Cingulomania | Kaz Brekker

03

"What was that? Hmm? You want to tell me?" Cordelia asked once she, Inej, and Kaz were back in his office at the club. Jesper was back on door duty.

"Be more specific," Kaz said as he was rifling through his desk. 

"It was one thing when we had a week to find a way across the Fold. But sunrise?" she asked. Inej took a step forward towards them. "We have to say no."

"No," Kaz stated firmly.

"'No' to the job?" Inej asked. Kaz looked up as he responded, "'No' to saying 'no.'"

"We can't go!" Inej exclaimed. 

"Can't we?" Kaz pushed back. All of the tempers in the room were rising rapidly. 

"I can't go," the Suli girl emphasized. She pulled up her sleeve slightly to show her peacock feather tattoo. The sight of it made Cordelia sick. No one should have to endure what the girls at the pleasure houses do, especially her friend.

"You will," Kaz said. "I have a plan." 

"No, you don't."

"Devereux," Kaz warned, turning his attention to her. 

The Grisha shook her head. "I've known you long enough by now to know when you are still figuring things out and you don't know how to pull off this job."

"I still have six hours, and right now, you two aren't helping," Kaz stated, his eyes flicking between the two girls. 

Inej was getting upset. "Maybe you crack a way across, but that doesn't solve this problem, does it?" She shoved her tattooed wrist in his line of sight. Cordelia could practically see the steam start pouring from Kaz's ears by now. 

"If I can't crack this, no one's going," he said, trying to remain calm.

"And if you do?" Inej countered.

"Then maybe you stay here!" Kaz snapped at Inej before turning to Cordelia. "And clearly you don't even want to be on this job so why would I even bother taking you? It would just be a waste of resources." 

Cordelia glared at Kaz, maintaining eye contact. He squeezed his eyes shut in regret. When he opened them, Cordelia and Inej were moving away from the desk. 

"Maybe I won't be here when you get back," Inej said before walking out the door.

"Inej!" Kaz called after her. "Inej!" But the Suli girl had already climbed out the window. Cordelia walked to the door that led back down to the Crow Club. "Cordelia!"

Cordelia let the door slam behind her without a second look. 

She rushed down to the bar and grabbed a shot of kvas from Joe. She downed another one soon after, before walking to the door where she knew Jesper was stationed.

"I'm running an errand. I'll be back later," she said, not giving Jesper a chance to respond. 

Cordelia snaked her way through the streets of the Barrel, avoiding the eyes of the masses. She caught glimpses of men looking at her cleavage. It was partially her fault if she had to admit it based on her outfit choice. The deep green tunic that she tucked into her black and white pinstriped pants she wore was a size too small and the laces that could close up the top had been lost long ago. It didn't help that her bindings also pushed up her breasts. She just glared at the men and kept on walking. 

Once she got to her destination, she slipped in silently and moved through the shadows to the room she needed to go to. 

"Hello Heleen," Cordelia drawled, stepping out of the shadows. The owner of the Menagerie looked up, slightly startled. The corner of the woman's mouth quirked up.