INEFFABLE | kaz brekker

chapter two

An hour later, and the Crows were headed to Dreesen's estate, a Heartrender in tow. If Pekka Rollins wasn't already pissed off, he would be now, considering they took the only Heartrender available for the night. She was rather nice, well dressed and polite, not something often seen in the Barrel, but it was clear she was beginning to grind down Kaz's patience.

"I really appreciate the new business, but you've only paid for an hour of my time, and I have to be back at the Orchid."

"The Orchid isn't safe tonight. Your life's in danger with this job. Make yourself scarce for a few days afterwards." Kaz continued walking, the Heartrender growing increasingly anxious.

"Mr. Brekker, really? Are you threatening me? Even if I'm nice, my boss will call the stadwatch on you."

"It's not me you're in danger with, it's Pekka Rollins." Kaz had turned around and stopped to speak, nearing the gate to the estate.

"My boss would call the stadwatch on him as well."

Elham laughed at that. "You really think if Rollins got to your boss that he's still alive? Your boss is already dead, how naive can you be? I suggest you start paying attention, nobody's going to be around to save you when the Barrel comes to swallow you up."

They continued towards the gate, when a man yelled across the courtyard. "Who are you lot?"

Kaz stopped behind the gate. "We're here to see Dreesen."

"You're not with Pekka's crew."

Elham pulled the counterfeit coin from the gambling tables earlier that night out of her pocket, tossing it to the guard. Kaz let the tiniest smirk set on his face, before speaking again. "And you're not in Pekka's pocket anymore if you don't owe him."

He gave Elham a slight nod, and they continued through the gate to the estate's front entrance. Jesper sped up to catch up with Elham. "Hey, where did you get that coin?" She smirked, only to have it fall from her face, when the guard yelled across the courtyard once more.

"Hey! One of these has a hole in it!"

Shit. Elham put her hand on the back of Jesper's jacket, pushing him along quicker, picking up her pace, nodding for the rest of the crew to follow. "Go! Go, go, go."

"Saints, Elham!" Jesper let out a laugh, making a dash for the entrance.

"Just get inside!"

---

They were led through the house by a guard, all the way to Dreesen's office. The guard opened the door, and Kaz stepped in first, Elham finding her spot next to him. Dreesen looked up from his desk and sighed. "One look and I can tell. Criminals. I'm not meeting anyone till midnight."

Elham smirked at that. Criminals? Isn't everyone in the Barrel a criminal? And is it that easy to tell?

Kaz seemed to hold in his usual look of annoyance. "We heard you needed a Heartrender."

Dreesen stood from his desk, contemplating. "Hmm. Alright, she stays. The rest of you, out."

The Heartrender smiled and started walking forward, only for Kaz's cane to swiftly come up and block her from walking any further. Elham wondered if they had any idea who they were talking to. Kaz Brekker seems to always get what he wants, and this wasn't going to be any different.

"She stays. And we have an exclusive on the job."

"Mr. Brekker, no businessman worth his salt hires his first applicant."

Elham was growing impatient. Barrel men. Not good men. She had had enough of Dreesen's company, and she spoke up. "Mr. Dreesen, we understand your predicament. What would I possibly know about conducting a business? It goes right over my head. Of course, I would have to report you to the guild for kidnapping a prisoner. Seems a little bit like criminal business to me. And we would know, right? Doesn't really seem like an ethical thing you did, does it?"