“Look,” I say carefully and slowly, forcing my face to relax and my hands to unclench under the table. “The way I see it, we’ve all been forced into one position or another by the Lions, with little or no hope that anything will change. So we all have a choice here. Go forward together and fight. Or roll over like cowards.”

A mocking laugh escapes Hawk’s lips. “You don’t think for a second that some kumbaya speech about togetherness is going to convince us to put our lives on the line for you, do you?”

“I definitely don’t think you would do it for us. I think you would do it for yourselves,” I say. “Now I’m not going to lie, I don’t know the extent of the hit you took, but if you’ve had even one-tenth of the experience that I’ve had with Jag, then you can’t be dismissing this straight out.” I can only hope they hate the Lions more than they fear them.

“More emotional bullshit,” Hawk says, and waves his hand dismissively.

“I don’t know, boss,” Eddie chimes in. “I kinda appreciate the heart in it. The old Strategia would have considered this offer.”

Willy rolls his eyes. “Oh, great. Here we go with the sentimentality about the good old days.” Willy pulls the pitcher of beer farther from Eddie. “I’m cutting you off before you start singing ballads.”

“I can’t imagine what you mean by that. I have a delightful voice,” Eddie says.

An amused look passes over Jenny’s face.

Hawk frowns and sets down his beer. “It’s time for you to go,” he says.

Everything in me sinks. That was it. That was our shot at getting the information we need to find my dad and we blew it. From the corner of my eye, I see Ash watching the table at the end of the room. If he’s looking at another table and not at Hawk, it can only be because there is something or someone there of greater importance than this conversation.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me,” Hawk says, the threat more pronounced.

Ash stands. I don’t get up immediately, but by the way Ash looks from me to the back table, I know that if I don’t move soon, we’re going to have more than just Hawk to contend with.

“And here I thought we were getting along so well,” I say to Hawk, plucking up one last French fry and popping it in my mouth. “I even considered asking you to go to the masquerade ball with me.” It’s as indirect as I can be, as time’s up.