Fury and Flame | 3

4 | 2

R I L E Y

I didn't know what to expect when Jake urged us to go downstairs to the dining area—a large room that showed off the more luxurious—and clearly expensive—aspects to the hotel. After running my eyes over the dinner menu posted before the doorway, I realized how much money Delphinium's grandmother would have to pay if we ate here. It made me want to do it even more.

"We're attracting attention," Jake said. Indeed, several eyes were geared our way. "Sit down."

The rest of us sat with hesitancy at the nearest empty table. I stared down at the crystal wine glasses. "I really don't like when you don't tell us what you're planning," Finn told Jake, eyes glued to the several sets of utensils.

To my surprise, the crime lord sat in the chair next to me. Still, he said nothing. We all watched him in suspicion; he'd always ignored Jaxon, Arlo and my pleas for food on jobs before. Our well-being was clearly not high on his list of priorities.

"What the hell are we doing here?" Jaxon asked a bit too loudly, leaning back in his chair. "We could be-"

Jake's response was low. "We're waiting for the room to fill."

That answered no one's question, and yet we were quiet as we waited for the scene to unfold with varying degrees of interest.

Arlo got out his pocketknife and began to clean his nails with it. Beside me—as I'd made sure to choose a seat next to him—Kane closed his eyes and heaved a sigh. Finn shot Arlo a dirty look. "Were you raised in a barn?"

"No, actually I was raised in an experimental laboratory," Arlo answered a bit too nonchalant for what he was saying, eliciting a snort from Jaxon. But I noticed he still put down the knife.

"Don't," Kane said as I raised my newly-filled wineglass to my lips.

My eyes connected with his as I took a long drink. He pressed his fingers to his temples in the beginnings of a headache.

I turned as Jake said my name. "New York City is famous for its rats, Traversa," was all he said.

I blinked. "I think you need this more than me." I held my wineglass out to him.

He didn't take it. "They're always nearby. Maybe right even underneath our feet. It would be a shame if they came through here." With that, he gave me a long, flat look, though I didn't need it; I already understood what he was saying. Or asking.

"Why."

"Do it."

Everyone at the table was watching our interaction, finally getting the answers they wanted from Jake. They all knew a scene was about to be caused and were now interested.

And then I was aware of a thousand bodies, a thousand scurrying paws. They were coming. "You owe me," I said. Screams from the kitchen sounded as the door was slammed open by a stampede of rats, their combined weights creating a strange thundering across the floor.

They began to fill the room, running frantically without direction. The other guests began to stand on top of their tables and scream for help. I smiled at the sight of the older people clambering for balance as their partners made pathetic attempts at warding the stream of rats off.

Then I allowed the rodents to climb the tablecloths and roam the tabletops for food. The screams became louder. Perhaps I was enjoying this a bit too much.

The side doors banged open as employees tried to herd the frightened guests out. Jake stood. "That's our cue to leave."

To the others' credit, none of them were very moved by the rats running across their paths. Delphinium, Jaxon and Benton simply walked along like nothing was wrong. As I predicted, Jake and Kane looked as if they could not care less. Arlo was watching the rats with interest as Finn did his best not to trample the little animals in our escape.

Our group walked calmly among the chaos amidst the front doors. It appeared that the guests from floors above had heard about the rat problem and were rushing to get outside with the rest of us.

The chilly air from outside brushed my hair out of my face. Behind me, I heard Delphinium say to Jaxon, "That better be for what I think it was."

As we walked through the crowd of people, I asked again, "Why?"

"There's a reason I chose this hotel," Jake said. "Who do you think is the owner?"

There was a moment of realization as Jake's plan was finally clear. "Adiago Hundsen owns a hotel?" asked Finn, eyeing the brightly-lit building behind us. It was still being evacuated.

"Not for long," Kane said, jerking his chin toward the news trucks beginning to roll in.

"It'll be a shame if it makes the front page," Jaxon said casually, swinging his arms.

"It'll be a shame if the bad press causes the hotel to permanently close its doors," Jake replied, breath steaming in the frigid air.

We all continued walking into the cold night as another piece of Adiago Hundsen's empire crumbled to the ground.