“We’re already at war. They trashed the bar and nearly killed Gus.”

“Which is why Frankie called the police.”

“The police?” My voice is sharp and Ethan stares at me, but I ignore him. “You think they give a shit about my uncle?”

Caesar’s voice is remarkably, insufferably calm. “They care that a midtown business was vandalized and that there’s a gang war threatening to explode in the city.”

“It’s already exploded.”

“And you want to sweep in, guns blazing, and save the day?”

I can actually feel my jaw clenching, and I grip the phone to keep myself from throwing it across the room. “What the fuck, Caesar?”

“Let the police handle this, Susannah. They’ve got the manpower, and they like nothing more than putting armed gang members behind bars. Let them do their job. You have another job to do.”

He means Finn and the missing millions, and keeping Tane alive. He has a point, but I’m not ready to concede it, not by a long shot. “I’m a good multitasker,” I say.

There’s a muffled exchange on the other end of the line, then Caesar says, “I’ve got to go. Please just stay away from the Sureños.” And he’s gone.

I toss Ethan his phone and pull my own out of my back pocket and find the number for Peaches that Caesar texted me yesterday. Yesterday? Feels more like weeks ago.

“What are you doing?” Ethan asks.

“Problem solving,” I say, and I call the number. It rings once, then an automated voice comes on: “We’re sorry, the number you are calling has been disconnected or is no longer in service.”

“Son of a bitch.” I end the call. Smart of Peaches to get rid of that number after I called it—if Caesar could find it, it’s possible others could as well. And for all his efforts to save me from Bala last night, I’m pretty sure Peaches doesn’t want to hear from me right now. Briefly I consider trying to find Billy, but I discard that idea—if he knew where the Sureños were, he would be there right now with a crew ready to burn them to the ground, and he wouldn’t talk to me if Peaches was against it.

“What’s going on, Susannah?” Ethan says.

“I need to find the Sureños and stop them before they do anything else.”

“Look, I’m sure the cops are looking—”