"You did me. Twice."
I catch his wrist. Hold it. His pulse beats against my fingers, steady and warm.
"Stay in the apartment. Don't answer the door. Don't contact anyone."
"Yes, Daddy J, SIR." He mock-salutes with his free hand. "Anything else, warden?"
"Don't touch my books."
"Too late for that."
I release his wrist and leave before I can talk myself into staying.
The Holloway residence is old money made concrete. Brownstone facade, wrought-iron gates, the kind of understated wealth that whispers instead of shouts. I've been here a dozen times over the years for various Custodian functions. It never gets more welcoming.
The butler shows me to the study without a word. Holloway Senior is waiting by the fireplace, a glass of something amber in his hand. He's in his sixties, silver-haired, the kind of distinguished that makes people trust him on sight. Kier got the looks but not the charm. Or maybe the charm is just buried deeper.
"Jagger." He gestures to the chair across from him. "Drink?"
"No thank you."
"Always so disciplined." He settles into his own chair with the ease of a man who's never had to hurry. "I appreciate you coming on short notice."
"When a Custodian calls, I answer."
"Indeed." He swirls his drink, watching the liquid catch the light. "I have a problem I think you can help with."
I wait. He'll get to the point when he's ready. Rushing a Custodian is a good way to end up at the bottom of the river.
"Are you familiar with the Bonaccorso family?"
The name hits differently than it would have a week ago. Before I found Kreiss in the files. Before I started understanding how the money moves.
"Italian crime syndicate. East coast operations. Currently engaged in a territorial dispute with the Castillo organization."
"Very good." Holloway nods approvingly. "What you may not know is that old Aurelio Bonaccorso has developed an unfortunate interest in one of our financial partners."
"Werner Kreiss."
His eyebrows rise slightly. "You've done your homework."
"I try to stay informed."
"Then you understand why this is concerning." He sets down his glass with a precise click. "Kreiss handles sensitive transactions for several of our Houses. If the Bonaccorso’s start pulling at those threads, they might unravel something we'd prefer to keep buried."
"What do you need from me?"
"A conversation. Nothing more." Holloway's smile doesn't reach his eyes. "Aurelio is nosy but not stupid. A word from the right person should be sufficient to redirect his attention elsewhere."
"You want me to warn him off."
"I want you to make clear that Werner is not a thread to be pulled. The specifics are up to you. You've always had a talent for making people understand their limitations."
I consider the request. On the surface, it's simple. Deliver a message, ensure compliance, report back. Standard Architect work.
But underneath, it's more complicated. Holloway doesn't know I've been investigating Kreiss myself. Doesn't know that the warning I deliver to Aurelio is a warning I'm ignoring myself.
"Where do I find him?"
