Chapter Two

Kaz detected Inej's presence as she climbed into his open window, He turned around as she entered his apartment, she wore a purple Jacket that fit to her hips, a light pink silk shirt, and white breaches. They shared an intense gaze she ran to him, Kaz standing and opening his arms as she bumped into him with such eagerness. He held her as she rested her head on his shoulder.

They hugged for a long time, enjoying being together. "I wasn't sure you would come," Kaz admitted. Inej let go looking into his deep chestnut brown eyes. "I came as soon as I got the letter," she confessed. He wrote to her a month ago. "The drive took three weeks for me to get here the weather prevented me from coming any sooner."

Kaz Gazed into her dark eyes and leaned down he wanted to kiss her, but he jerked away as soon as his lips were close enough, like Kaz was forced back by strings hurting his bad leg in the process. He avoided falling with some effort, he looked away as tears formed in his eyes in shame.

"Kaz I'm so sorry I left the way I did, after our fight. I want us to be able to share a kiss, but I should've been more focused on what we can do now. We can hold each other. I shouldn't have had to leave to clear my head to recognize the sacrifices you made for me." The sacrifices she spoke of were not the ship and crew Kaz provided her with but his ability to touch her.

She pulled her hands into his, and the tears in his eyes disappeared at once. Kaz's gait was apparent as he walked to the couch before he sat, and stretched his bad leg out as Inej joined him on their letting her head rest on his chest listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat. Kaz undid her hair from the tight coil and let his fingers slide through her silky black hair as he once dreamed of doing.

They stayed that way for a long time not talking finding peace in each other's arms. It wasn't until the apartment grew dark, that they then separated. Kaz moved to light the candle whale fat with Inej's help. Kaz's place was decorated with a white rug under the coffee table at the center of the floor, a tan couch, and a matching loveseat.

"Tell me about the job?" Inej has asked. Kaz filled her in on the details, showing her the paperwork and notes Sturmhond and Genya had provided. Inej read the report, thumbing the pages. "How much did you make the deal for?" Inej inquired. "Ten million kruge." "How many people?" Kaz went quiet. Their prior demolition expert went to Hellgate along with a few of his crew members for a bomb he made on a mission that Kaz wasn't aware of.

"You and me," Kaz replied after several minutes. "What about Wylan and Jesper?" Inej asked. "I think Wylan's resigned himself to allow Jesper to come," Kaz answered.

Kaz got up, leaning on his crow cane. "Hungry?" He asked. "I'm Starving." Inej agreed. They agreed on Cooperon as they served breakfast all day.

Kaz and Inej traversed the barrel making their way to their breakfast for dinner, Esmee a younger sister of another gang called the Wild ones went to the eldest brother. The wild ones were waiting for them when they stepped out after eating their dinner of waffles.

Bram jip and Jorn were brothers at seven feet tall had jet black hair. Four others of their gang the wild ones were considerably shorter but brandished huge ugly weapons surrounded them so members of the dregs couldn't intervene if they were to show up. Inej got a knife out of the inside of her jacket which were enamored with several of her knives as Kaz swung his cane.

Inej's arm was pulled behind her back and a knife was pressed to her throat. Kaz who struck his cane managed to break Jip's leg, but his attention was drawn to Inej who had a knife so tight to her throat it drew blood. "What do you want?" Kaz asked his voice low in anger. Anyone who was milling around the area quickly dispersed not wanting to be caught up in this situation.

Jorn pulled out his gun ready to shoot Kaz in the head when they heard a little girl cry out. "Bram!." "Let me through." Maya told the wild ones who packed the alley they looked to Bram who nodded. Maya held the little girl in her arms with no difficulty she had hogtied her.

"I would put the gun down, ja?" She asked of Jorn. "Now." Bram ordered. Jorn put the gun away. "Would you hurt a nine-year-old?" Bram asked. "I would." Maya answered with a smile on her lips. "Now let us through and I won't." Maya said looking at each of them in the eyes. "Fuck he broke my goddamn leg." Jip said tears running down his cheeks.

"Shut up!" He yelled at Jip. "How dare you threaten a little girl's life over this scum! They ruined our business no one buys girls anymore afraid of their retribution. On top of that, this pinprick makes all the money at the casinos." He pointed at Kaz.

"This girl is too young now but, in a few years, ..." Maya said pulling Esmee's face closer to hers as the girl sobbed. "Would you of sold her too when she came of age?" Rage came over Bram's face. "She's innocent of all this." He spat out.

"She is not your little spy who told you Inej holds knives and Kaz was distracted? Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to pull this little stunt off, would you? She's the linchpin to this ugly deal. put another scratch on Inej and I will twist her neck and watch her die." Bram pulled his knife away from Inej's neck, Kaz gave Maya a nod as he walked a short way with Inej. Now hand her over." Bram demanded as he drew closer to Maya.

Maya Dropped Esmee to the ground and drew out her hidden knife. Kaz ran at Jorn before he could fire a shot at Maya. Inej had her knives out in moments killing off four Wild One's recruits by hitting them in jugulars, they died choking on their blood. Maya reached up and slit Bram's throat with her knife, as he knelt to try to get to his sister. In his last moments, he kneed Maya in the side before he fell over.

"Unless you want to make your little sister watch all her brothers die, I would suggest you get the Fuck out of Ketterdam," Maya said holding a knife up to Jip. Jorn put his arms up in truce and walked over to Esmee with difficulty and in pain, he almost fell forward while untying Esmee. " Go now," Jorn said defenseless. Kaz Inej and Maya left watching behind them that they weren't followed.

"How did you know that we were in trouble?" Inej asked Maya. Esmee interested me I thought I'd keep an eye on her whenever I saw about, she seemed too keen on what Kaz was doing." Maya answered. "Why haven't you told me?" Kaz turned on her under his gaze Maya shrunk; the girl who negotiated with Sturmhond, who saved Kaz and Inej's life disappeared in a cloud of tears.

She was just a girl who sewed her clothes and learned Ravkan to almost be sold into prostitution in Ketterdam. Maya pressed her right arm to her left rib only to pull it away again in pain. "Breathing hurts," Maya confessed through her tears. "Kaz, she needs to see a medic," Inej said when they entered a building with no one else around.

"They'll ask too many questions," Kaz said. "Wylan and Jesper's medic won't." Inej pointed out. Kaz pulled out his watch. "We might be waking them up." He warned Inej but she remained resolute. "Let's take a peek at it before making a decision," Kaz said. "I'm fine," Maya said quickly. "I don't need a medic." But she broke into a coughing bout.

"Let me just see what we're dealing with," Inej said leading Maya to a window where the moon cast a light into the room. Maya finally agreed. Inej lifted her shirt, letting out a small gasp as she saw welts across her lower back, Inej glanced at Kaz who also looked disturbed. Maya always made her shirts longer than her torso and tucked it in. "Well?" Maya asked. Inej ignored her back and looked at Maya's side where a bruise started to form. "We're going to Jespers and Wylan's," Kaz said.