Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

because he claimed the Merchant Council was putting city funds toward it.”
    â€œWhat about that chest full of bills he brought to Vellgeluk?” asked Jesper.
    â€œBunk,” said Kaz, disgust in his voice. “Probably quality counterfeits.”
    â€œSo then how do we get the money? Rob the city? Rob the Council?” Jesper sat up straighter, hands drumming eagerly on the table. “Hit twelve vaults in one night?”
    Wylan shifted in his chair, and Matthias saw the disquiet in his expression. At least someone else in this band of miscreants was reluctant to keep committing crimes.
    â€œNo,” said Kaz. “We’re going to make like merchers and let the market do the work for us.” He leaned back, gloved hands resting on his crow’s head cane. “We’re going to take Van Eck’s money, and then we’re going to take his reputation. We’re going to make sure he can never do business in Ketterdam or anywhere in Kerch ever again.”
    â€œAnd what happens to Kuwei?” asked Nina.
    â€œOnce the job is done, Kuwei—and any other convicts, Grisha, and disinherited youths who may or may not have prices on their heads—can lie low in the Southern Colonies.”
    Jesper frowned. “Where will you be?”
    â€œRight here. I’ve still got plenty of business that requires my attention.”
    Though Kaz’s tone was easy, Matthias heard the dark anticipation in his words. He had often wondered how people survived this city, but it was possible Ketterdam would not survive Kaz Brekker.
    â€œWait a minute,” said Nina. “I thought Kuwei was going to Ravka.”
    â€œWhy would you think that?”
    â€œWhen you sold your Crow Club shares to Pekka Rollins, you asked him to send a message to the Ravkan capital. We all heard it.”
    â€œI thought it was a request for aid,” said Matthias, “not an invitation to bargain.” They had never discussed giving Kuwei to Ravka.
    Kaz considered them with some amusement. “It was neither. Let’s just hope Rollins is as gullible as you two.”
    â€œIt was a decoy,” Nina moaned. “You were just keeping Rollins busy.”
    â€œI wanted Pekka Rollins preoccupied. Hopefully, he has his people trying to chase down our Ravkan contacts. They should prove difficult to find, given that they don’t exist.”
    Kuwei cleared his throat. “I would prefer to go to Ravka.”
    â€œI’d prefer a pair of sable-lined swimming trunks,” said Jesper. “But we can’t always get what we want.”
    A furrow appeared between Kuwei’s brows. The limits to his understanding of Kerch had apparently been reached and surpassed.
    â€œI would prefer to go to Ravka,” he repeated more firmly. Kaz’s flat black gaze fastened on Kuwei and held. Kuwei squirmed nervously. “Why is he looking at me this way?”
    â€œKaz is wondering if he should keep you alive,” said Jesper. “Terrible for the nerves. I recommend deep breathing. Maybe a tonic.”
    â€œJesper, stop,” said Wylan.
    â€œBoth of you need to relax.” Jesper patted Kuwei’s hand. “We’re not going to let him put you in the ground.”
    Kaz raised a brow. “Let’s not make any promises just yet.”
    â€œCome on, Kaz. We didn’t go to all that trouble to save Kuwei just to make him worm food.”
    â€œWhy do you want to go to Ravka?” Nina asked, unable to hide her eagerness.
    â€œWe never agreed to that,” Matthias said. He did not want to argue about this, especially not with Nina. They were supposed to set Kuwei loose to live an anonymous life in Novyi Zem, not hand him over to Fjerda’s greatest enemy.
    Nina shrugged. “Maybe we need to rethink our options.”
    Kuwei spoke slowly, choosing his words with care. “It’s safer there. For Grisha. For me. I don’t want to hide. I want to