Chapter 119 Training: Knife Work

• That night, after the men had dispersed and the house grew quiet, Horace slipped into his study with a glass of brandy in hand. The room was dim, smoke from his cigar curling toward the ceiling. He dialed Jim, his voice casual but edged with eagerness.
• “Jim, I need you to do something for us. Hardy’s product…word on the street is it’s hard, clean, and moving like wildfire. Find out who his supplier is. If they can sell to us, then we move in before Hardy regains his footing.”
• On the other end, Jim’s sigh was heavy, weighted with disappointment. “Horace… the man just suffered a brutal attack. His shipments crippled, his name smeared on the street. And all you care about is stealing his supplier?”