operation is spread thin. He wants to test your borders, see how fast you respond.”
I nodded thoughtfully, selecting a scalpel from my case. The steel caught the lamplight as I twirled it between my fingers. “And what did he hope to accomplish with this little…art project?”
The third man, who’d remained silent until now, spoke up. “Boss said we’d be paid double to mark your territory.”
From over my shoulder came the rumble. “Paid double for what exactly?” Rayko demanded.
“For marking your turf and setting up shop,” he continued, words tumbling out in a desperate rush. “Nowak said you were weak, that your people were distracted. Said it was time to push east of the highway.”
I laughed, a sound devoid of humor. “And you believed him?”
Their sullen looks confirmed it.
“Well, I have a message for your boss. Want to give it to him for me?” I closed my case, the buckles snapping into place.
Wary glances were replaced by tentative nods.
“Good.” I lunged forward, sinking the scalpel into the throat of the first man. My fist retracted, and a geyser of blood spewed out, arching through the air.
No one marked my territory. I protected it by any means necessary.
Chapter 20 – Poppy
Abox arrived two days after the zoo trip. Brady saw it from the window and jumped up to get it. My heart imagined the worst. Bombs used to be a way mobs sent messages to one another or took out key players. Thankfully, my “No” reached him in time.
And he actually listened to it.
We summoned Rayko, who was on guard duty in the sedan across the street, since Ivan had gone away for business. If I missed his presence during the days, I kept that secret to myself. But of course that would be silly to miss someone who slept most of the day, because he worked the entire night.
“Would you open that for me?” I asked, standing at the edge of the lawn and pointing back to the front porch. “I’m not sure what’s in it.”
“It’s a package,” he grumped.
“Open it out here? Please?” I smiled sweetly. “I made banitas.”
That got his attention. “Oh, alright.”
I took Brady to the backyard under the pretense of showing him a bird.
“It must have flown away,” I pouted.
“We should get a bird feeder. Like the ones we had,” he mused. “Then they would come around.”
“I agree.” Shooting a look at the chain link fence, I watched a very grumpy Bulgarian henchman open the six-foot gate and come stalking in.
“Here.” He shoved a box at me.
A beautiful print, like a fancy wallpaper, decorated the box with intricate swirls. Silk ribbons tied the front flap closed.
“Did you check inside?” My voice sounded higher than usual.
Rayko’s frown turned severe. “I don’t know what you’re expecting is inside, but it’s light.”
