Page 176 of Fall Before Her Throne

“Why, indeed?” Greco mused from behind me.

I turned slowly. I had two guns sitting in holsters underneath my jacket, plus I had my knife on the small of my back. “Greco.”

“Ciao, Obi,” he said, tilting his head to the side. He looked the picture of a fundraiser gala host. He oozed wealth as usual, with his immaculate tuxedo. His black bow tie had a jacquard pattern that caught in the sparkling fairy lights, and the golden cufflinks at his wrists each held a giant, sparkling diamond. “Are you hassling my guests?”

I smiled like we weren’t mortal enemies. Like I hadn’t been plotting his death for most of my adult life.

“Speaking with an old friend,” I replied. “Isn’t that right, Commissioner Drake?”

“I wasn’t aware that you two knew each other,” Greco said. His hands clasped in front of his stomach. “But I believe that relationship has concluded.”

I turned to Drake. “You know what I require.”

He remained silent.

So be it. His choice was made.

Then Greco turned to Max, a vicious sneer on his face. “So good to see you again, Maximiliano. I’m not surprised you all came, and I have to say, I’m pleased that you did.”

“Dozens of men are entering the party,” Wynn said in our ears. “Coming out of the hallways and elevators.”

“Reinforcements,” Ryuji said tightly. “We need to leave.”

“Buffalo,” I said, using our code word for escape.

“Initiating,” Ciel responded. Behind us, the TVs within the event space blared to life and rolled the footage we had prepared.

Greco turned, watching the TVs play a prepared montage of news stories and real-life footage we’d collected over the last few weeks. Using access to Lucia’s files, we were able to backtrack Greco’s locations and clip hours of footage of him meeting with city leaders. We had access to hundreds of encrypted text message threads and emails that admitted to dozens of crimes, bribery attempts, and more.

All of it was now being played over the loudspeakers, plus a copy had been emailed to every single attendee and all major news stations.

Guests began to murmur and shout. Some pointed at Greco and his men, the same men who were on the TVs intimidating citizens, setting fire to businesses that refused the pizzo, and assaulting those who resisted them.

“Get Leona out of here.” My eyes scanned the room. Max and I were trapped on the balcony. “Now.”

Greco whirled, fury etched on his features. “Kill them!” he shouted.

Gunshots exploded through the event space, ricocheting off the metal balcony behind us. I grabbed Max’s arm and dashed closer toward the balcony doors, closer to our brothers. Chaos erupted. Attendees screamed. Dozens of Greco’s soldiers blocked our path, but our saving grace was that any shots fired at us would likely hit other attendees.

Max pushed me aside just as bullets hailed through the crowd.

“He’s going to kill everyone here,” Max said while we ducked again. Brick peppered my arms as a bullet exploded near the wall.

“How good are you at jumping?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“What?” he answered. “Did you ask how good I am at jumping?”

“Yes,” I said, looking over the balcony.

He saw where I was looking and what plan I had in mind. “I think I’m better at shooting.”

“We have little choice,” I said, pulling my guns free from their holsters. “Go! I’ll lay cover fire!”

I shot back at Greco’s soldiers while Max climbed up on the railing. They ducked behind cocktail tables to avoid my bullets while Max leapt from the balcony. Only when I heard the fire escape rattle did I turn and jump as well.

The air whooshed past my face. Crash. My feet landed on the metal. I rolled, bracing myself as quickly as I could so I didn’t roll off the opposite side. Max yanked me to my feet.

“Are you good?”