Chapter 12 – Lucky

Barney gathered his troops in the basement of his new building in Maspeth. It was out of the way for most of them, but Jakub could only assume he had something to prove. He had spread a map of New Jersey across a work table and encouraged Jakub and Hannah to look over the route he’d highlighted with marker. It followed the rail tracks.

“You want to rob a train?” Jakub asked incredulously. “This is the route the postal trains take,” said Barney, drawing a line with his finger. “Goes right through North Bergen, then up over the state line. There are a few freight stations it hits that would be easy to ambush, and they’re not taking as many passengers.” He snorted. “After Bloom’s stunt last October fewer businesses want to use a heavy to transport their shit. It could be a good haul.”

Hannah eyed the map critically. “Are you just assuming? Or do you have some intel?”

“I’m not making it up,” Barney snapped, but then he puffed himself up and drew his temper back. “Postal trains are always carrying bearer bonds and payroll checks and sensitive documents. They get hit down south all the time. And if we pull this off in Jersey then the Manhattan gang will have to finally acknowledge us as a rival.”

Jakub frowned but didn’t have a chance to answer—the basement door banged open, and Cheshire’s familiar laughter echoed down to them. Barney scowled at the stairway, which hopefully kept him from noticing Jakub’s equally intense but much more anticipatory stare. Though since the move they hadn’t seen much less of each other than usual, Jakub’s stomach still flipped whenever Cheshire entered a room. How ridiculous it seemed to him, that after finally getting what he’d wanted for so long, that same anxious and eager reaction had only gotten worse.

“You didn’t start without us, did you?” Cheshire asked as he hopped down the last two steps into the basement. Burke was close at his side, Gertie, her sisters, and the other Kozlow boys from his building close behind. Though Cheshire was grinning there was a strange moment of tension in the room as Barney’s Maspeth boys sized them up. An observer might have thought it a meeting of rival gangs rather than an organization under one boss.

Barney pulled a face and looked to Burke. “Why’d you bring him here for this?”

“The hell would I not?” Burke retorted, with such easy, self-assured aggression that Barney visibly withered. “If y’really wanna hit the RPO, ye’re gonna be needing yer biggest cannon, yeah? Bloody nonsense not to bring him.”

Cheshire smirked, not bothering to throw in a word for himself. It set Barney’s teeth gnashing, prompting Hannah to clear her throat. “The boss says he doesn’t want Bloom in on this. He’s supposed to still be lying low so the marshals don’t pick back up on his tail.”

“Horse shit,” scoffed Burke, and Hannah and Barney both bristled.

“She’s right,” Jakub cut in. “The moment something explodes the feds will be looking for Bloom again. If they find a way to prove what he can do, that’s the end of the big cannon.” He met Cheshire’s gaze. “But I have something else we can use.”

Cheshire’s smirk deepened, and then with a great big sigh and a helpless shrug he joined Jakub around the table. “If it’s what the boss wants, nothing I can say,” he declared. “But I at least want to know the score so I can give myself a very public alibi.”

Jakub nodded, and as everyone began to settle down again, he looked to Barney. “What’s the plan?”

Barney stiffened as all eyes turned to him, but then he shook himself up and returned to his earlier confidence. “We’re gonna hit the RPO train as it heads through North Bergen,” he said, pointing it out for the newcomers. “It has to stop at the freight yard to load the mail. A few of us can slip aboard there. The mail car will be at the rear so we can grab the workers without firing up the whole train. The rest will wait at the ferry stop in Ridgefield with the van. We load what we can and take off.”

Cheshire hummed as he leaned over the map, and Barney eyed him as if expecting some critique. But it was Hannah who spoke up, and Jakub could tell she was doing her best to confidently support him. “What about security at the Ridgefield stop? If they’re expecting the train there will be workers, even that late at night.”

“Nothing we can’t handle,” Barney returned with a determined nod. “We’ll round them up and shove them in a boxcar. Push comes to shove they eat lead.”

Jakub’s frown deepened, and Hannah must have seen, as she quickly said, “All right, but let’s try to not let it come to that. The cops don’t mind so much when we’re killing each other, but civilian workers are something else.”

“Sure, fine.” Barney waved his hand dismissively. “That’ll be up to you—I want you leading the landing point team. Jakub, Gertie and I will take two of the boys to board the train. Five of us will be plenty.”

Jakub glanced to Cheshire, who was still smiling but offering nothing. For once whatever he was thinking didn’t show in his face, which Jakub found irritating. He even had the fleeting sensation he was being deliberately opaque to throw Jakub off, as little sense as that made. “What if Hannah and the others have trouble at the yard?” he asked, trying to distract himself from it. “If there’s more security than we’re expecting, the rest of us would be pinned down in the mail car as soon as we get there.”

“It’ll be fine,” Barney insisted, but then he shrugged beneath the weight of Jakub’s stare and tried again. “Eighty-third street runs alongside the track. If there’s trouble Hannah can send Burke down the road with some kind of signal.”

Burke folded his arms. “Oh, you think ye’re dragging me into this?”

Barney leaned his palms against the edge of the table as he returned Burke’s glare. “It’s about time you got your hands dirty, isn’t it?”

“Aren’t I the one who got you the map?” Burke shot back, and the earlier tension returned to squeeze the room again. Cheshire only raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t I the one who dug up the schedules and timed the damn train, all ‘cause you asked so sweetly for it? Aren’t I—”

“Enough,” said Hannah. “Burke, it’s not like you’ll even need a gun.”

“No—maybe he should,” Barney interrupted, and even Jakub tensed. “He thinks we owe so much of this plan to him, maybe he should be right there on the damn train with us.”

Burke leaned back, and in his face there was a momentary flash of honest fear before he could crush it beneath a scowl. “Oh, so now you think ye’re getting me on that train? Well you better go ahead and line up another grand idea behind that one, ‘cause I amn’t about to take orders from the likes of you.”

Barney bristled and straightened up as if meaning to round the table toward him. “You little—”

“Does the train have to stop?” asked Cheshire.

Barney and Burke were both so caught off guard that they stopped to stare at him, as did everyone else. Jakub held his breath, his left arm aching as he tried to catch Cheshire’s eye. Chesh please, don’t make this worse!

“What the hell does that even mean?” demanded Barney, though he was just as baffled as angry. “Of course it has to stop.”

“Does it, though?” Cheshire leaned over the map, and though confused, everyone shifted a little closer. “The trip from the freight yard to the ferry is only fifteen minutes, if that. Before it even really has time to pick up speed, it goes around this curve.” Cheshire walked his fingers along the railway. “If you uncouple the last car just before, it’ll lose momentum and stall out. If Hannah and the rest of the crew follow along on Eighty-third like Barney suggested…” Cheshire followed the curve of the road with his other hand. “…You can practically roll the bags out the door and into the trucks.”

“You can’t uncouple a train in motion,” said Gertie disapprovingly. “Not with it under load.”

Cheshire leaned away with a shrug. “It’d be pretty easy for me,” he replied, and he shoved his hands back into his pockets. “But then again, I’m not invited.”

Barney’s hackles went back up, but Jakub quickly stepped forward to defuse. “I can do it,” he said, not that he cared for the number of eyes that turned his way. “I can blow the coupler.”

“With what?” asked Hannah, eyeing him seriously. “Dynamite?”

“Something like that.”

Barney scoffed. “The whole point was to avoid blowing things up.”

“No,” Jakub said quickly, overcome with the sudden determination that Cheshire’s plan had to work. “No, the point is to avoid Bloom blowing things up.” He could feel Cheshire’s eyes on him but didn’t dare look back, fearful of what a smile would do to his composure. “The more we rely on his power, the better the chance that the cops will catch on or find a snitch. If we can give him an alibi that’s iron tight this time, they’ll have to accept it’s not just his magic, and they won’t be able to link all our jobs together so easily. And that’s better for everyone, not just Bloom.”

Barney took a deep breath, but then he paused, glancing about the room. The energy had shifted again, and though Jakub had to fight not to shift uncomfortably beneath the attention, it was in his favor. Trying not to pull a face, Barney swept his hair beneath his cap. “All right. If you’re sure you can cut the last car off, we’ll do that.” His expression tightened. “Burke can drive one of the trucks.”

Burke tensed again, but then Cheshire put a hand on his shoulder and said, “He’ll be great at it.”

Barney carried on with the meeting, picking out the Szpilman boys that would be joining them on the train. Jakub left him to it, grateful that Cheshire and Burke stayed attentive and undisruptive throughout. It wasn’t until Barney waved everyone out that he was able to give Cheshire a heavy look— which he then immediately regretted, because there were still a lot of people around, and the smile Cheshire flashed him twisted his stomach all over again.

“Don’t take it out on Burke,” Cheshire said, the man in question tucked under his arm, as the three of them huddled just outside the building. “Barney’s never liked him anyway.”

“Had it in for me,” Burke agreed. “But I answer to the Boss, and as long as he’s still breathing, that’s all I answer to, you know?”

Jakub turned his collar up against the drizzle. “I know,” he said. “But if you’re gonna tell Barney that, don’t do it in front of everyone.”

“Ye’re saying I should do it behind his back?” Burke retorted, though he was leaning back against Cheshire’s arm, still not quite accustomed to Jakub’s heavy stare on him. “Like everyone else?”

Jakub frowned, but before he could ask more, Cheshire laughed. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I’ll keep a closer eye on our Eggy here.” His eyes twinkled in the street light. “What about you? You coming by tonight?”

Jakub suppressed the flutter of butterflies in his stomach. “…It’s late,” he stalled. “And a long drive back.”

“So? I’d give you a ride home.”

Hannah came out of the building, dragging on her coat, and Jakub clenched his teeth. She was already watching them expectantly—if something was on her mind and she didn’t have the chance to say it now, odds were she’d show up at Jakub’s door first thing in the morning. He didn’t want to have to explain to her why he’d spent the night at Cheshire’s under the circumstances.

“Tomorrow,” he said. “We can work out your alibi then.”

“Sure.” Cheshire grinned, and he relinquished Burke as Hannah approached. “Enjoy the long drive back,” he said with a hint of sympathy, and then he turned, heading to his car where his building-mates awaited.

Hannah cast him a look but didn’t comment. “Ready?” she asked.

It was a long drive back, and a quiet one. Whatever Hannah was mulling over, she didn’t seem interested in sharing it with Burke. It wasn’t until they split up at the Kozlow building that she tugged Jakub aside.

“Did Barney tell you about this train business before tonight?” she asked, shaking her coat out.

“No.” Jakub slicked his hair out of his face. “He’s just trying to get one up on Bloom. He can still do that with this plan, even if it was Bloom’s idea. Maybe then he’ll calm down.” Hannah     sighed.      “Yeah,     probably,”     she     said unconvincingly. “I just wish he’d come to us first. We could have talked it out and saved a scene.” She met Jakub’s eyes and relaxed a little. “Thanks for stepping in.”

Jakub struggled not to frown at the misplaced sentiment. “Sure. I’ll see if I can talk to him before the job.”

“Thanks.” Hannah nodded gratefully, and they wished each other good night.

Jakub returned to his room, but he knew immediately that he wouldn’t sleep. He stripped out of his jacket and dropped onto the sofa, trying to think of something to keep him busy rather than staring at the bedroom wall the rest of the night. But it was no use. Even with the drizzle turning to rain outside, the building around him felt too quiet, too hollow. Too cold. He thought of Cheshire’s laugh ringing down the basement stairwell and considered taking a shower instead, letting warm steam and his imagination supply distraction and release. He told himself he was still considering it even as he climbed to his feet and headed for the door.

“Stupid,” he muttered, and he shoved his arms into his coat.

It was just nearing two in the morning when Jakub let himself into Cheshire’s apartment with his spare key, and immediately he felt better. The sound of the rain was soothing instead of isolating, and the smell of Cheshire’s cologne hung in the air. Though his first instinct was to head straight into the bedroom, he hesitated. Cheshire had certainly given his permission, and it wouldn’t be the first time. But he struggled with a sudden reminder from his saner self that it was childish for him to have made the trip at all.

So instead he hung up his jacket and headed to the kitchen table, which for the past few weeks had been taken up by gun parts and tools. His visit to Tully’s workshop at Hallorran had left him inspired enough to try a few things out for himself, which had finally begun to take true shape. He hadn’t meant to take over Cheshire’s brand new space with the project, at least not straight away, but it had seemed more convenient than not at the beginning—at least for him—and it was a perfect excuse now. Everything would have to come together in working order sooner than he’d planned, considering he’d just promised the weapon to Barney’s heist.

The bedroom door opened. Jakub kept his nose in his work, pretending not to notice as Cheshire emerged, dressed in his pajamas. “I thought you said tomorrow,” Cheshire said, smothering a yawn as he strolled up behind him.

“It is tomorrow,” said Jakub, not looking up as he slid a freshly chiseled piece back into place. “Sorry I woke you, I just realized I need to have this finished and tested before next week.”

“Oh, sure.”

Cheshire leaned up against the back of Jakub’s chair and watched him work for a few minutes. His presence made it increasingly difficult to continue, but it was a scintillating tension that Jakub savored. Over and over he reminded himself that these moments they spent together could lead to more, rather than just the hope for more. He didn’t have to draw it out like this, but the relief of knowing that he could made him want to.

“You’re really getting the hang of it, aren’t you?” Cheshire said.

“I guess so.” Jakub drew back the loading handle to cock the rifle with a loud clack and then pulled the trigger, watching the mechanisms spring into place. “It’s my first time putting something together like this, but I learned a lot at Hallorran. The next one will be better.”

“Oh…yeah, I’m sure it will,” said Cheshire, and the momentary confusion in his tone drew Jakub’s attention. His eyes had darted away and the tiny flash of guilt Jakub saw tightened his lungs. Oh. He means the arm, doesn’t he?  He curled his prosthetic fingers self-consciously, wondering how closely Cheshire had been watching them.

“Is it going to be a while?” Cheshire asked, back to his usual charm. “Should I make coffee?”

“No, don’t worry about me.” Jakub turned back to the table and began moving tools aimlessly around. “You can go back to sleep, if you want.”

Cheshire hummed again, but then he moved around the chair to instead lean his hip against the table. A familiar sliver of mischief crept into his voice. “You know, I don’t mind you borrowing the space,” he said. “But it’s not what I had in mind when I gave you my spare key.”

Cheshire threaded his fingers through Jakub’s damp hair and smoothed his bangs back. That was more like it. Jakub straightened up, the heat he had been seeking by coming here swelling in his belly. His tidying slowed. “What did you have in mind?”

Cheshire traced Jakub’s cheek with the backs of his fingers, down to his jaw. Jakub allowed himself to be prodded, and when he tilted his chin up to meet Cheshire’s eyes, a shiver went down his spine.

“I can show you,” Cheshire said, sing-song. “But it’s back in the bedroom.”

Jakub gave up on any pretense of playing hard to get; he stood, turning to face Cheshire for the kiss he had been hoping for. But before he could reach for him, Cheshire captured both of his wrists. The unexpected display of strength sent Jakub’s heart pounding.

“Ah, ah, ah,” said Cheshire, smirking. He had already grown so much bolder and Jakub was embarrassed by how arousing he found it. “Let’s clean you up first, so you don’t get grease on my new—”

Jakub leaned into and kissed him. He pulled at his hands just enough to make Cheshire tighten his grip; how incredible it felt, having even that small portion of Cheshire’s strength turned on him. But he was eager to take it to the bedroom, to indulge in the soft, springy mattress and naked sheets, and he pulled away from Cheshire’s lips before they could get carried away. “Okay,” he said breathlessly.

Cheshire grinned and let him go, only to snag Jakub by the hips and turn him around. As Jakub grabbed up a rag to clean the grease from his fingers, Cheshire pressed up behind him. He slipped his warm hands under Jakub’s shirt to tickle his sides, kissed the nape of his neck and rubbed eagerly up against his ass. When Cheshire’s broad palm kneaded into the small of his back, Jakub’s knees felt weak, and without thinking he leaned forward. If only Cheshire had pushed a little harder, he could have had Jakub right then and there, fucking him over the kitchen table.

With a deep breath Jakub gathered his wits and turned around to show off his cleaned hands for inspection. “Good enough?”

Cheshire tugged Jakub’s left hand closer and kissed the inside of his palm. Jakub could have sworn he felt it. “Perfect.” They tugged each other into the bedroom, articles of clothing dropping along the way. In the dark, early hours they twisted together beneath silky sheets, blissful and electric, then fell asleep to the sound of the rain. When Jakub awoke a few hours later, the usual impact of incredulous and anxious emotion he usually experienced waking up in Cheshire’s arms had dulled. Instead he felt awed…and safe. He fingered a lock of Cheshire’s hair and watched him sleep for a while until dozing off until morning.

***

A week later, Jakub called Cheshire the evening of the heist. “We’re just about to head out,” he said, the phone tucked against his shoulder as he finished lacing up his boots. “Gertie’s already at the yard and says the coast is clear. You’re set on your end?”

“Reservations made,” Cheshire confirmed. He heaved a deep sigh. “It’s not going to be nearly as exciting as your night. I still wish I could be there.”

“We’ll be fine.” Jakub wished he could, too, but he worried that saying so might put ideas in Cheshire’s head. “You’re just upset you won’t be the one telling the story once we’re done.”

Cheshire laughed, giving Jakub all the confidence he needed. “Yeah, honestly? You’re right. But I know you’ll do great. Then you’ll be the one bragging to the boys.”

Jakub blushed at the thought. “I’d rather not.”

Cheshire laughed some more, but then he quieted seriously. “There’s a big ol’ moon out tonight, Jake. Be careful.”

“I will,” Jakub promised.

Jakub grabbed up his suitcase and headed downstairs, sharing similar sentiments with Hannah before they split up. Barney was already waiting with the two Szpilmans; one of them moved to the back seat to allow Jakub a seat next to Barney. With his new rifle tucked in the trunk and Jakub reluctantly at Barney’s side, they sped off.

“It’s been a damn long time, hasn’t it?” said Barney, drumming his fingers anxiously against the steering wheel. “Since the two of us were on a job without Bloom?” He snorted. “Shit, I can’t even remember.”

“Me, neither,” said Jakub. “It’ll be fine, though. The plan makes sense.”

Barney grumbled again, but Jakub wasn’t interested in debating the plan or Cheshire’s involvement in its creation. He leaned against the door, trying to catch a glimpse of the full moon through the buildings.

***

Cheshire arrived in Lower Manhattan precisely on schedule. The restaurant he had chosen for his alibi had been growing in popularity as the city’s best Chinese, attracting customers from all over with its large, open floor and boisterous atmosphere. It was the perfect place to stand out without appearing suspicious. More to Cheshire’s needs, it was one of the closest and most often visited restaurants to the South District offices of the US Marshals.

Grace met him at the entrance, and after greeting each other warmly, they followed the maître d′ to their table near the center of the floor. Already Cheshire spied a few customers glancing up from their meals, some of them dressed in the unmistakable plain-cut suits that government workers endured. If they were lucky, there would be a few courthouse clerks or maybe even a deputy dining that night.

“You look good,” said Grace as they were seated. “But then, you always do, don’t you?”

“So do you,” Cheshire replied, and though both were teasing, there wasn’t any arguing it was true: they had coordinated in complementary colors, Cheshire in a rich, plum three piece and Grace in a green Chiffon dress. Beneath the warm gold lighting they might as well have been royalty as far as he was concerned.

They chatted brightly over their drinks, dim sum carts whirling by. Cheshire dialed up the charm and humor to get Grace to laugh as much and as honestly as possible, and she played right along, by now well-accustomed to performing as decoy. But once he was satisfied with the amount of attention they’d drawn to their presence, he did take the opportunity to tease her on a more personal subject.

“So,” he drawled, raising an eyebrow. “How are things with Thea?”

“Oh,” said Grace, which pretty much told him everything. She took a sip of wine. “She’s fine. Well.” Grace sighed and then fixed him with a caricature of a smile. “You’re really going to make me say it?”

“What?” Cheshire tried not to cringe as he reached for his own glass. “I’m honestly asking—I haven’t heard a thing.”

Grace eyed him a moment longer, and judging him sincere she dropped her shoulders. “Thea and I are just friends,” she surrendered. “Apparently that’s all we ever were to begin with.” She took another, longer drink as Cheshire winced sympathetically. “Not that I really expected more than that, you know? She’s wrapped up in her business, and I’ve been trying to get musicians together for a band—a group of my own. It was only just some fun.”

“Even so, I’m sorry,” said Cheshire. “I know you were hoping for…more than that.”

Grace waved away his clumsy attempts to make the conversation more awkward. “I’ll find it,” she said confidently. “In fact…” For a moment her expression grew wistful, but seeing that Cheshire was about to latch on and question that detail, she quickly cleared her throat. “Anyway, enough about me. What about you?” She smirked at him. “I figured that by now you’d have some molly lined up to participate in these escapades of yours.”

Cheshire gulped. “Actually…” he said, but then he stopped, no idea how to finish that sentence. He tugged at his collar to relieve the heat stretching down from his ears. “I have… someone.”

“Oh?” Grace lit up with curiosity. “Who? Why isn’t she here?”

“I think,” Cheshire amended.

“Think what?”

“I think I have someone.”

Grace sagged with a withered look. “Chesh,” she told him, “I’m sorry, but if you only think you do, you probably don’t. That’s the mistake I just made.”

“No, I mean, I do,” Cheshire said, struggling to recover. “He’s just…a tough read. We’ve been sleeping together for a while, but I don’t think it’s for fun.” He laughed awkwardly. “I mean, it’s fun! But he’s not…fun…?”

“Why are you so nervous?” Grace asked, leaning into her palm. “You didn’t have a problem telling me about Leon, and that sounded loads more complicated.”

“Oh, no, this is so much worse!” Cheshire said, laughing. Realizing he was starting to draw more attention than he cared for, he gulped down the rest of his wine and finished with a gasp. “It’s Jakub.”

Grace laughed. “No really, Chesh, you can tell me.”

“No, I…” Cheshire forced himself to smile. “Really. It’s Jakub.”

All identifiable emotion drained from Grace’s face, nearly taking her freckles with it. “What?”

***

Jakub rolled down his window a crack for a breath of fresh air. The night was bright and damp, moonlight illuminating even the drab metal containers of the train yard. Workers tugged their collars up as they rolled large bins full of canvas sacks up planks into the parked train. If any of them had taken notice of the Model A parked in the narrow service road a hundred feet away, they hadn’t given any indication.

Barney drummed his fingers loudly against the steering wheel while waiting for the train to finish loading. He had been antsy from the very start of the job and his energy hadn’t let up, amplifying the nerves of the two Szpilman boys he’d brought with them. It put Jakub on edge.

“You don’t have to be so nervous,” Jakub said, winding the mainspring of his prosthetic tight. “This is going to work.”

“I’m not nervous,” Barney muttered. He paused in his drumming to rub his eyes. “I didn’t get enough sleep with all the crying.”

It took Jakub a few beats to realize what he meant. “Oh. How is he? Little Kasper?”

“He’s great! He’s incredible.” Barney slapped himself in the face and shook his head. “Wonderful. Wanda can’t wait for another.”

The workers finished loading the last of the bins and began backing away from the platform. “That’s it,” said Jakub, and he tucked the winding key back into his jacket. “Let’s go.” They all climbed out of the driver’s side to avoid notice, and Jakub moved to the trunk to retrieve his suitcase. He popped it open and lifted the recently-completed rifle out, taking only a few moments to make sure everything was in order. Confident, he slung it over his shoulder and followed Barney closer to the tracks.

The train blew its whistle to signal its readiness to depart, and the sound of it sent a chill down Jakub’s spine. It’ll be fine, he told himself as they stayed low, creeping through the grass. We’ve  practiced  this.  He gave his metal fingers a few stretches to make sure they wouldn’t lock up as the train slowly ground into motion. He breathed in. You can tell Chesh all about it later.

As the train began to pull away, Barney led the charge. Long before the engine could get up to full speed he leapt across the small ditch that separated the tracks from the service drive and then grabbed for one of the boarding handles. He hauled himself aboard the baggage car with only a slight stumble on the rain-slick metal. Stas went after him, depending on some help from Barney to climb on. By then the car was moving past, and Jakub ran alongside, waiting for the back end of the car. It approached faster than he’d expected and he jumped for it before he was ready; his left hand snapped around the handle tight but his right faltered. Luckily, Gertie had already boarded on the other side, and she grabbed his jacket to draw him in.

“Thanks,” said Jakub, and the two of them helped the last of their group, Ian, onto the train.

“My sisters will come back for the cars,” Gertie said as they huddled against the mail car door. “Did anyone see you?”

“I don’t think so.” Jakub leaned away from the car as far as he dared, but they had already moved far enough away from the yard that the workers were only specks. Any shout of alarm they might have raised would have been well drowned out by the clack of the spinning wheels. His stomach lurched abruptly at the motion and he drew himself back in. “Ready?”

There was a shout from the baggage car ahead of them, and Gertie and Ian both drew their pistols. A minute later the door twisted open, revealing Barney, Stas, and a train worker lying unconscious on the floor of the car behind them. Blood matted the man’s hair, but Jakub couldn’t tell if he’d been shot or bludgeoned, and the sway of the train made it impossible to see if he was breathing.

“Stas and I will secure the car,” said Barney, resituating his cap on his sweaty forehead. “Watch our backs. As soon as the workers are tied up, Jakub blows the coupler.”

Everyone nodded agreement, and they shifted positions in the small space to let Barney and Stas take the door. Jakub put his back to the baggage car, trying not to look at the scenery beginning to speed past them on either side. With rifle in hand, he took a deep breath as Barney twisted the door open.

***

“Seriously?” Grace gaped at Cheshire in astonishment, waving her chopstick erratically. “How is that even possible? He doesn’t even like you.”

Cheshire laughed nervously as he flagged down one of the passing dim sum carts. He wasn’t sure he’d ever stop laughing nervously. “I know! I thought that, too!” He blushed at the waiter eyeing him curiously and began pointing to dishes at random, just to hurry the interaction along. “No one was more surprised than me, believe me.”

“But he’s always making that face,” Grace carried on, and seeing the dumplings he’d selected, she dragged the basket to her side of the table. “I swear he looks at you sometimes like he’s going to vomit.”

“I know! But it’s actually a good thing, see?” Cheshire grimaced at the face she made at him; it was hopeless to try to explain the very subtle nuances to Jakub’s typical expressions he had been making such an effort to study. “He can make other faces, you know. Nice faces.”

Grace shook her head emphatically. “I can’t picture it. At all.”

Cheshire wanted to reply that he hadn’t been able to either, not until he’d seen for himself: Jakub’s shy little smile in the diner the first morning after; Jakub’s eyelashes fluttering and lips slack when caught in a moment of pleasure; Jakub’s heavy, almost needy glare only a few nights ago when he’d snuck into Cheshire’s apartment. He thought of Jakub glancing at him over his shoulder, leaning over the kitchen table, and his ears went hot.

“It’s taking some getting used to,” Cheshire admitted, waving the waiter on once he’d amassed entirely too many plates and a refill of wine. He chuckled at himself some more as he passed more to Grace. “But it’s…really something. I don’t really know how to describe it, honestly. After all this time to just… all of a sudden! But it seems to be working, you know?”

“I guess it would have to be,” Grace said, pulling a face.

“To risk the rest of the gang finding out.”

At last Cheshire’s good humor faltered. “Yeah.” He swirled his rice noodles around with his chopsticks. “That’s the kicker, I guess. I don’t think it would go over well.”

“If anyone believed it at all.” Grace, too, frowned more deeply as she ate. “You’ve got a lot more to lose here than him, you know. You should be careful.”

Cheshire forced another laugh. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what if he’s not looking at this the same way you are?” said Grace, and Cheshire quickly sobered again. “What if everyone finds out and he cuts you loose to save face? What if it goes badly and he takes it out on you somehow? I know I haven’t been around as much, but I remember how Barney and Hannah were. One word from Jay and you’d be…?”

“…Mincemeat,” Cheshire agreed, grimacing. “But he’s not like that.”

“Do you know that?” Grace pressed, true concern showing through her furrowed brow. “When have you ever seen Jakub going steady with anyone? Do you really know what he’ll do if it goes south, if everyone finds out?”

Cheshire’s stomach turned, and he reached for the wine. “Well, no, I guess not. But I’m sure it’ll be okay. Barney’s an asshole but he’s not…”

Cheshire couldn’t finish that sentence with confidence, and when Grace saw as much she gave a sigh. “Chesh, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to rain on your parade here, I’m just saying…be careful.” She smiled wisely. “Maybe try to figure out what you really have before you go too far, okay? Just be honest with him, and maybe you’ll get some honesty back.”

Cheshire’s lip turned up. He was fairly sure she wasn’t making a deliberate jab at their own history, but it felt like one, and he quickly drowned any unadvised retort with a gulp of the wine. “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks for looking out for me.”

Grace reached across the table to give his wrist a squeeze, and then they both leaned back, each taking a deep breath to clear the air. “Tell me about your next big operation,” Grace prodded, and it was back to easier topics as they continued the meal.

***

When Jakub first glanced into the mail car, he knew immediately that something was off, but he vastly underestimated just how much.

There was only one worker in the car: a very tall, very broad man dressed in a railway uniform that was clearly too small for him. He was seated on one of the mail sacks along the wall, arms folded on his stomach and round chin tipped forward in sleep. A small blue cap sat atop his straight, unattractive haircut.

Barney and Stas exchanged a look before proceeding carefully inside. There was no sign of any other workers, only bins of mail on either side, some sacks propped against the walls. They only left the station minutes ago—it didn’t seem right. But without any explanation immediately visible Jakub didn’t know how to begin warning his fellows, and he could only tighten his grip on the rifle as Barney approached the man on duty.

Barney clicked back the hammer of his revolver, and Jakub was paying close enough attention to see the man’s eye flick open, then close again.

This is a setup. Jakub pushed away from the baggage car, ready to shout, but before he could get a breath out the worker jolted awake.

“Oh, God!” the man cried, startling back. He threw both hands up. “Don’t shoot!”

Barney startled too and nearly pulled the trigger, not that he’d even had time to properly get the man in his sights. He scowled and gathered himself up. “Keep those hands up, big guy,” he said, and he motioned with the gun for the stranger to stand up. “Cooperate and I won’t have to kill you.”

The man stood. He was just over six feet tall and nearly as wide as the car’s narrow walkthrough, making maneuvering behind him impossible. “Yes, whatever you say,” he said, hands raised as he took a step toward the rear. “I don’t need any trouble.”

“See if you can get some of those sacks into the bins,” said Barney as he walked the worker to the rear of the car. “They’ll be easier to load that way.”

“Stealing mail is a federal offense,” said the worker, and Barney scowled, shoving the muzzle of the revolver into his chin. The worker leaned further back. “No trouble!”

Jakub stepped into the car, but he didn’t make any move to help as Gertie and the two Szpilmans began hoisting any loose sacks they found into the bins. He kept his gaze on the stranger: the man was complying but much too calmly, watching them work with interest rather than fear. “Boss,” he said. “There’s rope.”

He motioned to a loose rope tied around one of the sacks to keep it close to the wall, which Gertie began to unwind. Though he didn’t seem to share Jakub’s caution, Barney nodded. “Turn around,” he ordered, motioning again with the revolver. “Put your hands behind your back.”

“I’m not great at that,” the man replied, but he turned in the cramped space and lowered his hands. “But do what you gotta do, friend, I’m not here to judge.”

Gertie advanced with the rope, but before she could begin tying, the man turned over his shoulder again. “Just one question,” he said, and he arched a narrow eyebrow at her. “How’re you gonna uncouple the car without Bloom here?”

Gertie straightened. “Wha—”

The stranger’s fist crashed into her jaw before she saw it coming. Moving faster than his size dictated he felled her with a single blow, then reached for Barney’s revolver. His hand palming the cylinder was huge, preventing it from firing, and Barney barely had time to curse before he was dragged into a fierce headbutt. His back hit the ground with a loud thud.

Jakub’s pulse thundered as he watched the stranger take Barney’s gun in hand—too close to his allies to risk firing the rifle. He reached for the revolver in his belt but by then bullets were flying. The stranger took two to the chest from Barney’s boys but he barely flinched, his aim unwavering as he shot Ian straight through the eye. Stas leapt for cover behind one of the bins, but the stranger didn’t relent, a powerful kick thrusting the bin up against the one behind it. Stas screamed as his arm was trapped between the metal rims with a crack of bone.

Jakub reeled back. The revolver flashed and he felt a sharp, shuddering impact along the length of his metal forearm as the bullet struck. As he threw himself back out through the door he almost lost his balance, and he had to let go of the handgun to catch himself against the boarding rail. In a matter of seconds he was the only one left, and the stranger was already storming down the car toward him. He wished that Cheshire was there.

“Hey!” the man shouted, his foot falls heavy enough for Jakub to trace even above the clack of the train. “Show me that big gun you’ve got!”

Jakub spun back through the doorway, slamming the butt of the rifle into the man’s sternum. Rather than a soft diaphragm the stock clanged against something metal beneath his shirt, dulling the blow from what he’d hoped for. It was only enough to stagger him for a moment, but Jakub took as much of the advantage as he could—he struck again, popping the man under his chin and then throwing his full weight forward. It bought him a few steps, enough for him to turn and jerk the rifle to his shoulder.

Hannah and the rest will be waiting, he thought. If we can outnumber him in the open— He pulled the trigger.

The coupler exploded in a fireball of splintering metal. The blast rocked the car on the track, and for a moment Jakub’s stomach turned nauseatingly at the thought of them derailing, just as they entered into the curve. That concern was cut off by the man pouncing on him from behind. Arms like iron bars twisted around his stomach, pinning his arms and crushing his ribs. Without enough breath even to curse, he could only struggle weakly as he was lifted off his feet.

“Not bad,” the stranger huffed. “Not bad at—”

Jakub threw his head back and felt his skull knock against teeth; the man yelped and sputtered. “Ow, fuck! Stop squirming, God bless ya.”

The man squeezed tighter, and Jakub fought harder to weaker results. The pressure forced all the air out of his lungs, and he writhed, the veins in his temples pounding. But the train was slowing—he still stood a chance if only he could get free, just for a moment. Out of options, he scraped to get a grip on his metal arm and gave it a sharp twist.

The lock disengaged, and Jakub wrenched his bare elbow free of the man’s suffocating bear hug. He jammed the steel mounting plate as hard as he could into his attacker’s face and nearly fainted from relief when the arms around him went slack. Gasping and shuddering, Jakub clawed for escape. As soon as his feet touched the ground he ran for the door.

The train hadn’t stopped but Jakub didn’t wait—he leapt clear, the impact rattling his knees as he landed and rolled. He was still skidding down the embankment when he heard the brakes engage, and gradually the mail car squealed to a halt.

“Hannah?” Jakub called. He drew a switchblade from his boot as he staggered upright along the side of the road. The gleam of approaching headlights from a pair of trucks helped calm his hammering pulse, and he turned back to face the train car, already trying to think of how he could lure his enemy out. Aim for the  head, he thought, ready to pass the instructions on as soon as the rest of Kozlow was there to assist.

The trucks braked behind him, and Jakub could hear people getting out of the cabs. He glanced over his shoulder, eager for Hannah at his side, only to find himself on the other end of a shotgun. An older woman he had never seen before with dark skin and silvery hair motioned at him with the gun. “Drop the knife.”

Jakub stared, slow to comprehend. As he watched, more unfamiliar figures climbed out of the trucks, each brandishing a firearm. By the time it became clear he was surrounded, there was nothing to do but as he was told. He dropped the knife; the woman kicked it away.

“Are you all right?” she called, and Jakub turned to see the stranger climbing down from the train. He had the Hallorran prosthetic in one hand and was wiping his face with the other. “Bit my fucking lip,” the man said, smearing blood

across his palm. He rubbed it on his shirt front, and in the moonlight Jakub saw glints of metal beneath the bullet holes. “You?”

“Fine. Like clockwork.”

Jakub glanced between them, his confusion giving way to caution. A dozen armed thugs were moving with purpose, climbing the small hill to the train. They passed orders to each other not unlike Barney had done earlier—they were taking the bins.

“Who are you?” Jakub asked, eyeing the stranger. “Who tipped you off?”

“I was really hoping to meet Bloom on this one,” the stranger said, gazing up at the train. “Even though that was a real nice explosion.” He glanced to Jakub. “Has it always been you? All that magic talk wasn’t just for show, was it? Fucking disappointment, that would be.”

Jakub clenched his fist until it ached; he could feel his muscles clenching against the mounting plate on his left arm in turn. “Who are you?” he demanded again. “What the hell is this?”

“There’ll be time for that later.” The stranger turned to face him and stepped closer, looming into his space. His lips twisted into a smirk. “Right now I wanna know how you’re gonna help me meet Cheshire Bloom.”

***

As soon as the guest of honor made her appearance, Cheshire could sense the arrival, and he smiled to himself. Only our second meeting and I  can  smell  her,  he thought smugly. And to think Jakub was worried.

He leaned back in his chair as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin, taking the opportunity to survey the restaurant floor. Sure enough, US Marshal Hazel Adalet was prowling among the tables. She was dressed in a similar if not the same blue suit he had seen her in before, likely having been drawn directly from her office at the courthouse down the street. As soon as she spotted Cheshire her face grew dark and she marched over toward their table.

“We’re up,” said Cheshire, and Grace’s eyes flashed. She still enjoyed this part.

“Mr. Bloom,” Hazel greeted tersely. “You’re awfully far from home this evening.”

“Not at all, Marshal,” Cheshire replied, flashing her a winning smile. “I happen to love the Lower East; it’s my home away from home.” He gestured across the table. “Allow me to introduce you to Grace Overgaard, lead performer at the Olivier Hotel.” He smiled at Grace. “Grace, this is US Marshal Adalet.”

“Pleased to meet you,” said Grace.

Hazel narrowed her eyes on her. “Same.” She latched back on to Cheshire. “Should I be keeping my eyes open for an explosion?”

Cheshire shrugged. “The food isn’t that spicy.”

“I know you’ve been laying low on purpose for a while now,” Hazel carried on, hands on her hips. “But sooner or later you won’t be able to help yourself. I will catch you.”

“I’m right here,” Cheshire replied. “You’ve got me.” He could have spent all evening teasing the poor woman,

but then something in Grace’s face changed; she looked toward the door and then back to Cheshire, staring hard, as if there was something he was meant to notice. But Hazel was rambling about the constraints of the law or some such, and he didn’t think it safe to turn his head and draw her attention as well. Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long to understand, as then Burke crossed the dining room toward the rest rooms. He cast Cheshire a quick, hard look, just enough for Cheshire to see the bruise darkening at his temple, before he slipped into the men’s room.

Cheshire’s heart gave a thud. What’s he doing here? Did something go wrong?

“The locals may be too scared to stare you down, but I’m not,” Hazel finished. “Remember that.”

“Yes, I sure will,” said Cheshire, even though he’d barely heard. He forced himself to meet Hazel’s glare with a smile. “But does it have to be now? I’ve got my eye on the dessert cart heading this way.”

Hazel continued to glare, but lo and behold a cart was heading over, and she was forced to take a few steps back to put herself out of its way. Once it had passed she couldn’t resist one final, “Next time, Bloom,” before she turned back toward the entrance.

Cheshire lifted his glass as if to take a drink. “What’s she doing?”

Grace took a casual look. “Talking to the maître d′. It looks like she’s getting a table.”

“Great,” Cheshire muttered. He waited a little, sipping his wine to appear unconcerned, before his nerves got the better of him. “Keep an eye on her for me,” he said as he stood.

“Good luck,” said Grace, and she worried her lip between her teeth as he headed toward the bathroom.

Burke was waiting in the men’s room, pacing back and forth in front of the mirrors. He spun around as soon as Cheshire entered and all but pounced on him. “Bloom!” He grabbed Cheshire’s arms and shook him. “Bloom, we gotta go. They got them—they got everyone, we have to get over there.”

“What? Who?” Cheshire took him by the elbows to steady him. “Slow down and tell me what happened.” He gulped. “Where’s Jakub?”

“Manhattan has them!” Burke took a deep breath and pawed at his face a moment, trying to regain his composure. “They jumped us on the road—outnumbered us two to one. I don’t know how they knew ‘bout the job but they were waiting! Waiting on us to show. Marched everyone into the trucks and sent me here to get you.”

“Shit.” Cheshire’s mind spun with too many questions, though only one made it to his mouth. “What about Jakub? The ones on the train—are they all right?”

“I dunno,” Burke admitted. “I don’t know fuckin’ anything right now, except I’m supposed to take you to some hotel.” Cheshire reached for Burke’s face, but his hand was brushed aside. “I’m fine. Can’t we please get the hell out of here?”

“Okay, okay.” Cheshire took a deep breath and herded him out the door. “Tell me the rest on the way.”

Back at the table, Grace looked up from her dessert with concern. “You all right?”

“Don’t know yet,” Cheshire said, and he pulled a few bills from his wallet. “I’m sorry, but do you mind taking a cab home? This should cover the bill and the fare.”

“It’s fine,” Grace assured, and the worry creasing her brow reminded him of their conversation earlier. “Go on.” Cheshire left the cash with her and bid her goodnight.

As he and Burke finally made their way out of the restaurant he couldn’t help but cast a glance in Hazel’s direction. She was being shown to a table, but now there was an officer with her, talking close and quiet to her ear. Cheshire ducked behind a potted tree to avoid her gaze as he retreated.

Burke drove them to the Four Thrones hotel just off of Battery Park—an old building renovated many times over the years, modern trimmings on old red brick. Cheshire’s heart was in his throat as he followed Burke inside. Whatever had happened, whatever Manhattan wanted, he could talk their way out of it somehow. Their two sides hadn’t been toeing around each other all these months just for a blood bath. If he could figure out right away what they were after, he could negotiate.

Or if not…I can still kill them, Cheshire thought, clenching his teeth. If Jakub’s all right and it comes down to that…

The hotel lobby was warmly lit, with plenty of patrons milling about. Many of them glanced over as Cheshire and Burke entered, taking note of the latter’s bruised face. Cheshire straightened his back and tried to project only easy confidence, even as his imagination warned him everyone there was against them.

A tall, middle-aged woman in a heavy jacket beckoned them to the elevators. “You must be Bloom,” she greeted stiffly, motioning for them to get inside. “The Boss is waiting.”

“If I’d known I had an appointment, I would have been here sooner,” Cheshire replied, hands in his pockets as they rode the elevator up to the top floor. “Your boss has my number, doesn’t he?”

The woman didn’t respond. Normally Cheshire would have attempted some other angle, but his palms were hot and itchy, and he was determined to stay focused.

The elevator opened with a chime at the penthouse, and Cheshire’s stomach dropped. The room had been cleared out, furniture pushed to the walls to make room for the nearly three dozen men and women crammed inside. Though the majority seemed to be Manhattan gang members, Cheshire’s attention was drawn first to their captives: Jakub, Hannah, Barney, and the rest had been crowded into a corner on their knees, arms tied behind them, held at gunpoint. Though several sported bruises and bloody noses, and one of Barney’s men was pale and shaking with pain, Jakub at least didn’t seem injured. Their eyes met, and Cheshire swallowed, a shiver running through him at Jakub’s concerned expression. Cheshire offered a quick smile as reassurance and faced his hosts.

He recognized the pair immediately, which came as a surprise, though he would later think that it shouldn’t have: it was the man and woman from the theater who had reacted to him with such familiarity. They sat together on a broad lounge, the heavy-set man reclining easily, the woman at his side eying him critically over the collar of her thick fur coat. There was very little to draw from their varied expressions of curiosity and distrust. Cheshire took a deep breath.

“Cheshire Bloom, at your service,” he greeted. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“Take your hands out of your pockets,” said the woman in a thick Puerto Rican accent.

Cheshire did so, showing off his gloves. “I’m not armed.”

“You wouldn’t need to be, would you?” replied the man with a tiny smirk. “So say the rumors.”

Cheshire was already looking forward to the aftermath of this encounter, when he would let Jakub say “I told you so” as many times as he wanted. “I can’t imagine what you mean,” he said. “But I’m just here to talk, Mr…?”

“Masterson.” The man hopped to his feet and came forward with hand outstretched; Cheshire betrayed no worry as he accepted the overly-firm handshake. “Herbert Masterson, friends call me Herb.”

“Glad to hear we’re friends already, Herb,” said Cheshire, taking note of the bullet holes in Herb’s white button down. He glanced past it to the woman watching them. “Do you mind introducing me?”

“My pleasure.” Herb chuckled and slapped Cheshire on the back as he turned. “Cheshire, meet Camila Reynoso.” He smirked. “But to you, Lucky.”

Cheshire blinked in surprise. “Lucky?” he repeated, and Camila sat up straighter, adjusting her glasses. “She looks incredible for a dead man.”

Herb gave his shoulder a squeeze, and Cheshire winced, accepting the warning. “Lecce’s yesterday’s news,” said Herb. “Done, forgotten. Who’s that? No one I know.” He relaxed his grip and patted Cheshire instead. “Our Lady Lucky is all there is now. And she’s all New York needs. You understand, don’t you?”

Cheshire glanced back to Jakub, who was watching almost unblinkingly. Hannah was subtly shaking her head. Cheshire wasn’t sure what either was trying to communicate, and Burke’s grim frown wasn’t any more help. Well shit, here goes nothing, he thought. “Oh yes, I understand. But I don’t think I agree.”

“Oh?” Herb, one hand still on his shoulder, leaned in closer. “With which part?”

“The ‘New York doesn’t need us’ part you’re implying.”

“Bloom,” said Hannah, warning.

“Go ahead,” said Camila, nestling into her fur once more. “Explain.”

Cheshire licked his lips. Between Camila’s unfaltering stare, and Herb continuing to impress himself on his space, he wasn’t sure which deserved his attention more. “What I mean, is, New York is pretty big,” he began, carefully, but with as much affable charm as he could muster given the situation. “And Kozlow has been doing just fine in Brooklyn for years now. It wasn’t your predecessor who chased out the Foleys, solidified the waterfront and united with Queens. That was us.”

“And you think that means something to us?” challenged Herb, though he still sounded as if he was enjoying himself immensely. “A few piers in Brooklyln and a new building?”

“I sure do.” Cheshire cast him a sideways glance. “I think someone who spent just as long pulling all the Manhattan gangs into one operation knows exactly what that’s worth.”

“Then you do agree,” said Herb. “‘Cause the next logical step up is ‘one operation’ for everyone, right?”

Cheshire hesitated, and in that pause Barney rose up on his knees. “Bloom doesn’t speak for us,” he said. “If we’re negotiating, then untie my fucking—”

The man behind Barney kicked him between the shoulder blades, sending him sprawling onto his face. Two steps forward and he shoved the muzzle of his shotgun into the base of Barney’s skull. Hannah jolted and leaned forward as Barney went stiff. “Wait,” she said. “Please, don’t!”

“Who’s that?” asked Herb, jerking his thumb.

“Boss’s son,” Cheshire replied in a you know how it is tone, and Herb nodded, sympathetic. “Go easy on him?”

“Sure, sure.” Herb signaled to his man, who stepped back but didn’t move to help Barney onto his knees. “Should I be negotiating with him instead of you?”

Cheshire was sure Hannah’s eyes were digging into him, but he didn’t dare look. He could only trust his instincts. “Herb, please. This situation is fraught enough for me as it is—do you really have to put me on the spot like that?”

The room tensed, but without missing a beat Herb burst out laughing, and he slapped Cheshire on the back a few times—almost enough to make him stumble. “Sorry, sorry,” he said, still chuckling, as he finally left Cheshire’s side. He thumped down on the lounge next to Camila and then leaned toward her with a secretive smile. “I told you, didn’t I?”

“He’s all right,” said Camila, mouth hidden behind her fur. “Tell him.”

“She says you’re all right,” relayed Herb gladly. “And this is how it’s gonna be.” He leaned forward, looking as if he might vault to his feet again at any moment. “You? All of you?” He twirled his finger at the captive Kozlows. “You work for us, now. You don’t pull a job like tonight without our say-so, and we take forty-five percent off the take when you do. Thirty percent of whatever you’ve got cooking right now, including that new building.” He clapped his hands together. “Let’s shake on it.”

“A counter offer,” Cheshire said before Herb could stand. “You take whatever came off that mail car and we call it a night.”

“No, no, that’s not how you do this.” Herb wagged his finger at him. “You’re supposed to come back with a lower percent and we haggle, yes?”

“One hundred percent of the mail car,” Cheshire replied easily. “Zero percent of everything else. But I’ll send a signed telegram informing you of the next one.” He shrugged. “Unless you’d rather go by whatever spies you have on my building? I assume that’s how you found out about the train?”

“Thank your friend.” Herb waved, and the woman from before shoved Burke forward with the muzzle of a revolver. Burke kept his jaw tightly shut but there was panic in his eyes as he looked to Cheshire. “He’s in and out of your place all the time,” Herb went on. “So I had someone keep an eye on him—caught him up and down Eighty-Third, timing that train. Wasn’t so hard to figure out after that.”

Burke grimaced guiltily, and Cheshire smiled back, mouthing, It’s okay. “That’s awful nosey of you,” he told Herb. “Here I thought we were being considerate by taking our business to Jersey this time.”

“No, you were being cheeky.” Herb sighed and shook his head. “I gotta say, I’m a little disappointed, Chesh. I had high hopes you would get it, but you don’t, so let’s try again.” He gestured as he spoke, ticking his fingers off. “Forty percent of your future takes—there, see? I lowered a little. Twenty-five percent off the building. And my friend here won’t blow off your friend’s head right now, how about that?”

The woman cocked the revolver loudly, and Burke went so pale Cheshire was worried he might faint. Without thinking Cheshire swept his eyes over the woman, sizing her up, planting her outline in his mind. He could kill her before she pulled the trigger, he knew that much. But could I kill the rest of them? he thought, looking to the rest of Camila’s forces. Sweat slicked his palms as he hesitantly caught Jakub’s eye again. What if there’s too many? Even if I  could get them all  at  once, would that be too many? He could feel heat coiling in his chest in preparation. Would Bunny come back for me?

Cheshire drew his gaze back to the woman behind Burke—if he had to destroy her, that might at least buy enough distraction to get enough of the rest. “I know she won’t, whatever percent you’re asking for,” he said, not taking his eyes off her trigger finger. “That’s not really sweetening the pot for me.”

Herb was quiet a moment, at last, and the woman glanced between him and Cheshire. As cryptic as his words were she seemed to come to some comprehension of the danger she was in, and she slid her trigger finger further down the grip. “What are you gonna do?” Herb asked after a few beats, his tone lowered. “Use your magic? I sure would like to see that.”

“I’m sure you would.” Cheshire committed as much of the woman to memory as he could before transferring his attention to Herb. “But, you wouldn’t. See it, I mean.”

“Oh!” Herb straightened, grinning. “That’s more like it. A threat for a threat, huh? But—”

“Herb,” said Camila, and he immediately quieted. She slipped one finger out of her fur to beckon him closer. He leaned in, and this time her whispers were too quiet to make out as the stalemate waited, tense and teetering, for them to finish.

Herb nodded, looking vaguely disappointed at first, but obedient. He turned back to Cheshire with a calmer smile. “Okay, Chesh. Let’s be honest here—you haven’t been pulling our pigtails all this time for nothing. You wanted our attention and you have it, so what’s your final offer?”

“A partnership,” Cheshire answered immediately, and taking a chance, he turned his full attention on Camila. “We keep to our side of the river, you keep to yours. We’ll give you a good price on liquor and a safe pier for imports when you need it, if you can spare some muscle from time to time.” He took in a deep breath. “And when a good score comes up, like this? We work together: equal risk, equal payout. There’s a lot you can do with talent like ours if you have the imagination to put it to work.”

“The freckly one is the only one with talent so far,” said Herb, eyebrows raised. “I’m still waiting to see your magic.”

“Herb, it’s all right,” said Camila, and again Herb deferred to her. She tugged her collar down to face Cheshire properly. “I have a pretty good imagination.”

“Then, you accept?” Cheshire asked, sure not to let too much of his relief show even as the woman behind Burke lowered her gun.

Camila took Herb’s hand, using it to push to her feet. “Twenty percent off the price of your liquor,” she said. “Use of the pier when I ask for it. You can keep half from tonight’s job and all your heads.” She offered her gloved hand. “And you don’t try anything outside Brooklyn without my permission and my men. Fifty-fifty.”

“Fifty-fifty,” Cheshire agreed, and he lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles.

Camila motioned to her troops, and they began holstering their weapons and untying their captives. Burke swayed on his feet, and Cheshire took him by the elbow to steady him, but no more than that, as they weren’t quite finished; as Camila retook her seat, Herb stood again, and crossed to Cheshire for a handshake of his own. “Chesh, come on,” he said. “Fifty percent is more than forty-five. Have you never done this before?”

Cheshire laughed, squeezing Herb’s large hand as tight as he dared. “Herb, buddy, that building is my baby. I’ll give up five percent of any heist to keep your hands off it.”

Herb laughed, too, and finally had to slip his hand free. “Fair enough, fair enough,” he said. “Oh, and don’t forget.” He snapped his fingers at one of the men. “Give Freckles his thingy back.”

A man stepped forward holding Jakub’s prosthetic arm; Cheshire bristled as he watched Jakub stoically accept and replace the damaged limb. For Herb’s sake, he managed a smile. “Thanks.”

Herb gave his shoulder another clap. “Looking forward to doing business with you,” he said. “But scram, okay?” Laughing, he shooed them off. “Your trucks are just outside. Nicole will get you set up with your half of the take.”

“A pleasure,” said Cheshire, and he kept hold of Burke as they turned back toward the elevators.

It wasn’t until they were in the vestibule, waiting for the elevator to come up, that Burke started to come into his senses, and he tried to pull away from Cheshire. “The bloody fuck is the matter with you?” he hissed, shaking all over. “They almost killed me!”

“Shh, I know.” Cheshire didn’t let him get away, fearful of making too much of a scene. “Calm down, Eggy, it’s over now.”

“Don’t you ‘Eggy’ me,” Burke retorted. “Were you the one with a gun to yer head?” He tried to exhale more anger, but his eyes were already red, his breath choking. “Fuck, I thought—”

“I know, I’m sorry.” Cheshire reeled him in, and was relieved when Burke allowed it. He wrapped his arm around Burke’s quaking shoulders. “You’re okay, though. I wasn’t going to let them hurt you, I promise.”

“Fuck,” Burke said again, but then he gave up, covering his face with both hands. Cheshire accepted his weight against his chest and kept him steady. He turned as best he could to see the rest of the group huddling closer, but he managed only a glimpse of Jakub before Barney shoved his way forward.

“Bloom, that was real fucking stupid,” Barney admonished, though he had sense enough to keep his voice down. “You could have gotten all of us killed!”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t, did I?” Cheshire’s knees weren’t doing so great, either, and he was eager to get something solid against his back, or at least a few seconds to breathe. “We can hash this out later.”

“No—you do not speak for Kozlow, period,” Barney insisted. “Guns to our heads and you’re making threats? For this little weasel?”

“Fuck you,” Burke spat from between his fingers. “That was my neck out there!”

“You little—”

Barney reached for him, but Cheshire pushed him back, tightening his arm on Burke’s shoulders. “Lay off him—it’s been a rough night.”

The elevator doors opened with a chime, and the older woman from before stepped past all of them to enter first. “This isn’t over,” Barney snarled, and he boarded, though keeping as much distance between him and the woman as possible.

Hannah went next, helping along Stas, who was cradling what appeared to be a broken arm. “You did fine, Bloom,” she said quietly. “But we will have to talk to the boss about this.”

“Yeah, I know.” Cheshire waved her on. “We’ll meet you back there.”

They managed to fit a few more in, and as the rest waited for their turn, Cheshire finally spotted Jakub. As soon as he moved closer, Cheshire latched onto his shoulder; he needed to feel him, solid and unharmed, beneath his hand. “Jakub— you’re okay?” he asked urgently. “You’re not hurt?”

“I’m okay,” Jakub said, and he looked like it. Then he reached up to cover Cheshire’s hand on his shoulder, and he suddenly seemed less okay after all. “It’s over.”

Cheshire tried not to grimace. He was overwhelmed suddenly with the impulse to draw Jakub closer, too, hold him tight and kiss him, so much so it took his breath away. But he didn’t dare. “Good,” he said instead, and he gave the back of Jakub’s neck a squeeze, still fighting his instincts. “Fuck, I’m glad. I was worried about you.”

Jakub nodded, and his hand tightened against Cheshire’s wrist as if he were fighting the same. Then the second elevator chimed, and with twin breaths they let each other go.

Would it really be so bad if everyone knew? Cheshire thought, ill with frustration as the rest of them piled into the elevator. He cast a quick glance back at Camila and Herb, who were leaning close together, watching them as they whispered to each other. The thought that they might have spotted and seen through him, however unlikely, sent his heart racing again, and he flashed them an innocent grin before stepping out of view. As much as he hated it, he resisted the urge to draw Jakub close again, choosing instead to offer Burke more words of encouragement on the way out.

***

Jakub kept quiet most of the drive back to Brooklyn. He sat in the rear and let Burke and Gertie explain to Cheshire what had happened, as much as they knew. Cheshire was full of awe and sympathy for their ordeal, and afterward told them about seeing Hazel at the restaurant. At least some part of the ordeal had been a success.

Back home, Gertie took Stas to the hospital to have his arm checked over, while Jakub, Cheshire, Burke, Hannah, and Barney made their way to the penthouse to relay everything to the boss. Hannah did the explaining, while Kasper listened stoically, as per usual. Jakub held his breath when she came to the negotiations at the hotel, fearful of how she might spin Cheshire’s performance. Hannah herself seemed to wrestle with the prospect, as she took her time before getting to it.

“Bloom was able to strike a deal,” she said neutrally. “We sell them liquor at eighty percent cost, allow them use of the docks. In exchange we keep our autonomy, as long as we consult with them on whatever jobs we want to pull off in Manhattan.”

“We have always had autonomy,” Kasper replied, leaning back in his armchair. “That shouldn’t have been up for trade.”

“They were asking for much worse,” Burke spoke up. Though he had regained his composure his eyes were still red, and he rubbed at them self-consciously. “They wanted a cut of everything we do from now on—they would own us if not for Bloom.”

“It shouldn’t have been up to him,” snapped Barney. “Cheshire Bloom doesn’t make decisions for this gang.”

Cheshire, who had spent the conversation leaning against the arm of a sofa, gave a shrug. “Masterson asked for me, specifically. If you wanted to negotiate I would have thought you’d done it before I got there.”

Barney glared at him. “I was tied up!”

“We’re not fighting about this,” Hannah interrupted. “It was a shit situation and Bloom did the best he could. We’re all lucky to be alive.” She lowered her eyes. “Luckier than Ian.”

Barney cursed under his breath, and Jakub lowered his eyes. Luck had everything to do with them surviving the train, he knew that much, but as far as he was concerned it was Cheshire who had saved them from the new Lucky. “She’s right,” he said. “It’s done now so we just have to figure out what comes next.”

Kasper mulled that over for a while. “Well. The liquor ban is ending, so cheap booze isn’t going to help them for much longer anyway. And keeping the pier manned for them is not an issue.” He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “If we do come across something profitable in Manhattan, it’s not as if we couldn’t do it quietly. They wouldn’t have to know.”

“I’m not in favor of trying to pull one over on them,” said Cheshire. “They’d know.”

“Only because of your little rat friend here,” said Barney, and he gestured to Burke.

Burke puffed himself up. “I was only doing as you asked me to!”

Kasper grunted impatiently. “Enough, We’ll worry about that later.” He looked to Hannah. “In the morning, get everyone on that mail. Open everything, burn whatever’s useless.” He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “There had better be something useful come out of this.”

“Yes, Boss,” said Hannah, and taking that as a cue, she stood and urged everyone else to do the same. “I’ll come up tomorrow as soon as we know.”

“Yes, fine. Good night.”

They left the penthouse, and Jakub immediately tugged Cheshire aside, trusting Hannah to do the same for Barney— emotions were still too high for more confrontation. “We already put someone in your old apartment,” he told Cheshire as he tugged him toward the stairs. “But you can sleep on my couch, if you don’t want to head across town this late.”

“Y-Yeah,” said Cheshire, struggling for a casual tone. “Yeah, that’d be great, thanks. I want to be here bright and early for mail call.”

They headed down the stairs, and thankfully Hannah stalled Barney long enough to fully separate them all. As they reached the next floor, Burke abruptly took in a deep breath and turned to face Cheshire. “Sorry,” he said matter-of-factly. “For yelling at you.”

Cheshire smiled with such warm relief that Jakub felt a twinge of jealousy. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, and he dragged Burke forward, giving him a tight, one-armed hug and a thump on the back. “You’re all right?”

“Yeah, I’m a’right.” Burke shrugged him off self- consciously. “But I ain’t going out in the field again, remember that.”

“I won’t ask you to,” Cheshire assured, and they bid each other good night.

At last Jakub was able to let them into his apartment. Cheshire took a look around and whistled. “It hasn’t really been that long, but it feels like it,” he said, closing the door behind him.

Jakub turned toward him, and seeing Cheshire back in his space wore down the rest of his composure; he threw his arms around Cheshire’s middle like he had wanted to do back in the hotel. Cheshire swayed just slightly with the weight, caught off guard, before embracing him back. “Hell, Jakub,” Cheshire murmured, and Jakub sank into him gratefully. “When Burke said they had you… I was worried.”

Jakub turned his nose against Cheshire’s collar, breathing him in. The swift panic of the train and torturous tension of the hotel melted away, and all he wanted was to be closer, warmer. “I don’t care what the boss says,” he muttered. “You don’t get to sit out again.”

Cheshire chuckled, and the gentle rumble of his voice put Jakub deeply at ease. “Damn right. It’ll take more than Barney on a bad day to keep me out of the next one.”

“Good.” Jakub leaned back, and he was tempted to go for a kiss, but something in Cheshire’s face held him back. It was the concern, he thought. Cheshire was still smiling but his eyes were somehow haunted, his mouth hesitating over some words. Jakub had no idea what might come out of him then, and he shivered, unprepared.

“Listen, Jakub,” Cheshire said, and he licked his lips. Jakub held very still. But then Cheshire’s expression twitched, and whatever he had been about to say was swallowed up by his same easy smile. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”

Jakub blinked at him, not sure what to think. He couldn’t force enough strength out of his chest to ask what Cheshire had meant to say. “You, too,” he said, embarrassed by the close stare and the blush it was drawing into his ears. He took a step back. “You don’t really have to sleep on the sofa.”

“I’d hope not,” Cheshire replied, and he allowed Jakub to lead him into the bedroom. Though both were too exhausted to do more than sleep, it was enough.