Bitter Sweets

Chapter 6: The Game's Afoot

Kane carries an intensity that betrays a lifetime of struggle and cunning. He doesn't just look at you; he studies you, like a predator sizing up its prey. When his gaze lands on me, I feel the weight of it immediately, though I keep my expression neutral.

The two who escorted me stop a few feet away, leaning against a rusted car frame like guard dogs waiting for a command. Kane remains seated, his posture casual, but his presence anything but. One of his men leans closer to whisper something, but Kane silences him with a flick of his fingers.

"You lost, suit?" he asks, his voice calm but laced with an undercurrent of menace.

I flash him a careful smile. "Not lost. Rather, I was looking for the right person."

Kane's eyebrow arches slightly, a subtle show of intrigue. "That so?" His fingers drum once against the hood of the car. "And what makes you think I'm that person?"

I offer, "Because you have information, and it just so happens I need information."

He sighs. "Information comes at a price, and I don't think you're stupid enough to walk in here without a suitable trade."

I shoot back, "I won't waste your time. I want information, and I have information for you in return."

Kane snorts. "What could a suit like you have to offer me?"

"Information. Information on a certain gang that you could stand to gain a lot of leverage from."

Kane straightens, and it would appear I've caught his attention. "What would stop me from just beating your ass for the information instead?"

I straighten my posture in mimicry. A couple of his men sense the tension and ready themselves. I lean forward slightly, keeping my voice calm but adding a subtle edge. "Two reasons. Firstly, I'm a lawyer. Name is Nero Graves. It could benefit you if we formed a relationship of sorts. I can offer you protection should anything go awry with less-than-legal activities, free of charge. Secondly, the information I have for you today will only become valuable once I win a certain trial."

Kane's gaze narrows, his sharp eyes scrutinizing me for any sign of a bluff. The air between us feels heavy, like the calm before a storm. He leans back slightly, the motion deceptively casual.

"A lawyer, huh?" he muses, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "You don't strike me as the kind that usually walks into places like this. Makes me wonder what kind of lawyer you are."

I flash a friendly smile. I couldn't tell him I was pretty much a rookie, and I remembered Ash's warning, so instead of lying, I stretch the truth. "I'm the type of lawyer who likes to dip my hand into any winning lot. Whether it be cops or gangs, I can make problems disappear for you, or I can create them for other people—like, say, rival gangs."

Kane lets out a low chuckle, though the sound carries no warmth. "Interesting. Should I assume you have some dirt for us?"

"Exactly," I say, leaning back slightly to give him space to process. "The Black Vultures are in deep, and I'm positioned to make sure the fallout lands exactly where you'd find it most useful. But only if you help me."

Kane points out, "Oh, and what's stopping me from squashing you once we're done with our alliance?"

I offer a knowing smile. "You're smart, that's why. Use me and discard me, and you really don't gain anything. Build a bridge with a lawyer, and you stand to gain much more than a simple one-time deal."

The silence stretches between us, broken only by the distant hum of the city. Finally, Kane nods slowly, a wolfish grin spreading across his face.

"Alright, lawyer boy, you've got my attention. Our gang hasn't really ever had a lawyer in our pocket before, so I'll concede the offer is tempting. Let's hear it then—what is the information you have to offer me?"