Niko Varr enjoyed being called right hand for exactly one day.
After that, the title became a weight.
Men came to him asking for money, weapons, instructions, and permission to hit Harlan Pike's people. Tobin gave orders through calls, but the men in the room looked at Niko when they wanted an answer. Every delay made him look weak. Every wrong answer could make Tobin blame him later.
"Tell them to hold the south warehouse," Tobin said over the phone.
Niko pressed the phone close to his ear. "Boss, Harlan's men already took half the outer road. If we only hold, they will say we are afraid."
"Let them say it. We cannot waste men."
Niko looked at the faces around him.
They were waiting.
"Fine," he said, though he did not sound fine.
The call ended.
One older Rust Gate member crossed his arms. "What did he say?"
"We hold."
The man laughed once. "Hold? Harlan is calling him a coward in every den from here to East Bridge, and we hold?"
Niko's face tightened.
