"Shut up. You're witnesses." I spread Felix's territory map on the coffee table. Over doilies. "The Copper Hands no longer exist. Their territory is mine."
"You can't—"
Olivia walks in with a tea service.
"Oh! Guests!" She sets the tray down. "I didn't know we were having people over. Is this a late meeting? You all look stressed."
Silence except for Felix's breathing.
"Sugar?" She's already pouring. "Mr. Morrick, you look terrible. Are those fingers supposed to bend that way?"
Felix makes a sound.
"Here, let me help." She pulls out bandages. When did she start carrying medical supplies? "This might sting."
She bandages his mangled hand while twelve crime lords watch. The Brass Hands leader accepts tea with shaking hands. Another takes a cookie.
"You're all up very late," she observes. "Is it quarterly reports? Father always said those were terrible."
"Territory," one croaks.
"Oh, like land management? How interesting." She's serving the River Guild leader, who looks ready to cry. "Cream?"
I watch my enemies process being served tea by a woman in a paint-stained nightgown while their colleague bleeds on upholstery. Several accept cookies. One asks for honey.
"Since you're all here," she says, "might as well stay for early breakfast. I have more cookies, and there's leftover soup."
"We should—" The Brass Hands leader stops.
"Stay," I say. "For breakfast."
Horror on every face.
Olivia bustles out, humming. The crime lords sit frozen, holding teacups like explosives.
"Your territory markers," I tell Felix.
He tells me through tears. Joss takes notes. A teacup rattles.
"The Kitchen King would have killed you. But I'm something worse now. I'm unpredictable. I might murder you, or I might serve you cookies."
"This is insane," the River Guild leader whispers.
"This is expansion." I stand. The room tilts. When did I last eat? "Felix keeps his life but loses everything else. Anyone else want to test my new management style?"
Silence.
"Breakfast will be ready soon. Don't bleed on the doilies."
I leave them there. Crime lords and cookies. Violence and Earl Grey. Joss follows.
"That was either brilliant or completely unhinged."
"Both."
"They don't know what to do with you anymore."
She's right about that.
