“No one said anything aboutsurrender.” Kane’s eyes narrow.
“What else is this but ‘surrender?’” Athena gestures around her. “You don’t actually think you have a leg up on us, doyou?”
Kane says nothing.
“Sure, you clawed back District Three. A few deadweights came crawling home. Congratulations.” Athena’s hands come together in a slow, mock clap. “But you’re bleeding territory, members, contacts…”
He holds her stare. A faint shimmer ghosts across her face. His brow lifts.
Was that a trick of light? A hiccup in his feed?
Whatever it is, Athena doesn’t seem concerned. She shares a smile with her team before turning to face him.
“You know what, Kane? We’ll hear you out. For old time’s sake.” She winks.
Ignoring her jab, Kane shifts his focus to his crew. He motions for them to take their seats. As he settles into his own, Coda catches his eye briefly. A message that might mean nothing, or something.
Once everyone’s in a chair, Athena turns to Echo. “You informed my order you’re sitting on access to valuable resources, some of which you’re prepared to hand over.”
Echo gives a stiff nod. “Connections, ones even the best fixers in Nova City can’t reach.”
“We’d be willing to accept that intel in exchange for the verygenerousoffer of District Four,” Athena explains.
Kane raises a brow. “Really? You’d just give up a key piece of Shreveport for some names?” That doesn’t sound like her.
“Sorry,” Athena adopts a faux sweetness. “We’re offeringonlyDistrict Four. Your people vacate everywhere else.”
He straightens in his seat. “That’syour offer?”
“It’s ourbestoffer. In fact, it’s ouronlyoffer.” She smirks. “Because, as I said, you’re in no position todemand anything. While your numbers are shrinking, we’re growing…Last night, we took a third of Euclid.”
Her lieutenants nod with confidence.
“Practically no resistance.”
Wren shifts in her seat. “Euclid’s been Howl territory since—”
“Not anymore,” Athena interrupts. “And that’s just the beginning. Just this week, we brought in over a hundred new orderlings—people whobelievein our cause.”
Pixie’s heart rate spikes on Kane’s display.
Athena’s palms settle over the table. “And right now? We’re finalizing an alliance with Ulvepack.”
Kane’s stomach knots.
No pulse spike. No flicker. None of his readings suggests she’s bluffing.
However, for the second time, his interface falters at her outline. Only the glitch vanishes before he can investigate.
Maybe there’s interference from the building’s shielded walls.
Next to him, Echo’s expression tightens.
Not ideal, but they’ll adjust.
Their eyes meet. Kane gives a slight shake of his head. Stick to the plan.
“So, unless you want Shreveport soaked in blood—your hometown carved up—you’ll turn over all your intel. Freely,” Athena says smugly. “Then you’ll surrender everything else. Every street. Every alley. Every warehouse. Until your uncle’s former empire is ours.”