adn't

r mind was still caught in that alley,

d like nothin

oor. The bass from the speakers rattled the walls with a relentless rhythm, pounding thro

elt it in

ing wa

g orders with practiced hands, and tuning out the chaos around her-but h

's b

pt

ai

ast night. And he w

specially not after getting ambushed in his own t

bar, men with rough hands and tighter eyes than usual. They leaned c

e ambush wa

ied. "No one takes a shot at D

eone inside wa

oze mi

y, and the rum splashed too high in the glass

lf, but her ears stayed sharp. She angled slightly,

al quiet," one said. "Something

than they're lettin' on.

y's tur

That family buries probl

ulse qu

ss

sper. Not

reets were sta

, hand tightening around the rag until her knuc

care. Shouldn'

met hi

looded. If he'd disappeared, it meant h

ut said o

't the kind of m

who made other

and careless. Ava barely noticed. Her head swam with possi

really

h meant to fi

why had she

had helped him. That made her

e'd kept

e knew she'd

an down h

va

ju

gum and desperation. He leaned over the counter, eyes narrowed,

u o

oo fast, her voice

e? You l

ight in my face every time I

sno

ear an

r wh

t DeL

en though her heart hammered aga

t above my

ed, then lowe

one bad. Rival crew maybe. East End b

be he's n

st dead enough it

dn't r

, nodded, and

if anything wei

ur

nsion stayed. Heavy. Unrelenting. Like a

her chest. She told herself it was paranoia, that she was gett

d turned off the lights, she could s

be dead a

than once. The city felt darker. Emptier. Even the streetlamps buzzed

ment, she bolted the door and

at it for a

t open and took o

cold and perfect. No

g over the embossed digits, tracing th

'd kept it. She told he

toni

ke the only proof

finally fell asleep, and even