Page 70 of Throwing Fire

“Why not?”

“It’s ancient history,” Gig says, but he starts wriggling on the couch again.

I fold my arms across my chest and wait.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.” He shrugs. “I knew how Kez felt about the thing with Chain. I mean, I knew about what happened between Chain and Nev and I knew how much that upset Kez. She wouldn’t have wanted to get together with Duncan after he’d been with Nev. So when I saw Dunk making moves on her, I told her about them. Duncan and Nev, I mean. Maybe I shouldn’t have.” He shrugs again.

“She thank you for it?”

He nods.

“Then you did the right thing. Duncan hold it against you?”

“Yeah. Toxic fucking grudge.”

I nod. I’ve noticed. “He ever try t’get back at you?”

“All the time. In little ways. Nothing big. Nothing I can take to Kez.”

She sees it, though. “First time I saw you all together, I thought Duncan was new and still on probation. But he’s not, is he? Kez just doesn’t trust him.”

Gig nods.

“You don’t either, do you?” When he shakes his head, I continue. “Then it won’t surprise you to hear he’s sold her out.”

Gig shoots upright like I’ve poked him with a zap stick. “What?!”

Maybe it is a surprise. I wave him back into his seat. “Reg Bale gave him up. Duncan’s been feedin’ information to Jaxon, about where Kez would be an’ when. If I hadn’t taken out the Bale boys, they’d have caught her as she passed through Red territory. On that run she has to Hemos. They were gonna rape her and then kill her. An’ Duncan gave her to them.”

“Cocksucker!” Gig’s face twists; he looks like he’s about to cry.

I nod.

“He’s the one that burned her,” Gig whispers brokenly. “Jaxon. He hates Kez.”

“I know. What I don’t know is where Duncan is gonna be and when. I want you to tell me. And I want you to know why.”

“I’ll give you all his runs, that cocksucker ... wait. What, uh, what are you going to do?”

“Whaddo you think?” I ask. I want to make sure Gig understands what I’m asking him to do. And what the ramifications will be.

Gig digs himself down into the couch. Puts his hands over his head. “Are you going to kill him?” he whispers from beneath his arms.

“Yes,” I say distinctly. I want this to be very clear. So there’s no misunderstanding later.

“Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. This is so fucked up.”

“Yeah.” I reach out and squeeze his shoulder. “I don’t know what he’s given up already. So we gotta be extra careful for a while. Shuffle Kez’s runs. Break her routine. No one can know where she’s gonna be and when. Just you, me, and Kez.”

“She shouldn’t stay here,” Gig mutters. “Duncan’s been in her room. He’s been all over this place. He’s seen her skylight. He knows all kinds of shit.”

“It’s okay, kid.” I’ve also been all over the Warren, too. “I’ve already secured Kez’s skylight. Anyone trying to climb down into her room will get a high voltage surprise.”

“Really? You didn’t tell me that.” He looks a little hurt for a moment. Takes in my stony expression and reddens. “You were right not to tell me. I never would’ve guessed about Duncan.”

“So, first order of business, Duncan’s schedule. Second is an evac plan.”

“An evac plan? What for?”

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