"She's an illegitimate daughter planted here by a rival syndicate, and you're standing there talking to me about clean backgrounds? Dennis, is your skull packed with nothing but shit?"
"Shut your mouth!"
Nellie shot to her feet, finger stabbing toward my face.
"You worthless convict! Dennis doesn't want you anymore—what are you doing crawling back here like you have no shame? Someone get her out of here!"
A handful of Dennis's new inner circle closed in immediately, weapons already in hand.
I didn't move. Didn't even lift my gaze.
Christian's men drew their guns in the same breath. Cold, black muzzles leveled directly at the skulls of every last one of those lackeys.
The air in the hall turned to ice.
Dennis pulled Nellie behind him, glaring at Christian.
"Christian Finley! This is the East District! You think you can pull this here?"
Christian adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses with deliberate slowness. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Mr. Henson, I'm simply accompanying my wife to collect what belongs to her. As for your little crew—they're not worth dirtying my hands over."
He turned to me, amusement glinting in his eyes.
"Margot. Get it done. Don't waste time."