“You’ve got my attention,” he says, his joke-laden easiness noticeably absent. “But I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Unless I’m wrong in thinking that by just sitting here, you’ve already compromised us?” He nods toward one of the tables, whose occupants have been watching us like they might eat us for dinner.

In any other situation, I would run for the exit, but this isn’t just any situation. So instead I sip my beer like nothing is amiss and take a sweeping glance at the rest of the pub. “Given the thirtyish people in here, I’d say that there are at least five or so who will be reporting to the Lions that you were chatting with us.” I have no idea if it’s true or not. Hawk might not know exactly who we are, but it’s clear he knows we’re a problem, so there’s no point in trying to deny it.

“Now,” Ash continues without missing a beat, “you have a choice. You can either make a deal with us, a solid deal. One where you get your boat repaired and get to take a swing at the Lions. Or you can walk away and take your chances with pissing off the Lions simply because of this conversation; maybe you even get banned from doing business in London.”

Hawk leans forward in a threatening way. “That’s one idea. Another idea is that I kill you here and now and drop you on Jag’s doorstep with a bow tied around your broken necks.”

I instinctively glance toward the exit, but there is a group of people standing between us and the door and no clear or fast path out.

“Because you’re dying to do Jag a favor?” Ash snaps back.

Something akin to a growl escapes Hawk’s mouth and his crew takes notice. “If I have to choose between you and Jag right now—”

“You do,” Ash says, and I see Jenny’s hand move to her belt, where I’m sure she has any number of weapons stashed. I would slide under the table and melt into the floor if I could.

“Think carefully, now,” Ash continues like this isn’t all going horribly wrong. “You may never be offered a shot at Jag again, not like this one. As much risk as you’ll be assuming, we’ll be assuming a lot more.”

I look at Ash, who is doubling down on my double-down. We’re in as deep as we can go.

Hawk grunts and for a long second he’s silent. He looks from Ash to me, staring me down like he’s searching my face for something. My heart skips a beat, remembering how Logan figured me out.