Last time I saw one of these was after Jose Hernandez got dropped.Inside was a golden knight to confirm his hand in the plot.
This time, it’s just a note.
Were you scared, King of Vegas?
We thought we’d remind you what life was like before us.
Without us, you’re king of nothing.
Don’t forget it.
And don’t fret.You’re not abandoned...yet.
P.S.One month left until your death date.
Ticktock.
“What does it say?”Lorenzo asks, eying the box like it’s a bomb that could go off at any minute.
“More of the usual finger wagging to put me in my place.”I drop the card back into the box.“They let the attacks happen to send a message.”
“So, what, are we left wide open now?”he asks.“Do we stay on defense?”
“According to this?”I tilt my head.“Not yet.But let’s activate the Soldati and Mid-Troopers on the outside.Quietly.Keep the pressure low but present.”
“I’ll get on it.”
As he turns to leave again, I ask, “Without Red Cage’s help, how exactly are you planning to prove if Raya’s dirty or not?That kind of dig work, isn’t that whatshewas doing for us?She was practically our own Red Cage.”
He glances over his shoulder with a wolfish smile.“While you and Gio were busy chasing her tail, I was learning everything she knew.”His smile darkens.“I’ll use her own damn tricks to burn her down.”
~
One week later…
THE DOORBELL ECHOESthrough the house.
“For shit’s sake,” I mutter.“That better not be another Raya sympathizer.”
From behind the kitchen counter, Cora shoots me a look sharp enough to slice through steel, then huffs and flounces off to answer it.She’s taken a vow of passive-aggressive silence against us in protest of Raya’s confinement.
A minute later, she returns with Sanders, head of the Uppermen, trailing behind her.
“You know,” I say, biting into a crimson pear, “it would be more efficient if you all came in as a group and said your piece, instead of showing up one by one, day after day, and annoying the shit out of me.”
“Apologies, boss.”Sanders stands tall, hands clasped behind his back, chin up.“I think that, ah, there was a misunderstanding in my debrief regarding Ray Ray.I want to be clear that I don’t believe she was involved in the attack.Not even a little.”
Before I can shut him down, he pushes on, “We were hitting dead ends with the attackers, and then they started offing themselves.She stepped in with calm composure and took control.And there was no doubt that she was with us.She earned our respect with how she handled the situation, and I just want to express that I think she’s a strong asset, boss.Not a threat.”
Same damn song.Different day.Different face.
I glance him over, then point my half-eaten pear at him.“Wasn’t it your knife she took?”
“Yes, boss.”
“And you aren’t at all suspicious about how easily she lifted it?Or how she sliced that man’s shirt to shreds without leaving a scratch?”
“No, boss.We already knew Ray Ray’s quick with blades,” he replies.“We played a lot of knife games at the hub, and she’s never lost.Not once.Said her old man was an ex-spy.Taught her tricks.”
