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day?”
    GeelslookedatKazasifhewasfinallyseeinghimforthefirsttime.Theboyhe’dbeentalkingto hadbeencocky,reckless,easilyamused,butnotfrightening–notreally.Nowthemonsterwashere, dead-eyed and unafraid. Kaz Brekker was gone, and Dirtyhands had come to see the rough work done.
    “ShelivesatNineteenBurstraat,”Kazsaidinhisgravellyrasp.“Threefloorsup,geraniumsinthe windowboxes. There are two Dregs waiting outside her door right now, and if I don’t walk out of herewholeandfeelingrighteous,theywillsetthatplacealightfromfloortorooftop.Itwillgoupin seconds, burning from both ends with poor Elise trapped in the middle. Her blonde hair will catch first.Likethewickofacandle.”
    “You’rebluffing,”saidGeels,buthispistolhandwastrembling.
    Kazliftedhisheadandinhaleddeeply.“Gettinglatenow.Youheardthesiren.Ismelltheharbour onthewind,seaandsalt,andmaybe–isthatsmokeIsmell,too?”Therewaspleasureinhisvoice.
    Oh,Saints,Kaz ,Inejthoughtmiserably. Whathaveyoudonenow?
    Again,Geels’fingertwitchedonthetrigger,andInejtensed.
    “Iknow,Geels.Iknow,”Kazsaidsympathetically.“Allthatplanningandschemingandbribingfor nothing. That’s what you’re thinking right now. How bad it will feel to walk home knowing what you’ve lost. How angry your boss is going to be when you show up empty-handed and that much poorerforit.Howsatisfyingitwouldbetoputabulletinmyheart.Youcandoit.Pullthetrigger.We can all go down together. They can take our bodies out to the Reaper ’s Barge for burning, like all paupersgo.Oryoucantaketheblowtoyourpride,gobacktoBurstraat,layyourheadinyourgirl’s lap, fall asleep still breathing, and dream of revenge. It’s up to you, Geels. Do we get to go home tonight?”
    GeelssearchedKaz’sgaze,andwhateverhesawtheremadehisshoulderssag.Inejwassurprised tofeelapangofpityforhim.He’dwalkedintothisplacebuoyedonbravado,asurvivor,achampion oftheBarrel.He’dleaveasanothervictimofKazBrekker.
    “You’llgetwhat’scomingtoyousomeday,Brekker.”
    “Iwill,”saidKaz,“ifthere’sanyjusticeintheworld.Andweallknowhowlikelythatis.”
    Geelslethisarmdrop.Thepistolhunguselesslybyhisside.
    Kazsteppedback,brushingthefrontofhisshirtwherethegunbarrelhadrested.“Goandtellyour generaltokeeptheBlackTipsoutofFifthHarbourandthatweexpecthimtomakeamendsforthe shipment of jurda we lost, plus five per cent for drawing steel on neutral ground and five per cent moreforbeingsuchaspectacularbunchofasses.”
    Then Kaz’s cane swung in a sudden sharp arc. Geels screamed as his wrist bones shattered. The gunclatteredtothepavingstones.
    “Istooddown!”criedGeels,cradlinghishand.“Istooddown!”
    “Youdrawonmeagain,I’llbreakbothyourwrists,andyou’llhavetohiresomeonetohelpyou takeapiss.”Kaztippedthebrimofhishatupwiththeheadofhiscane.“Ormaybeyoucangetthe lovelyElisetodoitforyou.”
    Kaz crouched down beside Bolliger. The big man whimpered. “Look at me, Bolliger. Assuming you don’t bleed to death tonight, you have until sunset tomorrow to get out of Ketterdam. I hear you’re anywhere near the city limits, and they’ll find you stuffed in a keg at Cilla’s Fry.” Then he lookedatGeels.“YouhelpBolliger,orIfindouthe’srunningwiththeBlackTips,don’tthinkIwon’t comeafteryou.”
    “Please,Kaz,”moanedBolliger.
    “You had a home, and you put a wrecking ball through the front door, Bolliger. Don’t look for sympathyfromme.”Heroseandcheckedhispocketwatch.“Ididn’texpectthistogoonsolong.I’d bestbeonmywayorpoorElisewillbegettingatriflewarm.”
    Geelsshookhishead.“There’ssomethingwrongwithyou,Brekker.Idon’tknowwhatyouare,
    butyou’renotmaderight.”
    Kazcockedhisheadtooneside.“You’refromthesuburbs,aren’tyou,Geels?Cametothecityto tryyourluck?”Hesmoothedhislapelwithoneglovedhand.“Well,I’mthekindofbastardtheyonly manufactureintheBarrel.”
    DespitetheloadedgunattheBlackTips’feet,Kazturnedhisbackonthemandlimpedacrossthe cobblestonestowardstheeasternarch.JespersquatteddownnexttoBolligerandgavehimagentle