Page 28 of Dance of Ruin

Congressman Leonard Kim, as inNaomi’s fucking father.

The blood in my veins turns to ice as I turn back to glare murder at the TV.

Leonard is standing behind a podium, flanked by smiling interns and city officials. He’salsosurrounded by about a dozen huge guys in black suits and earpieces.

Fuck.

I haven’t been paying close attention to the news recently. But you’d have to be living under a rock not to have heard that New York’s own Congressman Kim was about to get a Cabinet position at the White House.

The wall of security guys around him are Secret fucking Service.

So if Mario is telling the truth, and Leonard Kimwasresponsible for the bombing last night, we are now shit out of luck in terms of payback, because he just became untouchable.

“You’re sure?" My voice is quiet.

Mario nods so hard I think his head might snap off. "Positive. I didn’t meet him or anything, but the others did. Said he was real careful. Didn’t leave a trail. But it was him. I’d know him anywhere."

Mario clears his throat.

“Look, uh, Mr. Barone, Ididbring something. And I think it might be something you want if this is the guy who tried to hurt your blood.”

“Well?” I hiss quietly.

Mario swallows thickly. “I, uh…listen, before I do?—”

“You’re hardly in a position to negotiate, Mario.”

He shakes his head quickly. “All I want is immunity.”

I scowl at him. “Do I look like the fucking cops to you?”

Mario’s head wags side to side again. “No, I mean immunity from your brother-in-law. Kratos.” Whatever color is left in Mario’s face drains as he takes a shaky breath. “That giant motherfucker is on thewarpathright now, man. I mean, he’s leaving a trail of fucking bodies…” Mario shudders. “If he thinks I had something to do with that car?—”

“You don’t give me what you have right fucking now, Mario,” I growl. “And I’ll make damn sure Kratos thinks you hadeverythingto do with almost killing his pregnant wife and unborn child.”

Mario’s hand moves so fast I don’t even have time to tell him to go slow. He jams it into his coat pocket and instantly whips it back out again, slamming something small onto the sticky table between us.

I frown. “The fuck?”

He lifts his hand, revealing a thumb drive. Nervousness flitters in his eyes as he glances around again.

“You know how I said they don’t like it when people break contracts? Well…” He taps the table next to the thumb drive. “This is their insurance policy.”

I eye him doubtfully. “And how is it that someone likeyouhas it?”

He clears his throat and then nervously takes a big mouthful of beer. “Because this congressman, he didn’t just pull out of a contract. He started a fight about it. He had some of his guys come after some Obsidian Syndicate guys. They run some operations out of space in the West Village. So I’m over there delivering some merchandise, and one of them was telling me about this video, and how it was gonna be the end of this congressman if he tried any more shit. But then these dudes came busting in, guns blazing.” Mario shudders. “That's when I grabbed the thumb drive and got out through the fire escape. Gotta look out for number one, you know?”

I glance at the thumb drive. “What’s the video.”

His voice drops to a whisper. “It’s a sex tape.”

My nose wrinkles. “Of the congressman?”

Mario shakes his head. “Hisdaughter.”

For a second, the Earth stops moving, and I can hear my pulse thudding like a drum in my ears.

“Say that again,” I growl.

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