Chapter fifteen

Heart Is Beating Violent

Kaz was getting restless. The year was very nearly at an end and he was yearning for something bigger. The jobs that came to him were too achievable. The most difficult heist he had pulled off had been RadMakker's and the fact that so many of the Dregs had needed to be brought in just to manage it, put a damper on the success. Kaz wanted a heist that was solely his own.

Per Haskell had told him a diner owner had not paid protection to the Dregs this month. There were whispers that the man had passed away and his son was considering taking protection from Pekka Rollins' men instead. Well, a shakedown was hardly an impossibly dangerous mission, but the beating would give him something to do. It would release the pent-up energy. When Per Haskell suggested Kaz take Big Bol to help him it only added another itch to his brain.

"He can keep watch, Bolliger has proved himself more useful than usual of late."

"I've noticed." Kaz appeared to agree. In truth what Kaz had noticed was Big Bolliger making a point to involve himself in gang activity more than he had in the past, this screamed a few things to Kaz but 'useful' wasn't exactly one of them. Still, he nodded and sought Bolliger out without any visible reluctance. The great hulking man was, of course, all too happy to accompany Kaz, his heavy chain ready to make contact if Kaz chose to not use his cane tonight. An unlikely possibility as Kaz had already committed himself to bloodshed.

"Fifth Harbour turned out well for you, didn't it Kaz? That was lucky." Bolliger made conversation as he puffed his way alongside Kaz's brisk jagged stride.

"Luck had nothing to do with it, Bolliger."

Luck was a fool's game, Kaz had wagered his club on Fifth Harbour, he had planned and worked, and his actions against Radmakker had been a firm warning to the other merchants against lying or attempting to withhold their stock from the Dregs. Lady luck had long since learnt to sit on her ass and observe as Kaz worked.

"Just meant that Per Haskell seemed ropable when he heard about it all, but you've got the pigeons swarming in now, shipments, you even turned Radmakker's mess around into again."

"You know Bolliger, it isn't actually a requirement for us to chat whilst we work."

"All business tonight, got it, boss."

Clearly, Bolliger did not get it, or perhaps he had spent too much time around Jesper because the large man broke out into a cheerful whistling tune, swinging his heavy chain around in his hand as they walked. Kaz's eye twitched and he began to play out exactly how this shakedown would go if only to give the violent urges somewhere to go. He also noted Bolliger's comments about the Harbour, something was amiss.

"Heard there was even a Grisha and a Fjerdan brought in this week."

"It's a cut and dry case, the Fjerdan was a slaver and the Grisha girl is testifying, they'll have her back on the boat to Ravka before the month ends. No use to us." Kaz had heard the information from Roeder who kept track of what boats were coming in and out of the Harbour. Bolliger must have heard it bouncing at the Crows Club.

"You know everything Kaz."

"Not everything,"

"Oh?"

"I haven't figured out how to end this conversation yet." Kaz sniped.

Bolliger grunted a laugh and went back to his damned whistling as they made the walk to Cilla's Fry. The sun was beginning to set on the worn bricks, casting shadows across the men as they walked. Kaz did not frequent Cila's Fry often, the walk was further, and the coffee was by no means worth it. Half the time neither himself nor Haskell even bothered to be the ones to collect Cilla's fathers' payments. Instead, they would send new recruits to avoid wasting their time and in Kaz's case, to save the walk on his leg. Today, the itch in Kaz's hands outweighed the ache of his leg.

As they reached the small shop, Big Bolliger moved to walk towards the well-lit glass doors. Kaz stretched his arm out to pause him, giving a sharp shake of his head. Kaz nodded instead, to the back alley that accompanied the shop. The two moved quickly, only the tapping of Kaz's cane and the slight jingle of Bolliger's chains against his hip could be heard. Bolliger knocked on the door in a single rap as Kaz folded his hands over the head of his crow cane. The door opened, a balding man with a sheen of sweat on his forehead, still holding a greasy dish towel that showed that along with paying protection, Cilla was also behind on hiring employees. The man's eyes widened as they took in Bol and the colour drained from his face as Kaz stepped forward.

"Cilla, is it?" Kaz began to speak but stopped to move his cane forward, blocking the door from slamming shut in their face. "Well, that was impolite."

"It's alright Kaz, I'm not much for greetings myself." Bolliger leant forward with one hand, pushing the door open and forcing Cilla to begin taking steps back.

"I've no business with you Dregs no more! The Dime Lions are protecting… Fuck!" Kaz had backhanded the man hard. Cilla pulled out a knife and lunged towards Kaz in a desperate move. Kaz barely felt the slash against his chest as he grabbed Cilla's wrist and twisted, catching the knife as it fell.

"Language Cilla." Kaz scolded as he used his cane to pin the man against the wall, "It's odd you say you have no business with us. Per Haskell didn't receive an end of a contract notice, and I don't see any Dime Lions hanging around here so I would say you haven't finalized your little deal with Rollin's either. So what you have now Cilla," Kaz dug the beak into Cilla's jugular. "Is an underwhelming diner, no protection from the gangs who might be bored enough to frequent this hole in a wall rats' nest and since you mentioned business… Well, you may have no more business with us Dregs, but what you do have is a debt."

"I'd say the debt is worse than the business boss." Bol had begun tightening the bike chains around his hands, in an almost nervous tick.

"A debt to the Dregs, well you understand why we have to collect." Kaz unpinned Cilla from the wall, only to drive the end of his cane into the man's stomach.

"It was my father who paid!"

"And it would have been your father's protection you inherited, but you decided to try out the Dime Lions. As you can see Cilla, they are not a reliable protector." Kaz swung up and caught Cilla's chin with the crow's beak, jerking it upwards. Cilla opened his mouth, to scream out in pain or for help. Kaz sighed heavily with a roll of his eyes and pushed a gloved hand over it, muffling the man's screams.

"Now if it were up to me, I would cut you open and have Bolliger here-string your guts up as decorations for the new year. To warn off any other idiots who are stupid enough to try to break a deal with us." Kaz shoved his cane under his arm, freeing his hand to pull out the confiscated knife and wave it in front of Cilla's widened eyes.

Cilla let out a whimper, eyes straining to follow the pointed blade.

"But Per Haskell has decided to be generous, he thinks you might've needed time to grieve, get your head in place. So he has asked us here today to offer to continue your protection with the Dregs, and he's been kind enough to only increase it by twenty per cent, a bargain wouldn't you say?" Kaz continued to wave the knife within Cilla's eyesight, he removed his hand from Cilla's mouth to allow him to answer, taking the opportunity to remove any valuables from the man. His quick fingers found little in the way of goods.

Cilla nodded, "Fine, yes! But I can't pay this week, business has been too slow."

Kaz nodded slowly. His head tilted as he considered the words. "We thought you might say that, so we'll give you a little incentive to pay on time next month. Bolliger here will take the contents of your till tonight to begin to repay the debt you have, sound fair?" Kaz pushed his hair out of his face and tightened his hand on his cane, placing the knife away to favour his main weapon.

"I don't need an incentive, I won't miss a payment, I shouldn't have!" Kaz placed a finger over his mouth in a shushing gesture as Bolliger stepped forward and whacked the man over the head with the heavy chains before holding Cilla's arms tight.

"Now Cilla, hindsight can't help you now." Kaz swung his cane in a wide motion, beginning the first of many hits against the man. The shadow of a grin flickered across his face as specks of blood began to hit him. The itch craved with each dull thud.

He made the walk back to the Slat, alone. He had left Bolliger to finish the job. Kaz enjoyed the silence that accompanied him, the way the pigeons saw the blood and found excuses to cross the paths to avoid him. For him, it was less about carrying out Per Haskell's vendettas and more about inconveniencing Pekka Rollins. Cilla was a hole in the wall diner owner, but if the Dime Lions had reached out to him then there must be some worth to the man or his business. Whatever value Rollin's saw was enough for Kaz to keep it from him. If Rollins had his eyes on an apple Kaz would kick it into the Harbour to spite the man's stomach.

He didn't address the cut on his chest until he had debriefed to Haskell and moved up the stairs into the attic floor, Inej was already sitting at his window, he didn't know for how long, she made to stand up as he pulled his jacket off and unbuttoned his vest, shrugging it off and tossing it to the side, he pulled his shirt open with less care, the cut from the knife had already damaged it and he was not one for mending. The needles and thread he kept in his drawers were for a different kind of stitching, and he reached for them now as he braced himself against the desk, positioning himself in view of the mirror so he could see from both angles. He could see fat through the cut and knew it would need to be stitched to avoid a pesky infection that would keep him down for longer than he could afford to be. He gritted his teeth and began cleaning the cut, pouring alcohol from his desktop over it and beginning the process. He felt Inej move a step forward and placed the needle between his lips to hold out a hand at her. His own hands on his chest were uncomfortable enough. If she placed her hands on him he thought he would throw up right onto her newly bought shoes.

"Don't."

"I was only going to…"

"I said no, Inej."

"Are you done guessing what I'm going to say and do?"

Kaz stared at her for a moment and then began forcing the needle through again, slowly closing the wound. "Say your piece then, Wraith, it'll distract me."

"I was only going to say that you're doing that wrong."

Authors Notes

Chapter fifteen! Wow, we are halfway through more or less! Look, writing Kaz beating someone up was my favourite thing to do honestly. NINA IS COMING GUYS! I am so so excited, part of why this chapter took so long was that these next two chapters are more character and world-building as we introduce Nina. If I had the energy to draw I would love to draw this fight scene honestly.

While I remember, I have a Kaz Brekker playlist on Spotify, it is what I use to write my song titles and I listen to it whilst writing. Would anyone be interested in my sharing the link?

Responding To Reviews

Cat K- I can't wait to see what you thought of Kaz stitching himself up, and the interaction with Bolliger! I am so glad you enjoyed the last chapter, writing that scene was so important to me and I'm glad it's resonating.

Enjoy and thank you for reading!

~ ThisMayFlower