“So J-Dog wants in too, huh?” I mused, cleaning my pistol. “Zeke we’re supposed to be keeping this quiet.”

  “He’s cool, don’t worry,” Zeke said, fiddling with his MAC. “And like, I think the guys already know something’s up, you know? With the whole driveby and shit?” I sighed.

  “Yeah of course,” I muttered. “Guess I do a shit job of hiding it.”

  “Nah girl, they were just around at the wrong time,” he reassured me. “And I ain’t heard one of them say a bad thing about you. Hell when they find out about this, they’ll probably think you’re the hottest shit.”

  “Maybe,” I hedged. “I still don’t want to be like, an open, unmasked hero.”

  “Man you think Jeep or J-Dog are their paper names?” Zeke asked with a chuckle, elbowing my ribs.

  “They know mine,” I retorted. “And my face. It’s just...uncomfortable.”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll see they’re cool,” he assured me as my phone rang.

  “Yeah?” I answered it, putting my gun down and rising from the couch.

  “It’s Tattletale,” she said, mercifully skipping the code-phrases. “You busy?”

  “No, just doing maintenance,” I replied, glancing at Zeke. “You have a guy?”

  “I do,” she confirmed. “Bring your whole team, you can do introductions and stuff.” I pursed my lips at that.

  “We’re coming armed,” I said flatly.

  “Would expect nothing less you little psycho,” Tattletale replied, sing-song. “It’s not an ambush, if I wanted to do that I’d just knock on the house that got shot up Christmas day.” I bit back a curse; I had let that slip, goddamn idiot. “Don’t beat yourself up too much, I’m just smarter than you.”

  “When and where?” I spat, ignoring the fact that I’d fucked myself over a little bit more without even trying.

  “You know Taylor’s old place?” she asked, then snorted. “Sure you do. There’s a car park at the end of the road. We’ll see you at the top in an hour.”

  “See you then, I guess.” The line clicked and I sighed, shutting my eyes. “Zeke, give Jeep and J-Dog a call, we have a meeting.”

  “Was that Tattletale?” Zeke asked, getting a nod. “What’s up?”

  “Call your boys,” I said, punching in Joy’s number on my phone. “Time for you to meet the queen bitch of Brockton Bay.”

  “Man you really agreed to meet here?” J-Dog said, voice slightly muffled by the balaclava he was wearing. “Practically suicide, doing it like this.”

  “J’s right,” Jeep said, sounding more than a little nervous. “Easy to get boxed in.”

  “Keep your cool and we’ll be fine,” I said firmly as Zeke pulled into the car park. “Nadir, signal me quietly when we hit five meters, that’s as close as we get. You guys brought guns, right?” All three in the back seat nodded at me. “Then they’re outgunned by a wide margin. Even if their other members showed up, we could handle them, dealt with worse.”

  “It’s pretty empty,” Zeke observed as we drove higher.

  “Keep your eyes open,” I said. “Jeep, J...god that’s going to get confusing, anyway. Watch our flanks, you see anyone you sound the alarm; I trust Tattletale about as far as I could throw E-Z.”

  They both gave an affirmative response, and I turned my attention to my last minute checks. Knife tucked away in my pocket, pistol loaded, chambered. Hadn’t had time to get Jeep and J-Dog some armour, I’d have to make another trip to Salomon’s sooner than I thought, but at least it was for a good cause.

  “There they are,” I said as we reached the top of the parking garage. “Game faces.”

  Zeke pulled the car to a stop a ways away from where Tattletale was parked. She was in costume standing outside an unassuming, black SUV alongside a tall, masked man dressed in black and wearing armour. Well, no points for guessing who the merc was… The rest of the area seemed clear, so while Zeke stayed in the driver’s seat we all clambered out. Nadir bumped her arm against mine as we walked up, and I stopped right where she’d indicated.

  “Tattletale,” I greeted her, then gestured to the others. “My team. Nadir, Jeep, J.”

  “Good to finally meet you, I guess,” Nadir said. “Can’t say I’ve heard the best things.”

  “You must not be talking to a reliable source,” Tattletale replied with a grin. “Bit of a raggedy team, don’t you think Amaranth?”

  “And now you see why you don’t hear the best things,” I grumbled. “Can we skip the bullshit Tattletale? Here on business after all.”

  “Sure, sure,” she said flippantly, waving my concern away. “This is Fen, you want to introduce yourself?”

  “Sure,” the mercenary said, shrugging. “Got over a decade of experience as a combat engineer, was special forces for a while, then I’ve been doing this for four years.”

  “Surprised you went with the blonde bitch over Coil,” I commented, getting another shrug in reply.

  “I’m a simple man,” he replied. “Got a better offer, so I gave my two weeks notice.” I glanced at Tattletale. Yeah sure that notice was two weeks…

  “And you can train us?”

  “As long as you listen,” Fen said.

  I studied him quietly. He seemed entirely at ease with the situation, despite being outnumbered and outgunned. Either he trusted Tattletale and us that much, or was confident that if shit hit the fan he’d come out on top. It wasn’t like he was armed beyond the pistol at his hip, did he really think that was enough?

  “We’re not planning an ambush, relax,” Tattletale said dryly. “You’re too paranoid for your own good.”

  “Paranoia is what keeps me and mine alive,” I countered sharply.

  “It’s no problem,” Fen said flatly. “Mind if I come over there?” I narrowed my eyes, but slowly nodded.

  He started walking slowly, hands by his sides. My neck prickled as he got nearer, and I slowly reached for my pistol. He wasn’t making any moves, neither was Tattletale behind him, but my heart rate was picking up, my breath coming quicker. My eyes flicked around the garage and a frown touched my lips.

  It was empty, save for us, so why was I feeling like this? I looked up at the sky, scanning the grey clouds overhead. Was it a flyer, was it Imp coming for an ambush? Fen kept coming, making no sudden moves as I gripped my pistol tighter. A flash from the left side of the car park made me whip my head to see—

  Muzzle flashes and gunshots echoed out, along with screams from my team. I drew my pistol and raised it, firing half-blind as I felt bullets slam into my projection. So it was a fucking ambush. My pistol barked as I pumped round after round in the direction of the fire, then it clicked on empty. I ejected the magazine and reloaded, spinning and aiming at Fen, who was aiming squarely at me.

  “Not planning a fucking ambush, huh?” I yelled, finger tight on the trigger.

  “Could ask the same of you,” Fen replied evenly. “Tattletale, ma’am?”

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  “Fuck mothering motherfuckers,” she cursed from where she sat on the ground, holding a hand to her leg. “Fen, first aid.”

  “Nadir?” I asked, turning my head, pistol still raised.

  “I think we’re okay,” she replied shakily, pushing herself up from the ground. “Jeep, J-Dog?” Both of them rose unsteadily, brushing themselves off. They didn’t look injured, and I saw Zeke get out of the car, weapon in hand. I couldn’t help the sigh of relief that escaped my lips; we got off lucky.

  Now who the fuck was going to pay the fucking price?

  I moved towards where the flash of light and gunfire had come from, eyes on the six bodies laying on the asphalt. All were dressed in red and black tactical gear, similar to the plate carriers my team wore. As I got near them, one burst into motion, raising a pistol. I was close enough that I didn’t bother blowing his head off, instead taking one round to the chest before kicking him in the face hard enough he swallowed his teeth.

  “All clear?” I whirled and sighed as Fen raised his hands, lowering my weapon.

  “Let’s find out,” I said coldly, kneeling and binding the guy who’d tried to ambush me a second time. No obvious insignia, but the short rifle on the ground next to him looked very military.

  “Interesting weapons,” Fen commented as he rolled a body over, pressing his fingers briefly to its throat before shaking his head. “Hm.”

  “What?” I asked, glancing over.

  “Neck,” he said, pulling down the collar and exposing a wolfsangel tattoo. “Guess we know who they are.”

  “Fucking Werwolf,” I growled. One of the bodies stirred and I pounced, punching the fucker twice in the back of their head. I frowned and looked closer at the asphalt under them, then rose and looked around the bunch of them. “Hey, you see this?”

  “The lines?” Fen said, and I nodded. “Look like burns.”

  “Yeah but they look like circuits or something,” I replied, gesturing to them. “Tattletale, come take a look!”

  “What?” she snapped, limping towards us. “Fucking better be worth it or—” Her mouth snapped shut, lips pressing together into a thin, white line.

  “What do you make of it?” I asked as I began collecting the weapons. Didn’t want them being near our attackers. “Was it Bifrost?”

  “No, he doesn’t leave evidence,” Tattletale said, voice tense. “Haven’t seen something like this before. Help Fen move the bodies, and put the live ones in my car.”

  “Got it.” She was definitely better at interrogating people than I was, for better or worse. “Nadir, Jeep, J, come grab these rifles.”

  “Oh no no no young lady,” Tattletale said, glaring at me. “Those are a bit too dangerous for children.”

  “Get fucked,” I snapped as my team collected the weapons. I kept myself between them and the bodies...and Tattletale’s merc. “Consider it a fee for saving your ass. Do you care, Fen?”

  “Are you paying me to care?” he asked. I blinked and shook my head. “Then no. Sorry boss.”

  “You’d better keep those things pointed away from me,” she growled.

  I left her alone and did what I’d agreed to, moving the dead to one side and taking the two live ones back to Tattletale’s car. Distant sirens began to wail as Fen opened the trunk, making me grimace. Yeah of course that attracted attention, god dammit.

  “We need to leave,” I said, jogging back to Tattletale. “Company’s coming.” She glanced back at me and sighed.

  “Unfortunately, you’re right.” Tattletale rose and pulled out her phone, snapping half a dozen pictures of the asphalt in rapid succession. “Send your team home and get in my car, we need to talk some more.”

  “That your game?” I bristled. “Get me away from my team and—”

  “Amaranth, don’t be a fucking idiot,” she snapped. “You’re not important enough that I’d get myself shot to take you down. Now hurry up, wasted enough time.”

  I grit my teeth and nodded. Unfortunately she had a point, and it wasn’t like she or Fen could actually do anything to me alone. I grabbed the last rifle and jogged back to my team, letting them know what was going on. Nadir protested, but I shut her down by pointing out the sirens growing ever louder. She took the gun and reluctantly got in the car, and as soon as the door shut they took off.

  Tattletale beckoned me, and I ran back to her. I had two magazines left, just in case this went badly. She got in the backseat, and I followed after while Fen got in the driver’s side. A few seconds later, we were buckled up and racing from the parking garage. I twisted my head around and saw the lights of the cop cars arrive when we were just blocks away.

  “You okay?” I asked, glancing at Tattletale. She shot me a glare, then sighed.

  “Took a bullet, but it missed the artery,” she said, reaching under the seat in front of her and pulling out a first aid kit.

  “Good reaction Amaranth,” Fen commented as the engine roared. “The rest of your team took cover while you returned fire.”

  “I had to,” I replied. “They couldn’t hurt me, but they could definitely hurt my team.”

  “What am I, chopped liver?” Tattletale said dryly.

  “Might as well be,” I retorted. “Now why am I here instead of checking out my new guns?”

  “Contract details,” Fen answered, taking a turn a little too sharply to be comfortable. “Would have discussed it back there, but I think we can agree that’s a bad idea.” I sighed and nodded, picking at the cut on my neck. My finger slipped through a bullet hole in my scarf and my nail caught on a stitch.

  “I guess that makes sense,” I sighed. “So how much is this going to cost me?”

  “You’ll pay half the cost of his contract,” Tattletale said. “Ten grand a month, that’s on top of your cut from loot. He won’t go in the field with you, and I’m still taking him for my own operations.”

  “Christ alive,” I muttered. “Do you want the other arm too?”

  “You can afford it,” she said snidely. “Took a hundred grand didn’t you?”

  “Just saying you could give me a discount for saving your ass,” I said.

  “Maybe if I got off without a scratch,” she retorted. “We got a deal?”

  “Yeah...deal.” I stuck out a hand and shook Tattletale’s.

  “We’ll discuss a schedule tomorrow,” Fen said as he slowed the car and pulled over. He twisted in his seat and held out a business card. “My boss needs a doctor, I hope you understand.”

  “Yeah, that’s fine,” I said with a shrug, taking the card and putting it in my pocket. “You got anything for me Tattletale?”

  “No, now beat it,” she snapped.

  With that, I opened the door and got out, rolling my eyes. The car backed out of the alleyway and took off, leaving me alone. I sighed and unwrapped my scarf, tutting at the many holes that I’d need to patch. I poked my head out of the alley, then started down the empty street.

  Nothing to do now but get home and find out what the damage was.

  “Lia, oh my god are you okay?!” Joy exclaimed, bolting up from the couch as I walked in. Zeke was right behind her, wearing a look of open concern.

  “I’m fine, relax,” I reassured her, locking the door behind me and kicking off my shoes. “What about everyone else?”

  “Jeep and J-Dog went home,” Zeke explained as we all walked into the living room and sat on the couch. “They were fine though, nothing except a little shit in their pants if you know what I’m saying.”

  “Sorry I froze,” Joy said. “I just...one second we were talking and the next there was a flash and shooting—”

  “Hey, don’t sweat,” I said, putting an arm around her back. “We’re all okay, that’s all that matters. That and…” I gestured to the coffee table where the rifles we’d taken were stacked. “You guys check them out yet?”

  “Waiting for you, boss,” Zeke replied. “Can we open our presents now?”

  “Let me see what we have,” I said, grabbing the one off the top.

  It was a stubby little thing, with a blocky front grip that had an integrated flashlight. It had a long, birdcage flash hider on the muzzle, and a big magazine. I thumbed the lever behind it and took it out. Empty, so I set it on the table. Now how to clear it… There was a handle at the front, folded down, that I’d taken to be a carry handle. When I flipped it up, I realized that was the cocking lever and racked it back a few times. I looked carefully over the receiver, pursing my lips.

  “MC51,” I read the markings, then blinked and narrowed my eyes. “Wait a fuck, this uses what?”

  “Something wrong?” Joy asked.

  “Uhh, this fires 7.62 NATO,” I replied, getting a blank look. “Okay, so, you know hunting rifles right? Basically the same ammo.” I set the rifle down and picked up another, pulling out the magazine and clicking my tongue. “Ah, well there you go.” I took a cartridge from the mag and passed it to her. “Big bullet for a little gun.”

  “Tabarnak.” I knew that one was a curse. She passed it to Zeke, shaking her head.

  “Yup,” I said with a nod, racking the rifle to clear it before moving on and doing the same to the remaining four. By the time I was done, a wide smile had spread across my face. “I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t wait to thank Werwolf for the upgrade.”

  We spent the rest of the day cleaning and learning everything we could about our new toys. I wasn’t sure about the rest of my team, but I was itching to get back at Werwolf for today.

  “So we’ll start tomorrow,” Fen said, scratching his stubbly chin. “You sure you want a schedule this intense?”

  “Two weeks is already more time than I’d want to spend on training,” I said, shaking my head. “Has to be like this if we want to get the skills we need in time.”

  “What’s the rush?” he asked. “Sweat in training saves blood.”

  “Saves our blood, not the city’s,” I replied. “The longer we take to get back out there, the more time Werwolf has to recover. Plus now they can apparently teleport, so we need to worry about that one top of everything. So two weeks, four days a week. We’ll be good enough by then to beat whatever Werwolf has right now, and maybe we can do some less frequent training after.”

  “It’s your ass,” he said flatly. “Breaching and clearing, small unit stuff, raids, recon, anything else?” I pursed my lips.

  “You said you were a combat engineer, right?” I asked, getting a nod. “So what did you actually do?” He snorted.

  “I was an infantryman that got to play with explosives,” Fen said with a grin. “And carry twice as much shit as everyone else.”

  “So like, demolitions?”

  “Demo, mining, obstacle clearing, all sorts,” he answered. “Interested?”

  “I…” I bit my lip. I was, but it all felt kind of familiar...ah, shit. Well if it was for a good cause, I could deal with her memories. “I might be.”

  “We’ll work something out,” he said.

  “Did Tattletale get anything from the Werwolf fuckers?” I asked.

  “Not yet, beyond that their weapons were from overseas,” Fen said. “British-made, apparently.”

  “They’re MC51s, whatever that means,” I said with a shrug. “Ours now.”

  “Make sure you’re familiar with them,” he said, rising from the bench. “Tomorrow at the Docks, six in the morning. Don’t be late.”

  “I won’t be.”

  I couldn’t afford it.