Page 96 of Dance of Ruin

“That,” Kir growls, “is a shell company that launders money and processes massive amounts of narcotics domestically for US distribution.” His eyes lock with mine. “It’s operated by the Obsidian Syndicate, and accounts for a third of their profits these days.”

I study the slip of paper before I glance back at him, frowning.

“As I said,” Kir continues. “Your family is already in conflict with the Obsidian Syndicate, due to the unfortunate events at Vito's birthday party. If I hit them back, it’ll be an escalation of war, and every criminal element in this city will view it as such. Ifyouretaliate, it’s personal. They hurt your family; you’re hurting them back. That’s the sort of mafia justice every player in the city would understand, sympathize with, and accept.”

I frown. “Yeah, this stillreallysounds like you’re asking me to?—”

“I’m not asking you to do afucking thing, Nico,” Kir mutters. “Hit them back, send them flowers, I truly don’t care. The warehouse I lost means nothing to me. It’s sand kicked on my shoe.”

“And you seriously think I’m going to believe that you’re just giving me this information out of…what, some need to be a good Samaritan?—”

Fucking fuck. It suddenly hits me.

“You don't want me to do your dirty work for you. You want me toowe you.”

His smile glints in the darkness. “Nothing in this world is free, Nico.”

“And if I refuse?”

He shrugs. “Then you refuse. Take the information and do something with it, or don’t. Use it and decide youdon’towe me. I don’t care, and I’m not going to bother hounding you for it. But…”

I frown. “But we’ll bothknowI owe you, whether you come to collect or not.”

Fucker's good, I’ll give him that.

“Why me,” I grunt. “Why not go to Carmine with this.”

“I don’t like your brother,” he says bluntly. “I think he’s a sociopath with a permanent ax to grind.” He shrugs. “You, on the other hand, are more… methodical.Unencumberedby narcissistic traits.”

“You make it sound like Carmy’s a psychopath.”

“You and I both know that’sexactlywhat your brother is, Nico,” he says flatly.

Okay, fair.

I stare at the slip of paper for a beat longer.

“If I use this,” I murmur, holding it between my fingers. “It doesn’t make us allies.”

“Once again, Nico, your masterful insights are greatly appreciated,” he says drily.

I shrug. “Make all the jokes you like, dickhead. Itdoesn’t.”

“Nico, I could swallow your family whole,” Kir says calmly, his voice devoid of any threat or malice. “Believe me when I say I trulydo not careif you and I become friends, or if our families are allies or not.”

“What I mean,” I snarl, “is that this doesn’t change anything when it comes to you digging into business you…shouldn’t be digging into.”

As in, the Black Court, and Kir’s not-so-subtle prodding into it.

“I’d be disappointed if it did,” he says with a smirk.

He nods at me, stepping past me to leave. Then he pauses in the doorway to Naomi’s bedroom, turning to glance around the room before letting his eyes settle on me again.

“I have no skin in the game when it comes to your personal relationships, Nico. Nor do I have any interest in the motivations for those relationships—if, say, you’re seeing someone because you care for her, or just want to stick a fork in her father’s eye.”

I bristle.

“That said, your current girlfriend, or victim, or whatever Ms. Kim is to you, also happens to be averytalented dancer at the ballet company that I fund. Not to mention, the star of a highly anticipated production ofSwan Lakethat said ballet company will be performing soon.”

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