But then again, he was the only person she could really trust in this whole forsaken city, and the only person who believed she was worth something more than her skill with a dagger. He might have girls lining up to date him, but none of them knew how good of a friend he was.

“Okay, I’ll tell you.” She leaned close and whispered, “I got a new job, and I need a partner. Are you interested?”

His eyes narrowed. “A job you can’t handle alone?”

Taking a deep breath, Aina knew there was no point in stalling anymore.

“Kouta Hirai,” she mouthed.

It was the first time she’d ever seen Teo balk. He straightened, swallowed hard, and stared down into his mug with a creased forehead. He glanced at her a few times, trying to find the right words and apparently failing when the silence stretched between them.

“That’s a death sentence, Aina,” he declared in a harsh whisper. “You don’t just get away with killing people like him. The Diamond Guards will hunt you for months if you take out a Steel that high up. What madness has that boss of yours put into your head?”

“I don’t really have a choice in the matter.”

“You always have a choice, even if he makes it seem like you don’t.”

She scoffed. “My job isn’t like yours, Teo. If the Blood King gives me a job, I do it, and I really want to do this one. He’ll let me open my own tradehouse after this.”

A frown tugged at his lips at those words. He knew this was what she’d always wanted. Maybe he’d reconsider helping.

“He knows I can handle this,” she continued, “but he’s not taking any risks. That’s why he told me to get a partner, and I agree.”

“Do you really?”

Her mouth opened and closed, and for once, she didn’t have a snappy response.

Just then, the door banged open. Aina turned to face the newcomer. A man stood in the doorway, practically snarling, with a gun in one hand.

“Aina goddess-forsaken Solís,” he spat. “You’d better run before I put a bullet through your eyes.”

Aina spun on her stool a little to the right and then a little to the left to catch Teo grinning at her.

“Looks like somebody’s mad at you.” He chuckled, waving over the bartender to get another drink.

The man still stood in the doorway. Weak sunlight streaming in lit up his hands as they shook around the gun.

“Well, before you shoot me, I’d like to congratulate you on finding me.” Aina leaned back against the counter, hoping there wasn’t another spider or else she would lose her composure and this man might actually press the trigger. The mere sight of the weapon placed a chill in her veins, but she was well-practiced at hiding her fear of guns. She felt the eyes of everyone in the bar on her back and straightened to show she had no fear. “I didn’t notice you following me around at all. Maybe you should look into being a spy.”