“I’m notoriously easy to kidnap,” he said.

Val gave him an amused look. “If the source has been feeding you information for a long time, then I’m cautiously optimistic. Like I said, a lot of mutiny. I’d definitely like to know who has gone as far as reaching out to the south, though. That’s some high-level betrayal right there.”

She paused, considering for a moment. “Here’s my offer. I’ll send two of my girls with you. They’ll help you procure the shipment. They get to meet the source.”

“I’ll need to have my friend run that by him first.”

Val waved her hand. “Fine. Once you’re back here with the shipment, I can get you safely back south.”

“Seriously?” Maisie said.

“Yes. I control one of the roads in West Spencer. The west is weak; they need my protection. They’ll look the other way.”

“That would be amazing.”

“And I want you to keep your word about calling off this nonsense,” she said to Beto. “I don’t care how you get Declan under control; just do it.”

He nodded.

“If this falls apart, and Declan takes over the south, trust me when I say you will all regret it. I don’t want to partner with Arthur and the east to get the south under control, but I will do it if I have to. And you won’t like it.”

Maisie and Beto exchanged a nervous glance.

“We won’t let that happen,” she said.

“Good.” Val clapped her hands together. “Let’s do this, then.”

LENNON

LENNON STOOD OUTSIDE the building with Maisie as they waited for the Vals to send out the two girls accompanying them. She’d been quiet since their conversation with Val, occasionally pulling on her hair and making faces like she was deep in thought.

“So,” he said.

She looked up at him.

“Is there, like, a title to go along with this position? Do I call you consigliere now?”

Her brow furrowed. “I have no idea what that means.”

“It’s Italian. From The Godfather?”

“Oh right, that old movie about the mafia. My dad loved that movie.”

Lennon held back a laugh. Of course her dad loved that movie.

“No title, then,” he said.

“No. I…” She shook her head. “It’s not real anyway. I’m going to get back and Declan’s going to do something or the Lopezes are going to revolt and it’s all going to fall apart.”

He turned, leaning his shoulder against the building. “Then you won’t let it fall apart.”

She lifted a skeptical eyebrow.

“You heard Val in there. You’re going to take it. And honestly, I’ve only known Declan for, like, a day, but he kind of seems like the worst. You’re definitely going to do better than that guy.”

She smiled, turning to face him. They were close now, close enough that he could have leaned forward a few inches to kiss her.

He considered it for a moment.

“I think it’ll look good out there too,” he said.

“Out there?”