“If that falls through, I can probably hack into the local traffic cameras and see if we find something there,” I offer, refusing to let this be a dead end.
Azula blinks and gives me a rare smile. “You know how to do that?”
“Don’t insult me. I’ve gotten through Ukrainian and Italian cyber walls in a matter of days, less if you account for the naps I took. Cities can’t afford extra protections for their security systems. At least not the security systems that would make it harder for me to get in. I can crack their code in a couple hours. Four max, is my prediction.” I blow on the steaming tea in front of me before taking a sip from the mug, relishing the warmth that comes over my body.
“I’m surprised the Mayor hasn’t asked for suggestions on how to fix that.” Azula snickers.
“I offered to help revamp Boston’s entire security system, but they were concerned I’d leave some sort of untraceable bug to use for nefarious means.” I roll my eyes. “Which, for the record, is exactly what I would have done,butI only would’ve spied on our rivals. I don’t have any interest in what civilians are up to.”
Azula snorts. “Well, at least you’re honest. Plus, it’s not like you don’t have the Mayor in your back pocket anyway.”
“That’s what I said! And yet he still turned my idea down. Make it make sense.”
“You can’t. Men.” She rolls her eyes.
“Men,” I agree. Nothing more needed to be said. “Did you get the labs back on the whiskey?”
Azula gives me a quick nod, eyes darting to the untouched tea mug in her hand. She toys with the glass long enough for me to know I won’t like whatever comes from her mouth. “Declan’s glass was clean.”
My entire body stills as Azula confirms what I already suspected.
“No traces of poison were found in his glass. We tried to test the remains of what was left in your glass and wethinkthe chemical makeup of the poison could be tetrodoxin, a neurotoxin, but we can’t be sure. There wasn’t enough left afterDeclan, you know…” Azula drags her index finger across her neck.
It all made sense.
Declan had tried to have me killed.
And when one of his foot soldiers failed, he covered up his tracks by killing him. Declan had been the one to chase after the waiter, the one to expose the man’s tattoo, and concoct the story that the vulture on the man’s chest represented some other mafia were unfamiliar with. The look of fear in the waiter’s eyes when he faced off against Declan. He probably realized that he could either drink the poison and have a quick death or be skinned alive later for exposing Declan’s duplicity. And by ensuring the waiter consumed as much of the drink as possible, he not only made himself appear as my ally, but he also hindered our ability to determine what he tried to kill me with.
“So I was the target.” The only target. Declan is an idiot. He could have at least laced his own drink and dumped it to lessen my suspicion. It was an amateur move that only increases my focus on him as a threat to my life. An amateur move that Declan would never make if he was truly in the right state of mind. Maybe the guilt of killing his father is slowly starting to get to him. Good. He deserves to be haunted by the consequences of his own actions. I would do everything in my power to capitalize on his weakened state of mind. He has taken his first direct shot at me, which I refuse to take lightly. Declan may have missed, but I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I don’t.
“You seem pretty calm for someone who just lived through an assassination attempt,” Azula notes, her hard features softening ever so slightly, dropping her guard the way she only ever does around me.
It’s a kind gesture, though not completely necessary. Atleast that’s what I tell myself. As much as a part of me wants to sit for hours and rehash today’s events, I know that doing so will open up the floodgates. Today was a close call….but I’ve had many close calls in my life. Beyond expanding my shooting and martial arts training, and adding a few extra members of security, I processed any threats to my life by moving on. It was all I could do. My father was always transparent about the risks of our line of work, which had driven him to keep my identity hidden.
“Likely the first assassination attempt of many. Not worth shedding any tears over.” I shrug, ignoring the lingering pit in my stomach that had formed hours ago.
I have to appear unfazed and collected. Not only is that what everyone would expect from a mafia boss, but I know any sign of emotion from me would be dramatized. While I know Azula would never speak ill of me, the walls of my mansion have ears. Another lesson my father had instilled in me from a young age.The only person you can trust in this life is yourself. Everyone else, including the men you think are loyal to you, can turn in the blink of an eye. Especially if they sense weakness. For that reason, you can never, ever let them see you falter.
Azula leans closer, as if she can read my mind and sense why I’m silent. The words from her lips are barely a whisper. “You know you can talk to me, right? Not just as your second but as yourbest friend.”
“I know. And I will, when I feel the need to. Right now, there is no need. I’m alive. That’s all that matters,” I assure her.
Her lips turn down, but she carries on. “Given the evidence that we have so far, or lack thereof, there’s not much we can do with respect to plotting our retaliation.”
If only she knew. “Set up a meeting between myself and Declan. Preferably here, but anywhereprivate should suffice.”
“Is that a smart idea, given how often your meetings have ended with bullets flying and poison?” Azula deadpans.
“So, a normal day for us?” I hedge, causing her to break character with a small snort.
“Fair enough. I’ll set up the meeting. It’s probably worth you and Declan debriefing today’s events anyway. Who knows, maybe he noticed something that will clue us in to who tried to kill you.”
“Maybe.” Or maybe I’ll kill him before he can try something else.
6
DECLAN
