“They said it’s some kinda apoplexy,” Hannah said as she led Jakub through the hospital. “We were just going over the books and he stopped talking, couldn’t focus. Fell over.” She shook her head; he was used to seeing her irritated, but agitated less so, and he struggled to match her pace. “And then I was at your apartment, but you weren’t there, and even Bloom—at least he would have had an easier time carrying him! Where the hell is everyone?”

“Sorry,” said Jakub, still somewhat dazed. “There was a job.”

“A job Barney and I didn’t know about?” Hannah glared back at him. “You want me to pretend I didn’t hear that?”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s good profit—the boss won’t complain.”

Hannah snorted. “No, he’s not going to be doing much of that for a while.”

It occurred to Jakub that he should have found her concern more rattling. He had no idea yet what condition the man was even in, and seeing Barney at the end of the hall, leaning against the wall with his hat in his hands, should have flooded him with worry. But he just continued to match Hannah’s gait, numb with no clue what to say.

Hannah stopped in front of Barney, and when he didn’t notice her right away she gave him a hard tap on the shoulder. “I found him,” she said.

Barney looked up; he was pale, and he didn’t seem any clearer or steadier than Jakub felt. “Where were you?” he asked, his voice hard but shaky, as if trying to convince himself he was angry. “We needed you here.”

“I’m sorry,” Jakub said automatically. “How is he?”

Barney shrugged, but when he started to answer, he had a hard time getting the words out and had to try again after a moment. “He was awake a little while ago. Muttering something. He asked about you.”

“Go in,” said Hannah, and that finally penetrated Jakub’s daze, leaving him cold. “It’s supposed to be family only, but I’ll scare away any nurses that come by.”

Jakub looked to the door. His heart gave a thud and he didn’t want to go anywhere near it, let alone through it. His feet carried him there anyway, his hand twisted the knob. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Kasper was stretched out in a bed by the window, seemingly asleep. At first there didn’t seem to be any outward symptoms of whatever ailment had struck him down, but as Jakub moved closer, he saw differently: Kasper’s right arm was folded over his stomach, but the left was lying awkwardly alongside him, the palm turned upward in an uncomfortable angle. The left side of his mouth was sagging, drool seeping down his chin. As Jakub drew closer his eyes opened, but only part way, and they made no effort to properly seek him out.

“Son?” Kasper asked, but his lips were sluggish, slurring. “Is that you?”

“It’s Jakub, sir,” Jakub replied, stopping next to the bed. “I came as soon as I heard.”

“Jakub. Jakub….” Kasper took in a sudden breath as if realizing for the first time who he was. “Oh, Jakub. You’re not hurt?”

He stretched out his hand, and Jakub hesitated a moment before taking it, only to urge it back down to his stomach. “No, sir, I’m fine. I heard you had...some trouble.”

“Fuck,” Kasper grunted, and he shifted on the bed, but Jakub couldn’t help but notice how much trouble he had maneuvering his entire left side. “Fuck this. Come closer, can’t see you. You’re not hurt?”

“...No, sir.” Jakub couldn’t have moved any closer without sitting on the bed, and with a sick feeling he waved his hand in front of Kasper’s face. Kasper did not react. “I think you should rest.”

“You’ll get them back for me, won’t you?” Kasper muttered, fisting the sheets with his one good hand. “Get those bastards.”

“Of course, sir.” Jakub took a step back, a pit in his stomach. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Good.” Kasper sighed as he sank deeper into his pillow and back toward slumber. “I’m counting on you.”

When Jakub returned to the hallway Wanda was there, talking to Barney in low tones. Jakub bypassed them and instead joined Hannah further away, who was twisting locks of hair around her finger anxiously. “Was he awake?” she asked, hushed and urgent at once. “What did he say?”

“He was confused,” said Jakub. His skin was crawling and he ached for a cigarette. “Like he thinks we were in a fight.”

“Yeah. He said something like that to me, too. Shit, I could use a smoke.” She forced herself to stop fiddling with her hair and stood up straighter. “The doctors said he might be disoriented for a while. It’s too soon to know how well he’ll recover, or how long it could take. He could be fine in a few days or weeks, or he could...not.” She glanced to Barney and then quickly away again. “It’s too soon.”

“He couldn’t see me,” Jakub said quietly.

“It’s too soon,” Hannah repeated. “We don’t know yet.”

Jakub nodded vaguely. He couldn’t stop thinking about Kasper’s arm lying useless at his side. “We have to keep this quiet for as long as we can,” Hannah was saying. “We’ll call everyone in tomorrow, let them know everything is all right. If the Foleys catch wind of this there’ll be trouble.”

“We might not have to worry about the Foleys for a while,” said Jakub. “Bloom taught the Tighe’s a lesson tonight—they’re not stepping foot out of line for now.”

Hannah sighed in exasperation. “That’s just great. Asking for retaliation at a time like this?”

“They won’t retaliate. Even if they do, Bloom and I can handle it.” Jakub took a deep breath, determined to have one of them say it. “It’s our own people we have to worry about.”

Hannah glanced to Barney again, and then quickly back. “It’ll be business as usual. I can handle the books if you can put up a strong front for the boys. They’ll all feel better if they see you close to Barney. If we can get an early batch of moonshine from the Fouchers, all the better.”

Jakub nodded again, but his mind was finally catching up to the severity of their situation and was starting to overtake him. There were certain members of their crew already that would have to be assured separately, and then there were the Szpilmans to consider—most of them were amiable people in his experience, but he could think of a few that were already considerably less loyal to Barney than his father. They were close to driving the Foleys off the waterfront but there were other gangs to consider, any one of which would be happy to put a knife their backs if they sensed weakness. Even the police might become bolder without Kasper’s influence, whether or not their pockets remained filled. Too many things for him to consider when he was still tipsy from drinking.

“I’ll go back to the apartments,” he said. “Make sure whoever already knows keeps their mouth shut. Do you think you can handle Barney for now?”

Hannah didn’t look happy with the prospect, but she nodded. “Wanda can handle Barney,” she said, “but I’ll stay here with them. Who knows how many others have heard and might show up. Edith said she’d come over with her girls if we need them.” She took a moment to regain her full composure and then faced Jakub seriously. “Thanks, Jakub. It’ll be all right as long as we keep our heads.”

“Yeah,” Jakub agreed, even though he wasn’t entirely sure his was still on his shoulders. “I’ll be back in the morning to check on everything.”

Jakub left. He glanced back one more time on the way, and was relieved that Barney wasn’t looking in his direction. It probably would have been better for him to stay, but he had no idea what he would have said, if Barney had asked for reassurance or advice. He was already planning for the worst.

If Kasper was permanently incapacitated—or worse, didn’t survive—everything would change. No one in Kozlow was prepared for business under Barney’s direction, least of all Barney himself, and they still had more enemies than friends. As Jakub stepped out into the lobby, he found himself struck by the sudden urge to run. The gnawing instinct that had in his youth propelled him across half a continent clenched in the base of his throat in an inescapable warning: he wasn’t safe. There was no point in clinging to the dead and getting away was his only option. It was a ridiculous notion but he couldn’t shake it, until he reached the exit and spotted a familiar figure standing nearby.

Cheshire was leaning against the wall. He hadn’t spotted Jakub yet, as he was rather distracted lightly slapping his face to stay awake. The sight of him filled Jakub with relief and panic in equal measure, and before he had any idea which would come out of him first he hurried over and latched onto Cheshire’s arm.

Cheshire startled, and when he saw who it was, he went tight as if caught in a bear trap. “Jakub! There you are.”

“What are you doing here?” Jakub demanded, Cheshire’s sleeve tight in his fist.

“I-I heard something happened.” Cheshire shrank a size, and Jakub inwardly cringed at the thought of how he might have looked then, but he couldn’t help it. “You disappeared so suddenly I figured you’d be here with Barney. They said—”

“You can’t go up there,” said Jakub. Cheshire wasn’t quite tactless enough to poke at Barney at a time like this, but he was still obviously halfway sloshed and the thought of the two of them in a room together made Jakub’s heart pound. “It’s family only.”

Cheshire shrugged stiffly. “Wasn’t planning to. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“Me?” Jakub stared, reminded of Kasper’s confused muttering. For a beat he even wondered if somehow both men were that concerned about his brief scuffle with the Raptis siblings at the Cherry. “What?”

“Well...you’ve been with Kozlow a long time,” Cheshire said, growing less and less sure of himself with every word. It turned his usually sweet voice sour and Jakub hated the sound of it. “Since you were young? I thought...sorry, I know you don’t like talking about it…?” He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand; his other arm, still caught in Jakub’s grip, he kept very still as if fearful of it being wrenched off. “I guess I figured he was like...your old man, in a way. So if he’s sick you’d be worried. Maybe.”

Jakub continued to stare. Of all the nonsense that could have tumbled out of Cheshire’s mouth he’d never expected a reminder of his father, and it twisted his stomach up into his ribs. The sincere concern threaded through Cheshire’s furrowed brow only made it worse. He didn’t understand how Cheshire could turn sympathy on him when he was already poised to flee, prepared to abandon all in his wake. Just like when he was young.

“Jake?” Cheshire finally risked moving his arm enough to take hold of Jakub’s shoulder; it wasn’t until Jakub had that stability that he realized he was unsteady on his feet, his head spinning. “Sorry,” Cheshire continued to prattle on. “I know you don’t...talk. But you really don’t look good, so….”

Jakub leaned forward. It was the only thing he could do. If only Cheshire would be quiet but sturdy for a while, he could bolt his wits back together, he was sure of it. He could plant his feet and forget again everything that lay behind him.

And Cheshire, damn him, played his part without question. He shut his mouth and wrapped his arm around Jakub’s shoulders in a tight and reassuring hug. His chest accepted the bulk of Jakub’s weight and his collar served as a perfect hiding place. He was probably misinterpreting entirely but Jakub didn’t care; he’d waited years to sink into Cheshire’s warmth, for just a moment to feel that strength and tenderness focused on him alone, and it felt so good he forgot for a while why his hands were shaking. Even if he didn’t have the strength to embrace him back, Cheshire’s soft hair trapped beneath his cheek was enough.

Someone entered through the nearby doorway, and Jakub startled, embarrassment getting the better of him. He leaned quickly back and was relieved when Cheshire let go, only to take his elbow instead. “You don’t have to worry about me,” he muttered for some stupid reason. His cheeks went red, and he tried to rub it out of them, as ridiculous as that was. “I’m fine.”

“Okay.” Cheshire watched him, clearly mystified and quieter than normal. “I’m half bent, so I took a cab. It should still be out there, if you want to head home.”

“Yeah.” Jakub took a deep breath and finally was able to pry his fingers off Cheshire’s sleeve; his fingers ached from being so tightly wound. “I have work to do,” he said, and he urged Cheshire through the door, suddenly conscious of how many people may have seen his lapse and too nervous to look. “But you do look bent. Let’s get you home.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

The cab was waiting after all, and as Jakub helped Cheshire into the back seat everything already felt a little more normal. Once they were settled and driving off, Jakub gulped. “It’s probably a good thing you did that job tonight,” he said, refusing to look up when Cheshire glanced to him. “It’ll keep the Foleys distracted while we deal with the Boss. Plus it’ll be a nice score, once we have a buyer.”

Cheshire didn’t reply right away, as if waiting for Jakub to qualify his praise with a scolding. When none came, he cleared his throat, and Jakub expected some manner of chipper gloating to ensue. But Cheshire only stretched his arm across Jakub’s shoulders and said, “If there’s anything else you need from me, let me know.”

Jakub tensed at first, but gradually he allowed himself to relax against Cheshire’s side. The proximity left him blushing, and when Cheshire fingered the shoulder of his jacket, his heart skipped about in his ribs. But he didn’t bother trying to squirm away. He just needed a little more time.