wanted to get to. My position within Jorge’s gang was carefully managed, and while I got to hear some things, there were risks that I wasn’t going to take.
After a moment he nodded, taking another sip of the scotch before asking his question quietly.
“What do you do?”
I met that gaze head-on, my expression as controlled as his now, and my answer deliberate.
“Nothing.”
That was the other decision I’d made. I might have revealed too much in our discussion last night, but that didn’t mean I was going to tell all now. What I’d been doing was none of their business, and my secrets were mine to keep.
I drew that line in the sand and waited, silently daring him to step over it.
From the look he gave me, that message was received loud and clear. He kept quiet for a long moment while he considered, but I knew he didn’t have any leverage here - that was the nice thing about this negotiation. I wasn’t invested enough in the result.
That was confirmed when he gave a small nod, acknowledging that line.
“I’ll do what I can, but what I learn may well be haphazard. I don’t go seeking these things out - it doesn’t work that way.”
I struggled briefly to put it into words, explain how I made it work, but to my surprise his expression eased.
“Good. I’m glad that - despite appearances - you do actually think about what you’re doing. Do what you have to, and if nothing comes of it, we’re still no worse off.”
I might have been offended if I hadn’t been amused.
“If that’s the impression you get, then what I’m doing is working.”
That got me a quirk of his mouth before he sobered again, the shift in attitude narrowing my focus to what he was about to say.
“Have you heard anything about someone named Xero while you’ve been working with Jorge?”
The way his expression had turned completely blank spooked me a little, but that only told me there was something significant behind the question. I thought for a moment, but I couldn’t remember the name. It certainly wasn’t in my book - I knew all those by heart. I shook my head.
“No, I don’t think I know the name.”
He didn’t react, but for some reason the intense stillness of his body said more - he reminded me of a coiled animal, about to strike, even as his words were casual. This was where that elite mafia vibe shifted, and I felt like he was something far more primal - that same force that I’d felt hovering protectively over me last night.
“Sure. Could you look out for it, or anything to do with him? Or a guy called Dex - they used to work together.”
That one sounded vaguely familiar - like I’d heard it in passing, maybe. I wasn’t sure. Not enough to mention it anyway.
“Okay - so who is he?”
Jason looked at me as if, somehow, he hadn’t expected the question. Then he shifted and shrugged, apparently realizing yet again that I wasn’t going to let them use me without being involved.
“He used to run a gang in the same area - Valentini and I were wondering whether maybe this one was the spiritual successor, and whether it still has links back to those guys.”
“What happened to him?”
“Well, that’s what I’m hoping you’ll find out.”
The smile was dangerous and my heart sped up within my chest. We locked eyes and I considered pushing, sensing more to it than that, but there was a wall there and I instinctively knew I wouldn’t get any further. His expression reminded me of my feelings earlier, and I wondered whether maybe this was his line. So I just nodded.
“Okay, I’ll look out for it.”
“Thank you. Any more questions?”
He finished the scotch in one quick swallow as I shook my head, then he stood up.
“Let’s talk again next week - does meeting here work for you?”
I shot a quick glance around the room, thinking about it for the first time. This was fine for a one-off, but I didn’t exactly make a habit of coming to this part of town, and if I wanted to be
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