License to Love

Bonus Chapter: Double-Crosser

"Jada, you coming to bed or what? I wanna get some shut-eye before we leave tomorrow." Trish grumbled at her sister from the staircase, rubbing her eyes groggily.

"I'll be up in a few, I need to close up for the night," Jada said, checking the cat clock on the wall of their bar. It showed one in the morning.

"I can do that, why don't you get to bed?" Austin said, coming in through the front door after taking out the trash.

"It's my job and I'm not about to pass it up. Get Trish to bed, Aus," Jada said to her brother. Austin shrugged and wrapped an arm around his step-sister's shoulder.

"Come on, sis. Leave her to her job, she likes it." Together they made their way up to their apartment, yawning as they went. Jada lingered back, locking up everything but the back door. After making sure no one was about, she turned off all but one light, shut the windows, and drew the curtains, then she took a seat at a table near the back of the bar in the semi-darkness as though waiting for someone.

"You can come out now, we're alone," she spoke into the dark corner of the bar. A figure stepped out of the shadows, twiddling a coin in his hand. He walked slowly up to the table and took a seat opposite Jada, placing the coin flat on the surface. He wore a thick fedora with the brim pulled down low, hiding his face, and a grey overcoat revealing very little of his actual size. Only his height was prominent until he sat down.

"You must be fond of them, if you'd rather keep them out of your – private business," he drawled in a low, predatory voice. "I know. I used to have a family too. I'm sure you want them safe and well-taken care of that you'd commit crimes for them..." Jada narrowed her eyes at him.

"The only reason I'm working with you is to protect them. They don't need to know everything I'm doing as long as it keeps them safe."

"How touching," the man commented with hidden sarcasm. "If I didn't understand where you're coming from, I might've retched." Jada crossed her arms and leaned back without a word.

"I see insults roll off you," the man stated, a trace of estimation in his voice. "A rare trait. Takes a strong character to keep a cool head. Or a dangerous one..." Still Jada remained silent. When the man saw he could not draw her into a conversation, he sighed and pulled out a flask. He took a swig from it and put it away.

"Alright, I see you're a businesswoman and I won't mince words. Time is money, after all."

"I told the Night Blazers what you told me to say," Jada finally spoke. "They bought it. They expect me to take a trip to the penitentiary to dig out more information." The man nodded.

"They'll go chasing their tails before they discover there's a mole in their midst," the man said with a satisfied leer.

"They're spooked alright," Jada said, "something's got them on the edge and I don't think it's you. Make no mistake, that bunch has made a lot of enemies in their time and have plenty to be afraid of."

"Yes, but bravery is a weakness they wear with pride," the man snarled. "I'll have to remedy that relatively soon."

"How do you plan to do that? You can't exactly touch them at the NNC."

"On the contrary, I have them right where I want them. Already one of their pack has suffered a blow and the message I left them should afford them a few sleepless nights."

"One of them – suffered?" Jada raised her eyebrows. "My sister is obsessed with one of them and if it should happen that he comes to harm—"

"Emotional ties will ruin your family," the man snapped sharply. He withdrew after his outburst, becoming calm again. "Don't let your heart bleed for that corrupt lot, I'll draw them into my territory and pick them off, one by one. What I do with those vagabonds is my business and my business alone. For your sister's sake, I suggest you keep your distance from them. It would be... Most unfortunate if she got caught in the crossfire of my war with them." Jada said nothing but her fists clenched under the table. The man snickered softly.