The long, low whistle came quietly from the cell adjacent as soon as the guards were out of earshot. There was only the light from the open door down the hall, and Emma moved closer to the noise, not aware of who was making it.
"Emma, I never thought I'd see you down here. Thought dear old daddy promoted you to the position of lead assassin."
Emma spoke softly the man who spoke obviously knew her, but she didn't recognise the voice. She had no idea why he would be down in the holding cells. "He did, but now his orders are being revoked."
"It's done then," the man sounded sad. "They were planning the overthrow for a while. I heard the whispers, and got thrown down here for not going along with it."
"Right." Emma slumped down against the bars. Old information wasn't going to help her.
"I know you don't wanna talk to me, kid, but believe me, I know what's going on here."
"What more information could you have?"
"I know why you're down here, instead of being dead. I know that it's only temporary so they can get a room set up upstairs for you. They'll move you to somewhere more comfortable."
"And why would they do that?"
"For the same reason they haven't killed you. Killing the boss isn't all they need to do to take over the business. There are some who won't follow Jareel."
"So? He can just have them killed. What does that have to do with me?"
"Kid, there are factions, even in a smooth-runnin' place like this. And no one knows who belongs to what side. It's always been a pair that runs this mob. Those loyal to your father will be fine following the old right-hand man who took him down. The ones who followed your mother though..."
"They'll follow me? Why?" Emma had her face close to the bars once again, but the man hadn't come any closer.
"Don't ask me how it works, it just does. Jareel needs you by his side to get this place running again."
"I'll never do what he wants."
"Yeah, but once they've moved you, you've gotta remember to play the game. Wait till the moment you see their weakness, then get out of here."
"I'm not going anywhere. My father will be avenged."
"I'm not saying you should run. Just get out, set yourself up with something big. Give yourself some scary name; show them you mean business."
Emma grinned in the darkness. "I'll be the Kraken."
Comments (0)
See all