That’s Bastian’s brother, she says casually.
I might be choking right now. What ?
Okami adopted both of them from Czechia when they were eight. They’re twins. They grew up in her carebut while Bastian became sort of a mad scientist, Elliot got power-hungry.
I think of Elliot’s warmth. The way he made me feel at ease around him.
Power-hungry ?
So . . . that’s the brother of the guy we stuffed into our trunk, I say. The guy that we, you know, currently have chained up in the bathtub.
That’s the one, Veah replies with a wink.
I set down my glass so hard the table rattles. From the table next to us, an Italian mobster raises a pierced eyebrow.
How are you just so calm about this ? I whisper through clenched teeth. How is it that during extremely dangerous and life-threatening situations, you somehow manage to look all free and easy ? For God’s sake, you were just shot in the leg today !
Ren stands up suddenly. That’s my cue to leave.
Now, the table with the Italian Mafia are definitely giving us looks.
Veah gives me a half-grin. I don’t know what I want moreto slap her . . . or to rip off that suit and fuck her right here on the table.
I’m not all free and easy, Veah whispers, leaning in so that her lips brush my jaw. I’m terrified. I’m terrified that this plan isn’t going to work. I’m terrified that Okami is going to realize we’re traitors. But most of all . . . I’m terrified I’m going to lose you.
Why ? I tease. Because you’ll end up a widow ?
She grabs my face, turning my head so my lips meet hers. No, she says. Because I love you.
Are those fireworks ? Is there a tsunami ? The ocean is crashing in my ears, but if the world were to fall apart around me right now, I don’t think I’d notice.
I open my mouth, but Maiko and Ren are already back.
Mai brushes her hands together. Done.
Done ? I clear my throat, confused. Already ? How ?
Where Elliot was sitting at the bar only five minutes earlier . . . he’s gone.
I narrow my eyes at her. Mai groans. I didn’t kill him, if that’s what you’re thinking. But I did wave a pretty little bag of meth in front of his face, so he practically salivated himself right where I led him.
I remember the way Okami told me she ensured her gang’s loyalty. By keeping them addicted.
I ask, Where did you lead him ?
I just knocked him unconscious. Should buy us some time. His body is now in an out-of-order stall.
Veah flashes her a grin. Learned that trick from Jude, did you ?
What can I say ? Mai purrs. I like my men all trussed up.
Ren swallows visibly. I roll my eyes.
Now that Elliot is out of the way . . . we’re free to start the next phase of the plan.
Poisoning Okami.
So let me get this straight, I begin.
Straight ? Ren mouths to Mai.
I glare at them and continue, Once Okami is unconscious, we’re going to blame it on an allergic reaction. She’ll be unconscious for at least a week. Tonight, the power to make the deal with the Yakuza and the Europeans will land on Veah, because she’s next in line as the boss. She’s going to shut it down. Then . . . then what ?
We hand over Okami to the police, Veah finishes. I have a week to stop everything. The production of the Wyvern. The manufacturing of the drug.
I frown. Then what’s the point of the blackmail ?
This time, it is Mai who answers. Okami is a very, very paranoid woman. She won’t be half as easy to deceive as you think. If she even senses so much as a bad thought out of you, she’ll put an ax in your gut herself.
So blackmailing her is going to do . . . what ?
Make her more paranoid, Veah finishes.
Oh, good idea, I say. Really excellent plan.
Veah sighs in exasperation. What’s the easiest way to steal from a person ?
Stabbing them ? Mai offers sweetly. Repeatedly ?
No, Veah says. Underneath the table, her fingers lace through mine. You point in the other direction and say, ‘Look, a thief !’ Her thumb traces circular patterns over my knuckles. I can’t breathe. You make sure your target is looking the other way. You point them in the wrong direction, so they don’t even see you coming.
Well, that sounds great and all . . . but who, exactly, is going to be the one telling Okami to look the other way ?
It has to be someone she trusts, Veah says. I will. I’ll threaten her. The blackmail should ring true, because she has to already have found out about the breach.
You’re going to have about sixty seconds, at most, Maiko tells her, before she slaughters you on the spot.
I feel dizzy. So while you’re distracting her with blackmail, one of us is going to poison her ?
Not one of us, Mai says. That’s me.
Veah shakes her head once. No. Too dangerous. Just your presence here tonight is enough to incite Okami’s wrath. The moment she sees you, she’ll know.
It’s a long story, Mai told me.
Now, I can’t help wondering who she is.
Then me, Ren says fiercely. I can do it. You know I can.
She won’t even spare you a second look, Mai says reluctantly. She hates doctors. You’re not even worth the time of day to her.
Who is Mai, that she even knows this about the Wolf ?
I am really tempted to make an apple a day joke, but the way they are looking at me right now . . . I swallow nervously instead.
Veah squeezes my hand beneath the table.
I think I know what’s about to come next.
No, Veah says viciously, before anyone can speak. We already put Kaya in danger today by sending her beneath the church. Not again.