Page 136 of Reasons We Break

The needle comes down, flashing in the dim light. He’s still sayingNo, but now it’s a long breathless stream,nononononononono—

There’s a pinch in the crook of his elbow. Then it burns. Right before it lights him up from the inside.

A head rush, so unbelievably beautiful. The voices distort into a buzz, and Rajan’snodies in his chest. They let go of him. Someone pats his cheek roughly. His head lolls to the side, vision focusing long enough to see several sets of legs walking out of the room. The light turns off.

He waits to see his mother. But this time, when the door swings shut, he is alone in the dark.

ON THE WAYto Manny’s, Simran fills TJ in. On everything. As long as she’s explaining the last few months to her cousin, she doesn’t have to think about what could be happening right now.

TJ, to her credit, doesn’t interrupt, but she’s quite pale by the end. “So it’s bad. Really bad.” Simran doesn’t answer. TJ grips the steering wheel harder. “These people...they could kill you, Simran. Oh my god. How did this happen?” She shakes her head, a horrified laugh escaping her. “How did any of thishappento you?”

Simran glances out the window. They’re two streets away from the Khullar mansion. “You can wait here.”

TJ pulls over and reaches for her seat belt. “Screw that. I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not. The last thing I need is you on the Lions’ radar. I can’t be distracted trying to protect you. It has to just be me.” TJ’s staring again. “What?”

“I’ve learned more about you in the past hour than I have our whole lives,” TJ says.

Tonight, Manny is waiting for her.

Tonight, there’s no smoke. No partying, no girls draped on his arm, no ledgers in sight. He’s in an office this time. Simran’s escorted in silently, and then they’re alone. There’s no smirk on his face, just focus. And when he speaks, there’s none of his earlier condescension.

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now.”

She swallows. “The Aces took Rajan. They forced him to steal the ledgers. You need to stop the hit on him.”

He laughs, a hint of mockery breaking through. “Simran, don’t test my patience. Ijustgot the police out of my hair for that fiasco outside. Even if what you’re saying is true, I don’t care. He’s been a dead man walking ever since he killed one of us.”

“Maybe you should rethink that.” She tosses a USB on the desk. Manny stares at it for several seconds.

“What’s—”

“I think you know.” He’s silent, so she goes on. “I’ve learned a lot, working for the Lions. About your inventory, your cash flow, who you pay off and who you cheat, your distribution methods...Look at the numbers long enough, and you start seeing the people behind them. Foot soldiers, runners, dealers, buyers. You also see the people who are higher up, because theyalwaysget a cut. And that leaves a footprint.”

A muscle in Manny’s jaw ticks.

“That last ledger was particularly interesting. The one with the names.” Every four-digit code has a name attached. Of course, they have to keep track somewhere. And of course, Manny kept such important information close. So Simran had togetclose. “Some of those names surprised me.”

Manny’s silent.

“Police have been trying to connect your family to the Lion’s Share for years,” Simran continues quietly. “This information might be useful for prosecution. And sentencing.”

Manny finally moves. He reaches for his drawer and retrieves a small silver gun. “Or I could blow your brains out.”

Simran doesn’t flinch. Somehow, she finds the barrel of a gun less intimidating now than she used to. Her plan either works or it doesn’t.

She nods at the USB. “Shoot me and you’ll find out exactly how many copies I made.”

She can practically see the calculations running behind Manny’s eyes. Gauging the probability that she’s bluffing...or that she’s not. For all he knows, she handed the USBs out like candy. He could try and torture it out of her, but by that time, the information would be public. Theoretically.

He seems to arrive at that conclusion, too. He flicks the safety off. “Maybe I put a bullet in your head anyway.”

“Then what? You go to prison to spite me?” His jaw tightens. “There’s no need for that. As long as Rajan doesn’t die tonight, you don’t have to worry about this getting out.”

“If the Aces have him, he’s probably already dead.”

“Then you’d better pray he isn’t.” She holds his gaze. “Because if all goes well, after this, we can leave each other alone. Rajan and I walk, and you conduct your business in peace. Simple.”