Chapter 16 Kasimir
KASIMIR
Ishould not have done that. It’s only been fifteen minutes since she fell to pieces in my arms, but already I’m resisting the urge to wake her up and do it again.
All those little noises she made, and the way that she begged…
Fuck.
It took everything within me not to kill all of Bailey’s men and carry her away somewhere more private. Somewhere dark and secluded, ideally with a bed so we could finish what she started so eagerly on my lap.
Shit, I’m in too deep. This needs to stop.
With a bitter sigh, I stare down at the sleeping woman in my arms.
Really, I know what I have to do. We stick to the plan, collect what we came here for, and then I see to it that Ruby gets home safely.
By morning, she’ll be back home in her palace, and in a year or so she’ll be married off to some rich prince – someone who’ll deserve her, someone absolutely nothing like me.
“What are your thoughts on this, Kasimir?”
At the sound of my name, I lift my chin to find everyone watching me expectantly.
Ruby has no idea, but these guys are some of the most dangerous gang leaders in all of the realm.
There’s no risk to her or me. Being the only assassin here, I could take any of these idiots down in a heartbeat.
But still, I probably should’ve been paying more attention.
We’ve been tailing this group for a year, and Meera would kill me if she found out I’d been… distracted.
“It sounds like a great plan,” I agree, clearing my throat.
Mr Bailey chuckles. “I knew we’d see eye to eye on this. Starting this guild will open so many doors for our industry. With all of us joining forces like this, the whorehouses won’t know what hit ‘em. Soon we’ll be running this place!” he cheers.
The other men match his enthusiasm, nodding eagerly and raising their glasses. I raise mine too, hoping my grin hides the disgust behind my eyes.
It won’t be long now. In fact, after stealing a glance at Bailey’s tall grandfather clock, I might need to speed this along.
“I must say though, gentlemen.” I clear my throat, being careful not to wake Ruby. “While the prospect of our joined forces excites me, I am a little concerned about our lack of numbers.”
“Lack of numbers?” Mr Bailey laughs. “Take a look around you, my friend. Are nine willing sponsors not enough?”
“We too poor for you or somethin’, rich boy?” another man pipes up – Rossi Darkwell probably, judging by his thick accent.
I roll my eyes. “Money has nothing to do with it.”
“Easy for you to say,” Rossi snaps back. “Your guildhouse is practically a castle. You don’t need the money like some of us do—”
“Quieten down now, gentlemen,” Mr Bailey cuts in, sliding Rossi a sharp look. “Kasimir has made our new guild a very generous offer. It’s not everyday that you meet someone who is able to provide funds like this, and we’d be wise to listen to what he has to say.”
“Thank you, Mr Bailey.” I grin smugly. “I’m glad some people here still have respect despite the nature of our businesses.” I cast a glance at Rossi, unable to help myself. His trafficking guild is responsible for some of the biggest atrocities in Night Alley. That all ends tonight.
Running my fingers down Ruby’s back, I carry on, “My only concern was about the lack of members attending this meeting. I’m sure you are all aware by now of the true nature of my profession, and how my job leaves me with a lot of enemies.
” My eyes land on Rossi. “Can you provide me with a list of everyone involved in this endeavour? I’d like to make sure that the funding I provide to the guild doesn’t end up reaching anyone who would use those funds against me. ”
A few hushed murmurs flit around the table, but they’re quickly silenced by Mr Bailey.
“Of course, my friend.” His hands fly to the book in front of him, shuffling through the worn pages. “You’ll find a list of all our current members here.”
Perfect.
I can hardly contain my excitement as he slides a sheet of parchment towards me.
“Thank you.” My heart races until my eyes scan the information – or the lack of information. “Only names?” I question innocently. “No addresses?”
“I was told it would be unwise to keep all the information together.” Mr Bailey laughs. “We wouldn’t want it to fall into the wrong hands now, would we?”
“Indeed,” Rossi adds, his dark gaze burning my skin.
I shrug. “Of course.” I keep my attention pinned on Mr Bailey. “It relieves me to hear you’re taking your members’ privacy seriously. I trust the rest of the information is locked away somewhere secure?” My eyebrow lifts. Go on, take the bait.
“Oh yes!”
I grin.
“Kept safe with Mr Andrick at his whorehouse,” Mr Bailey explains proudly. “He keeps it in his office. And no one can get in there without getting through him.”
“Good to know.” I nod, making a mental note to organise a trip.
It’s frustrating when criminals are cautious, but at least I know where to look next. No one is getting out of this one without consequences.
“Well that answers all of my questions,” I say, just as the door swings open.
Right on schedule.
“Drinks, anyone?” a dark-haired bartender waltzes into the room, her tray loaded with overflowing tankards.
I shoot Meera a wink. “Perfect timing.” Raising my voice, I announce to the table, “Gentlemen, this round’s on me. Let us toast to our union!”
For the first time tonight, my words are met with cheers instead of suspicious glances. Even Rossi gives me an appreciative nod.
Keeping my arms wrapped around Ruby, I watch Meera as she hands out the drinks, giggling and flirting as she goes.
I can’t help but laugh with her. By the time she makes it to me, I can see she’s already claimed at least four of the men’s coin-pouches.
“Last but not least,” she chuckles, placing my tankard in front of me. Her mask slips a little as she spies my fingers stroking Ruby’s back. Warning flashes over her features.
“Different worlds,” she’d reminded me before we all left the guildhouse.
And she’s right. Of course she is. Ruby’s a delicate princess while I…
I kill for a living. Every minute I have her in my arms, she may as well be dancing with the villain.
And if some fairytale prince doesn’t charge in and save her soon, I’ll rip her straight from her storybook’s pages.
“She’s just tired,” I mutter under my breath. “Is it so wrong to help the lady sleep?”
Meera scowls. “No good will come of this.” But she’s gone before I can reply, leaving in a flurry of fake smiles, just as she came.
“I must admit, Kasimir,” Mr Bailey says, returning my focus to the table. “You’ve certainly changed. I was a little alarmed when you inquired about the guild, especially giving your… history.”
Not illogical. Especially considering I kill pricks like him.
“But it seems I was wrong.” He laughs from his belly. “We are one and the same, my friend.”
Heart pounding, I return his smile. Ruby must be sensing the adrenaline pulsing through me as she stirs in my hold.
“Just a few more minutes, sweetheart,” I whisper. Keeping my attention on the group, I rub her back until her breathing slows again.
With a grin, Mr Bailey raises his tankard as the rest of the men join him.
“To the guild!” he cheers.
“To a long lasting friendship,” I grin as I raise my tankard. Until death do we part.
The entire room drinks.
And Mr Bailey collapses against the table.
For a moment, there’s frenzied panic. Chairs scrape along the ground. Men yelp as metal tankards clatter to the floor. Eventually, one by one, their throats constrict, and they fall forward, faceplanting onto the table.
Rossi’s the last to go, wheezing as he grips the handle of his tankard.
“You-you,” he rasps, pointing a bony finger towards my chest. “You p-poisoned the drinks.”
“Not me, actually.” I smile smugly again. “And the poison was on the rim of your tankard, not in the drink.”
The scowling man hurls out a string of obscenities, but before he can finish he turns blue and falls sideways off his chair. Then, after a few quiet gurgles, he’s dead – just like the rest of them.
Chest burning, I finally exhale. This job wasn’t dangerous. I’d built up far too much rapport with Bailey for him to see me as anything other than a walking bank. And even if any of his buddies did have their suspicions, Bailey always had the final say.
But I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting the dread I felt bringing Ruby in here, or the possessive rumble in my chest I felt anytime I caught someone else staring.
Speaking of, Ruby’s breath quickens as she stirs against my chest.
“Darling?” I whisper. Everyone’s dead so there’s no point keeping the roleplay going, but I don’t care. It’d feel wrong to call her anything else.
Slowly, my princess lifts her head as she blinks the sleep out of her heavy eyes.
“Kaz?” she croaks, but then she stiffens upon noticing the state of the room.
Her lips part, but I’m quicker. I clamp my hand over her mouth before a piercing scream tears from her throat.
“It’s alright, Ruby. Hush. Listen to me. It’s alright,” I soothe, one hand muffling the scream while the other rubs calming circles on her back. “You’re safe here. It’s done. Everything is alright.”
I keep repeating those words, over and over, until eventually her screaming is replaced by a quiet whimper. Then, gently, I lower my hand.
“They’re all… d-de…” she sputters. “Did you…” Her voice trails off as she turns to face me. “What happened?”
Something cracks within me to see her like this. “Let’s not go into the details here,” I reply, suddenly desperate to take her far from this place. “Besides, we shouldn’t stay here too long. It’ll get messy if we’re discovered like this.”
Ruby’s mouth opens, but she shuts it again just as quickly.
“Can you stand?” I ask.
She nods, then lifts her legs from mine, almost stumbling in the process.
“Let me help,” I say, scooping her up and pressing her against my chest. She squeaks but doesn’t protest, relaxing in my arms as she wraps her own around my shoulders.