Neil nodded gratitude for her understanding. Renee smiled and struck up a conversation with the Hornets across from them. Neil finally let himself look across the room at the Ravens, the first time he'd sought them out since they first stepped onto the court. The Ravens were up to their usual tricks, it seemed: all of them had come single and in matching black outfits. The women wore identical garnet necklaces and the men wore blood-red ties. That was as festive as the Ravens got, Neil guessed.

Dinner gave way to games so they could digest, and then every table but one was carted off the court. The caterers returned laden with punch bowls and plastic cups. Pounding music replaced Christmas carols and the court became a dance floor. The teams broke apart to party. For most of them the season was over, and they obviously wanted to go out with a bang.

Aaron and Katelyn were the first to disappear into the crowd. Nicky hesitated, but he'd brought a date and wouldn't really be much good if Riko stirred up trouble, so Neil waved off his concern. When Nicky left, so did Allison, and Allison dragged Renee with her. Matt and Dan were the last to leave and they stuck to the outskirts of the crowd where they could keep an eye on Kevin and Neil. Neil was amused by their protective streak and wondered if they'd do the same if Andrew was still here. Somehow he doubted it.

Wymack didn't swing by this time to make them socialize, so Neil and Kevin kept away from the crowd. Kevin was in no mood to celebrate and Neil didn't want to be surrounded by so many people. He wouldn't see Riko coming and it'd be too easy to lose sight of Kevin. Instead they guarded the drinks table and nursed their punch.

It took half an hour before Riko caught up to them, but he came like they both knew he would. Jean wasn't far behind him. Kevin froze with his cup at his lips when he spotted the pair. Neil stepped forward to put himself between Riko and Kevin. Riko smiled at that bravado, but it wasn't a happy expression. It was more the look of a psychotic child who'd found a small animal to torture: one-quarter pleased and three-quarters hungry.

"Your lack of survival instincts is supremely distressing," Riko said. "Take that look off your face before I carve it off."

Neil hadn't realized he was smiling too, a cruel look he'd inherited from his father. Neil lowered his cup so Riko could get a better look at it. "I would love to see you try. You think I'm afraid of your knife? I'm the Butcher's son."