Page 152 of Sweet Ruin

Niko taps Alisa’s photograph. “Look at that smug smile. She knew for sure.”

I remember her fingers on my sleeve. Her little performance about old vodka and older memories. She wanted Lilah to feel temporary.

She may have come to punish me for ignoring her, or she may have come because Osip told her when to arrive and what to do when she did.

I’d believe either answer.

“Put two men on her,” I tell Yuri. “I want every meeting and every call. Keep them far enough back that her father doesn’t notice them.”

Yuri nods.

“Put watchers on the corridor, too. Every parcel from Thirty-Ninth to Forty-Fifth. I want names for every broker, inspector, contractor, and curious stranger who asks about property.”

“Already moving,” Yuri says.

“Move faster. Double the guard at the bakery and her house.”

Yuri pauses. “Ms. Dorsey will notice.”

“Then choose men she won’t notice.” I stick the letter opener back into its cup. “You oversee both teams yourself. Nobody approaches her unless you approve it.”

“Understood.”

“Anton, make sure every exterior camera at both addresses feeds here. Replace any unit that gives you a bad image.”

Anton inclines his head. “Yes, sir.”

“Go.”

Yuri and Anton leave together. Niko remains beside the map.

He’s got something to say in private, I’m guessing.

Sure enough, once the door closes, he turns and fixes me with his serious face.

“You have to tell her the whole story, Kane.”

“Not a fucking chance.”

He rolls his eyes. “Gee, what a compelling counterargument.” Niko plants one finger on Lot 22. “She’s gonna get caught in the crossfire, brother. She’s literally trapped in no-man’s-land. Tell her about the acquisitions before Osip tells her for you.”

“Osip has no proof.”

“He found your mystery woman in one night. Give him a week and he’ll find the LLCs. Give him two and he’ll send her the map with a red circle around her bakery and a cute little doodle of you with blood dripping from your fangs as you prepare to swallow it whole.”

“He can doodle anything he likes,” I fire back. “I’m not involving her in this.”

“She’s already involved!” Niko cries out. “And she’s not stupid. If weird things keep happening, she’s going to start digging, and when she finds more weird stuff, she’s going to ask you questions. Don’t you think she’ll find it noteworthy that you own ninety properties on her street?”

“I don’t own them.”

Niko buries his face in his hands. “Christ, you’re pedantic. Yes, ‘you’ are technically nobody, but you do own ninety shell companies that own ninety properties on her street. Great point, though—I’m sure she’ll really appreciate the distinction.”

I gather the photographs, stack them up, and tap them until the edges align. “I’ll tell her at Easter. Not before then.”

He studies me. “After you take her building? Not sure she’ll be in such a receptive mood then.”

“After I burn the lien.”