“What matters is that without you, the Vescari and Rourke alliance falls apart.”

“They need those papers to clear their names.”

“If the papers disappear, they go back to killing each other.”

I pressed my back against the cold bricks of the archway.

My heart hammered against my ribs, but my mind remained clear.

“They won’t just kill each other,” I said.

“They will hunt you down first.”

“Roman Vescari doesn’t forget a debt.”

“And Declan Rourke doesn’t leave traitors breathing.”

Marcus laughed, a dry, nervous sound that echoed in the narrow space.

“Roman and Declan are currently trying to decide who gets to control the docks,” he said.

“They are too busy pointing guns at each other’s heads to worry about a flower girl.”

“You’re wrong,” I said.

I reached my hand out, feeling along the wall.

My fingers brushed against a heavy iron fire extinguisher mounted on the brick.

“They need me,” I said, slowly unlatching the metal clamp.

“If I vanish, Victor pulls his support from both of them.”

“They know that.”

The flashlight beam swept closer to my feet.