It wasn't surprising that Cassian, sharp as he was, noticed the note right away. Natalie leaned in close to his ear and quietly told him everything. A few gang members nearby saw it and nearly lost their minds. As if it wasn't already bad enough that those two were lounging around, drinking juice and reading while they had to stand there like idiots, now they were leaning in close and whispering like lovers. Grinding their teeth, they all made the same silent promise. Once the leader gave the signal, they'd make sure that pretty girl ended up locked in the basement and taught a painful lesson. While those filthy thoughts circled in their heads, a few of the smarter ones dragged over two chairs and placed them beside the group leaders. "Good job," one of the leaders said with approval. Both men sat down. The chairs weren't as plush as Natalie and Cassian's couch, but at least they didn't have to keep standing like kids in detention. Meanwhile, Selene hurried into the basement, clutching the heavy quilts and coats in her arms. The moment she stepped inside, the women's dull eyes lit up with hope as they crowded toward her. "Selene! Are those for us?" "Thank you! Hurry, give me the clothes! I can't stand this cold anymore!" "They're for me! You all already have jackets! Don't you dare grab mine—I've got nothing!" "You do have one! Everyone got a thin coat!" "I told you I don't! Leeroy ripped mine yesterday, you know that!" "So what if it's ripped? It's still cloth! You can still wrap it around yourself! Why should you get more?" "Oh, shut it! If you don't want it, why are you crowding here?" They shoved and cursed, clawing for the blankets and clothes in Selene's arms. The cold was unbearable. The basement was damp and freezing, turning into an icy pit as the temperature continued to drop during Frostfall. The gang had handed out a few thin coats—after all, if the women froze to death, the men upstairs would lose their amusement. But the thick, warm clothes were saved for the men. No one had expected those heavy coats and blankets they hadn't bothered hoarding when it was hot to become so valuable now. Searching for them was a pain in the ass. And they certainly weren't going to waste them on a bunch of prostitutes. The women fighting over the quilts were at least still able to argue. Others sat slumped in their chairs, pale and motionless with their eyes shut. It was impossible to tell if they were still breathing. Selene had no time to care. She didn't even know if she'd make it through the day alive. "Move!" she snapped. "Get out of my way!" Everyone knew she had gained status lately. Hearing her bark like that made them freeze, though none of them stepped aside. They just stood there, staring. Selene frowned, her voice softening. "I know you're cold, but these aren't for you." Still, no one moved. She let out a sharp sigh. "Fine. When I get back upstairs, I'll talk to the leader about sending more warm clothes and blankets. But you need to clear the way right now. Don't make me late." A woman wearing glasses suddenly snapped, "Don't try to fool us! I used to work in admin. I know this script by heart. You're just stringing us along!""Yeah! Apply, wait, apply again—how long's that gonna take, till we're dead?" "You can fill out your form later. Hand me that blanket right now or I'll freeze where I stand!" They were like starving wolves circling a cornered lamb, unwilling to back off for even a second. But Selene wasn't about to give in. The blankets in her arms—and the two old women waiting downstairs—were her only lifeline. She wasn't going to let go. She couldn't push through the mob, but the women didn't dare lay hands on her either. So both sides froze, locked in a tense standstill. Upstairs, Natalie and Cassian wrapped up their conversation, finished their drinks, and calmly put away their books before standing up. The two group leaders, who had been keeping watch, immediately jumped to their feet. "Where do you think you're going?!" Natalie didn't answer. She reached down and unlatched the gas mask from Lucky's face, revealing the dog's gleaming fangs. Her posture shifted, every line of her body ready for battle. She ran a hand over Lucky's head, then lifted her gaze to the men in front of her, her mouth curving into a sharp smile. "Sorry," she said coolly. "Your thirty minutes are up. Goodbye." Then she raised the gun strapped to her back. She and Cassian had already agreed—since the gang had the numbers, they'd take out this group first, before the rest could swarm them. The men barely had time to react before one of them yelled, "What the hell? Half an hour? It's been ten minutes at most!"Natalie had already pulled the trigger. "It's half an hour when I say it is." A storm of gunfire tore through the room, bullets thundering off the walls as men fell one after another.