Six of Crows Read Online Free PDF Page B

cutitclose.
    “Shhhh,”shewhisperedinVanDaal’sear.Shegavehimatinyjabinthesidesothathecouldfeel thepointofherseconddaggerpressedagainsthiskidney.
    “Please,”hemoaned.“I—”
    “Ilikeitwhenmenbeg,”shesaid.“Butthisisn’tthetimeforit.”
    Below,shecouldseeGeels’chestrisingandfallingwithpanickedbreaths.“VanDaal!”heshouted again.TherewasrageonhisfacewhenheturnedbacktoKaz.“Alwaysonestepahead,aren’tyou?”
    “Geels,whenitcomestoyou,I’dsayIhavearunningstart.”
    But Geels just smiled – a tiny smile, tight and satisfied. A victor’s smile , Inej realised with fresh fear.
    “Theraceisn’toveryet.”Geelsreachedintohisjacketandpulledoutaheavyblackpistol.
    “Finally,”Kazsaid.“Thebigreveal.NowJespercanstopkeeningoverBolligerlikeawet-eyed woman.”
    Jesper stared at the gun with stunned, furious eyes. “Bolliger searched him. He … Oh, Big Bol, youidiot,”hegroaned.
    Inej couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The guard in her arms released a tiny squeak. In her angerandsurprise,she’daccidentallytightenedhergrip.“Relax,”shesaid,easingherhold.But,all Saints,shewantedtoputaknifethroughsomething.BigBolligerhadbeentheonetopatdownGeels.
    Therewasnowayhecouldhavemissedthepistol.He’dbetrayedthem.
    Was that why Kaz had insisted on bringing Big Bolliger here tonight – so he’d have public confirmationthatBolligerhadgoneovertotheBlackTips?Itwascertainlywhyhe’dletHolstputa bulletinBolliger ’sgut.Butsowhat?NoweveryoneknewBigBolwasatraitor.Kazstillhadagun pointedathischest.
    Geelssmirked.“KazBrekker,thegreatescapeartist.Howareyougoingtowriggleyourwayout ofthisone?”
    “GoingoutthesamewayIcamein.”Kazignoredthepistol,turninghisattentiontothebigman lyingontheground.“Doyouknowwhatyourproblemis,Bolliger?”HejabbedatthewoundinBig Bol’s stomach with the tip of his cane. “That wasn’t a rhetorical question. Do you know what your biggestproblemis?”
    Bolligermewled.“Noooo…”
    “Givemeaguess,”Kazhissed.
    BigBolsaidnothing,justreleasedanothertremblingwhimper.
    “Allright,I’lltellyou.You’relazy.Iknowit.Everyoneknowsit.SoIhadtoaskmyselfwhymy laziestbouncerwasgettingupearlytwiceaweektowalktwoextramilestoCilla’sFryforbreakfast, especially when the eggs are so much better at the Kooperom. Big Bol becomes an early riser, the BlackTipsstartthrowingtheirweightaroundFifthHarbourandtheninterceptourbiggestshipment of jurda .Itwasn’tatoughconnectiontomake.”HesighedandsaidtoGeels,“Thisiswhathappens whenstupidpeoplestartmakingbigplans, ja? ”
    “Doesn’t matter much now, does it?” replied Geels. “This gets ugly, I’m shooting from close range.Maybeyourguardsgetmeormyguys,butnowayyou’regoingtododgethisbullet.”
    Kazsteppedintothebarrelofthegunsothatitwaspresseddirectlyagainsthischest.“Nowayat all,Geels.”
    “YouthinkIwon’tdoit?”
    “Oh,Ithinkyou’ddoitgladly,withasonginyourblackheart.Butyouwon’t.Nottonight.”
    Geels’fingertwitchedonthetrigger.
    “Kaz,”Jespersaid.“Thiswhole‘shootme’thingisstartingtoconcernme.”
    Oomen didn’t bother to object to Jesper mouthing off this time. One man was down. Neutral territoryhadbeenviolated.Thesharptangofgunpowderalreadyhungintheair–andalongwithita question,unspokeninthequiet,asiftheReaperhimselfawaitedtheanswer:Howmuchbloodwillbe shedtonight?
    Inthedistanceasirenwailed.
    “NineteenBurstraat,”Kazsaid.
    Geelshadbeenshiftingslightlyfromfoottofoot;nowhewentverystill.
    “That’syourgirl’saddress,isn’tit,Geels?”
    Geelsswallowed.“Don’thaveagirl.”
    “Ohyes,youdo,”croonedKaz.“She’spretty,too.Well,prettyenoughforafinklikeyou.Seems sweet.Youloveher,don’tyou?”Evenfromtherooftop,InejcouldseethesheenofsweatonGeels’
    waxenface.“Ofcourseyoudo.NoonethatfineshouldeverhavelookedtwiceatBarrelscumlike you, but she’s different. She finds you charming. Sure sign of madness if you ask me, but love is strangethatway.Doessheliketorestherprettyheadonyourshoulder?Listentoyoutalkaboutyour