"Where’s Vander?"
Silco stepped forward with his newly enhanced Shimr brute at his side, stopping in front of Benzo.
Benzo cleared his throat awkwardly. "He’s... drunk. Still out cold. Otherwise it wouldn’t have co to this."
"Drunk?"
Silco’s mouth twitched.
Of all the reasons he’d imagined for Vander’s absence, that hadn’t been one of them.
"What kind of monster manages to drink Vander under the table?"
Benzo hesitated.
There was no dignified way to explain that Vander had lost a drinking contest to an eleven-year-old.
A sharp voice cut in from the Enforcers’ side.
"Release Commander Grayson and Officer Marcus. Lay down your weapons and submit for questioning. Or today will be your last."
Benzo gestured for his n to press blades to Grayson’s and Marcus’s throats.
"We’ll give Grayson back. But you leave. Now. Otherwise everyone here dies."
He had no intention of actually killing them.
He was buying ti. Waiting for Vander to wake up.
Silco raised a hand and motioned his people back a few steps.
So it was all a misunderstanding.
Fine.
Let them bleed each other dry later.
"That’s not happening," the Enforcer commander snapped. "Hand over Grayson and Marcus. Final warning."
Every rifle ca up.
They weren’t going to fire. Not with their officers hostage.
But fear worked just as well.
Benzo waved his n’s weapons theatrically in response.
No shots.
No release.
Only thunder. No rain.
Then a staggering figure wandered into the open space between all three sides.
"Oi. You the idiots picking on my brother?"
Rowan rcer swayed slightly, pointing an accusing finger at the Enforcers.
"Get lost. Or I start rearranging faces."
The commander frowned at the small, clearly drunk boy. "Who’s your ’brother’?"
"Vander," Rowan slurred proudly. "We swore brotherhood over drinks. He couldn’t outdrink , but that just ans I’m the stronger one. You ss with him, you ss with ."
Silco nearly choked.
"Vander lost a drinking contest to this kid?"
He bit back laughter.
That story alone was worth today’s chaos.
"Rowan! Rowan, don’t go over there, co back!"
Vi finally caught up, grabbing his arm and trying to drag him away.
It didn’t work.
He didn’t budge an inch.
"So," the commander sneered, "you’re one of Vander’s people. That makes you one of the thieves too. Arrest them."
Two Enforcers rushed forward.
Vi stepped in front of Rowan instinctively.
Rowan casually tossed her backward into Benzo’s arms.
"Stand aside, little brother. Let big brother handle this."
The two Enforcers reached for him.
Rowan’s hands blurred.
Smack. Smack.
Both n flew sideways and crashed into the pavent, unconscious before they hit the ground.
A stunned silence.
Then Rowan crooked a finger at the Enforcer line.
"That all you’ve got? Try again."
The commander’s face went purple.
"Four of you. Take him down!"
Four Enforcers charged.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
All four went flying.
The Undercity exploded in cheers.
"Rowan’s a beast!"
"Show ’em how Black Lane does it!"
"Forget Vander, Rowan’s the boss now!"
The commander clenched his fists.
He couldn’t order them to shoot a child.
That would destroy him politically.
Rowan raised both hands and spread his fingers.
"I’ll take ten."
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