In the aftermath of the explosion, the Barrel was buzzing. There was no doubt Pekka Rollins had caught on to who was behind the bomb, and I felt like I was walking on eggshells, having to look around every corner for danger. Jesper and I were the first ones in the café Kaz had requested us to meet at.
There was one thing that was certain in Ketterdam. The cafes would always be open, and their bars would always be stocked.
Now, usually, Jesper was the only one that did day drinking. But he was very convincing, and I was very stressed. So, a little bit of Kaelish cinnamon whiskey in my coffee wasn't going to kill me. And the three shots both me and Jesper had before the coffee wouldn't kill me either. Jesper had an arm around me, and we were both having maybe too much fun. When Inej slid into the booth she looked way too worried.
'We were starting to think nobody else was coming,' I joked.
'This is where Kaz left word to meet,' Inej said. 'So, you both know. It's worse today.'
'Worse how?' Jesper shrugged. 'We had to sleep on the novice's floor. This body deserves a proper bed.'
'I'm sure he would've let you sleep with him,' I joke making Jesper pinch my shoulder.
'Word is we also killed a constable.'
'What?' I stared at her.
'I have so many questions,' Jesper said. 'How? Why? Who? Where? When? I guess...Yeah, I guess that's all of them.'
'Last night, after you all escaped from the wagon. Constable Sem was his name. Shot with his own weapon. Stadwatch are shaking down every informant they know.'
'I would never shoot someone with their own gun,' Jesper complained. 'Besides, it's not even a good frame-up. Have you seen him today?'
I felt my face fall. Inej shakes her head.
'Avoiding questions, I suspect,' Inej says.
'Yeah, from all of us. Blowing up the Crow Club.'
'Makes you wonder what else he's willing to destroy.'
'C'mon,' I mumble. 'He's still Kaz. The Crow Club wasn't ours anyway. Not anymore.'
'Stop defending him,' Jesper said. 'He blew up our home.'
'He blew up Pekka Rollins home,' I say, leaning more into Jesper.
Then, the rest joined us. Kaz led Wylan and Nina and the other three of us moved further towards the window. Jesper kept his arm around me, and I took a huge sip of the coffee as Kaz sat next to me.
'Made sure you weren't followed?' Kaz asked the three of us.
'Obviously,' Inej said.
'Please,' Jesper sighed.
'Stupid question,' I mumble.
'Ooh,' Nina said. 'Is this place still serving breakfast?'
Inej leaned forward. 'Jes, has a question to ask you.'
I turn my head more to Jesper to hide my smile as Kaz turns his sinister gaze to Jesper. Kaz had a way of looking at you that could bring you to your knees under the sheer weight of his stare. I hadn't yet decided if that was a good thing or not. In this case, it definitely was not.
