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Kaz Brekker doesn't need a reason, that's what the streets of Ketterdam whisper.
Kaz Brekker kills all men. He won't give you a chance to fight back.
Kaz Brekker is ruthless. He'll do anything for the right price.
Gina Malone knows otherwise.
She's seen the way the boy looks at the men who prey on small children and drugged up Grisha. She's seen him beat a man half to death with his infamous cane for looking at his friend the wrong way. She's seen him eat a piece of chocolate when he thought no one else was looking, seen the small smile that makes him look years younger when the sweet taste hits his tongue.
Alice from bookclub always has the best gossip, and it involves Kaz Brekker more often than not.
"He killed Lucy's husband for her. Remember him? She was always black and blue. The boy wouldn't even accept payment for it."
"He walked my daughter home from school one day, when he noticed some Barrel men sniffing around. He's got quite a mouth on him, but he's decent enough."
"His girl, the Wraith? She kills men who steal children away from their families. He helps her, from land."
Gina doesn't fear Kaz Brekker. Her husband does, she knows, but she doesn't.
"He's nothing but trouble, Gi!" Max tells her. "He'll steal everything not nailed down."
But that's not quite true either. He's good friends with the Van Eck boy, and she's sure he wouldn't be if he stole from them.
Gina's own son doesn't even fear him.
"He's an ass, Ma," he told her. "And he cheats at cards. But he doesn't kill without reason."
No, Kaz Brekker is nothing more than a boy. Gina knows that. The women at her bookclub know it too.
It was on her way to one of those bookclub meetings when Gina finally meets the boy for the first time.
"Hello," he said. His voice was raspier than it had any right to be for how young he was.
"Hello," she replied, straightening her shoulders. "What business?"
He glanced behind his shoulder and narrowed his eyes. "Your husband is Max Malone, is he not?"
Gina shuddered at the way his eyes darkened. "He is."
He nodded. "I have information you'll be interested in. Similarly, you have information I'm interested in."
"I'm sure I don't," Gina told him. He was much skinnier up close and Gina fought back a pang of motherly dread. He couldn't be much older than her Gerard, if older at all, but Gerard was a strapping young man, strong as an ox. Kaz Brekker looked like a strong breeze could knock him over.
"You do, Ms. Malone," he said. "Come, I'll walk you to your meeting."
Well, Gina wasn't one to pass up a walk with the Bastard of the Barrel.
"Your husband works with a very rich merchant," the boy said, offering her a tense arm. "A certain John Larkson. I need to know his schedule."
"For what?"
A grim smile appeared on his face. "Best not to say. What time does your husband leave in the morning?"
Gina sighed. She'd never liked Mr. Larkson. He was a horribly snobby man. "Around six bells in the morning. He's never home before nine at night."
Kaz grinned, stopping in front of the cafe the book club was being hosted at. "Excellent. Thank you, Ms. Malone."
She nodded. "And what information do you have for me?"
"Your husband is cheating on you with the young barmaid down the road. She's pregnant."
Gina's mouth fell open, but Dirtyhands was gone before she could ask any follow up questions. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. That dirty cheating asshole. She'd have to find a good lawyer.
It did occur to her, as she entered the cafe, that if Kaz Brekker had been watching her husband close enough to know he was cheating, he probably didn't need her to tell him his work schedule. She brushed that thought aside. She had a book to discuss.
Gina didn't see Kaz for a while after that. She'd divorced Max, that horrible man, and got herself a job as a laundry maid. She was okay. She had her children, she had a small apartment, and she got herself a guard dog. She was doing alright.
Two months later, she was once again on her way to bookclub (which had recently gotten a new member in the form of a young barmaid) when she heard a quiet groan from an alleyway.
In the Barrel, the ability to mind your own business was an important skill, but not one that Gina had ever possessed. She peered into the alleyway.
"Hello?"
"Fuck off."
She recognized that voice.
"Mr. Brekker?"
Indeed, the teenager was leaning heavily against a wall, his pale skin even more waxy and sweaty than usual. He was shaking.
"I-" he swallowed. "Ms. Malone. How's your husband?"
"Couldn't tell you," she said. "Haven't seen him in a month."
"That's good."
She rolled her eyes. Nothing could compete with the independence and stubbornness of a teenage boy.
"For Saints sake," she huffed. "Let me help you, boy."
He gagged as she touched his shoulder, spitting onto the filthy pavement. "Got drugged. Can't go," he heaved again. "Can't go back to the slat."
"That's okay, you don't have to go back yet," she eased some of his weight onto her shoulders and picked up his cane. "You can come have a cup of tea and sleep off the drugs."
His eyes nearly slipped closed, but when Gina moved forward, he stepped with her.
"Don't fall asleep on me, sweetheart," she whispered. He wasn't a heavy boy, but he was much taller than her and she was certain she couldn't carry him alone. "Just a little bit further."
"Ma?" He sounded so much younger than he has any right to be. "Ma, I'm tired."
He must be out of it. Gina never thought she'd be in the position of carrying a drugged Barrel Boss to a bookclub meeting, but Ketterdam's never been one for conforming to expectations.
Alice and Pam are waiting for her at Alice's house. Alice always made the best cakes when it was her turn to host, but they were the last thing on Gina's mind right now.
"Oh, Saints, Gina!" Pam said. "Is that-?"
"He's hurt and drugged," Gina said. "I couldn't just leave him there."
"No, of course not," Alice assured her. "Bring the poor thing over here, I'll get some ice."
Pam helped Gina get the Bastard of the Barrel over to the couch. His eyes were closed and his chest was barely moving.
"Don't fall asleep yet, honey," Pam said. "Stay awake."
"No," Kaz said, body twisting away from her. "Get away. He's gonna come after me. Go away."
"No one's coming after you," Gina murmured. She grabbed a wet cloth and began to dab at the blood on his face. "You're safe here."
"No such thing as safe."
Alice came back with a bag of ice and pressed it against the boy's leg. He flinched away, but relaxed a second later.
"He can sleep off the drugging while we discuss the book," she whispered. "Neda won't be joining us tonight. Baby's giving her problems, the poor girl."
They quietly talked about the book they'd been reading, some old Saint's story Gina had found dreadfully boring. They had just about finished when there was a heavy knock on the door.
All eyes went to Kaz, but he was still unconscious. Pam got up, a steely look in her usually warm Zemini eyes.
She opened the door and Gina's heart dropped to her toes.
A member of the Black Tips was standing at the door.
"We want Brekker," he said. "We know you have him."
Pam scowled. "I don't know what your talking about, sir."
He shoved past her and into the living room. Alice and Gina stood in front of the teenager.
I won't let them take him, Gina thought. Not over my dead body.
Who let him get so hurt? How many people had failed this child? It didn't matter. Gina wouldn't be joining their ranks.
The man pointed a gun at Gina's chest, but she didn't flinch. She was born and raised in the Barrel, she could take a gun shot.
"Do you know who's house you just barged in to?" Alice asked, rage tinting her usually gentle voice. "Van Chance's. How do you think he'll respond when he finds out you came in here and threatened his wife?"
"You're harbouring a criminal."
"And who will they believe?" Pam asked. "A sweet mercher's wife or a low-level gang member?"
The man turned on Pam and Gina used the opportunity to snatch up a small fruit knife from the table and slash it at the man's arm. He yelped, dropping the gun. Alice picked it up, shoving it into her apron pocket.
"Get out," Gina growled, pointing the knife at his neck. "You may take out whatever grievances you have with him when he's of sound mind."
The man looked downright murderous, but he wasn't stupid. He was outnumbered and unarmed.
"He'd best be out of here by tomorrow," he said.
"You aren't in a position to make demands," Alice reminded him. "Get out and stay out or you'll end up in the harbour."
He growled, pushing past Pam and slamming the door behind him.
"Give me the gun, Allie," Pam said. "I'll hide it in my vanity."
Alice handed it over and went back to Kaz's side. The colour was slowly returning to his cheeks.
"You know," she said. "For a demon, he looks quite angelic while he sleeps, doesn't he?"
Gina smiled ruefully. "That's teenagers for you."
Kaz was gone the next morning and if Gina, Alice, and Pam ended up on the DO NOT HARM lists of every gang in Ketterdam, well, Kaz was sure he knew nothing about that.