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“Breathe, Serena,” he says, then turns back to the man. “You’re out of it, aren’t you?”

The man’s eyes close heavily, then suddenly blink open. He smiles distantly.

“He needs a hospital,” I murmur. “His head is swelling up.”

“He was going to kill us both.”

“Give me the number,” I hiss. “Please.”

He reads it out, and I call Anton. When Anton tells me that Igor has taken over, I get the number and call him. Meanwhile, Nikolai walks the man to a chair and pushes him into it, standing over him with his hands crossed in front of his middle.

“Igor, is everything okay at the school?” I ask quickly when he answers.

“Yes,” he replies. “There were some junkies. I moved them on.”

“Junkies… what do you mean?”

“A junkie is a junkie. What else could I mean?”

“There’s never been anything like that around there before.”

“They were strange little fucks, babbling about a job. But yes, your girl is safe. And she will be safe.”

“Thank you,” I say with a sigh.

I hang up. “There were some people near Zoe’s school too. It could be a coincidence.”

“Or?” Nikolai asks, looking at me.

“He could hire people that give him deniability. Do you think there’s a paper trail between him and this man? No. He’s just some crazy guy with a samurai sword. No offense.”

The man’s smile is deranged. “None taken.”

“We need to drop him at the hospital, then go and tell Rosa what’s going on.” Nikolai gives me a look. “Not everything, but enough to know we’re in danger, and we need to keep Zoe safe. Okay? Is that a plan you can get on board with?”

This new life of mine is so, so strange. He’s still leaking out of me, and we’ve just had a near-death experience.

I nod.

“Yeah, Serena,” he says, smiling as though proud.

Rosa stands near the closed curtain of the apartment’s living room, peeling it back and looking out at the street below. She’s shrunk into herself since I told her that a dangerous man has targeted us and Nikolai is providing protection. That’s all I’ve told her for now. I thought she’d ask more, but she just said, “I trust you, so tell me. Is this the right thing to do?” I told her it was, praying I was telling the truth.

I go and check on Zoe, sleeping with her night light on. She’s such an adaptable, beautiful little girl. I suppose she’s had to be, considering all the change. The endless working. The switch between college and work. She doesn’t remember Mateo going away, but it’s probably in there, imprinted somehow.

My phone vibrates. The burner.

X: The Price drive wasn’t what was promised. But there was a connection. The Delmaris Hotel. It seems Cordero is using that to make illegal payments seem legitimate.

Iris: I have a friend who works there. You have to let me help.

X: Put me in contact with your friend.

Iris: No. You have to let ME help. He targeted me and my daughter.

And they tried to throw a brick through Rosa’s window. Yaro chased the man off easily enough, but still… We’ve got no proof any of this was down to Cordero, but all three at the exact same time? This is his way of attacking with deniability. Using people who need help. The desperate. The addicted. Because he’s a coward.

Iris: Just think if he can get anything out of Mr. Fucking Samurai Sword. That will be more evidence that we’re something to each other.