"Level-Two lock down until dawn," he finally says, each word a stone dropped into still water, creating ripples that will change everything. "Havoc, post two extra riflemen at the gate. Anyone approaches, they get one warning shot. Roach, I want our surveillance feeds scrubbed clean—nothing has come in, nothing's gone out in the last seventy-two hours. Ledger?—"
Ledger's pen stops its nervous tapping against his notepad.
"Fine him a thousand for seventy-two hours of radio silence." Brick's eyes narrow as they slide up to meet mine. "And for dragging club resources into a personal war." His voice is flat, emotionless, but I can practically hear his thoughts.
He knows exactly what he's taking from me.
A thousand dollars I don't have anymore, not after emptying my pockets on his desk.
Ledger starts scribbling on a piece of paper, then comes at me with a knife. I open my palm, he cuts it, then I place my opposite thumb in the pool of blood and press it to the IOU."Done," I say. Looking Brick in the eyes as he scoops up my twenty grand. "Now. Are we good?"
Brick holds my gaze as he hands my stash over to Ledger. "You get one night. That's it. I hope she's worth it, Kane." Then he adds, "Dawn church," as he pushes back from his desk. "Full table vote on the Ashby girl's status. Whether she stays or goes. Whether she's yours to protect or just another problem we need to bury."
I finally breathe again, feeling my lungs fill up after having forgotten how to breath.
One night.
It's better than nothing.
