Free Penumbra (The Midnight Society #2) by Logan Patricks

business investments and real estate.”
    I looked at Tsung. “We all know that baby beluga over here doesn’t have the smarts to expand the Triad into these territories,” I said. Tsung’s nostril’s flared. I ignored him and continued. “I also know that gangsters are loyal to the person that gives them a bigger paycheck. You have a new boss, one that’s kept himself well hidden. I want to speak to him.”
    After a short moment of silence, one of Tsung’s entourage stepped forward. He was younger than I expected.
    He was handsome, sporting short cropped hair and a clean shaven face. What truly surprised me was that he was of mixed ethnicity, with rosy cheeks and distinctive blue eyes that set him apart from other Chinese.
    When it came to race, the Triads were typically old school and traditional. They didn’t like half-bloods or “white devils”, as they called them, being a part of their organization. Whoever this guy was, he was either an absolute genius, or extremely dangerous. Perhaps he was both.
    The man walked up to me and extended his hand. “Nathan Tse,” he said.
    I eyed him suspiciously, before shaking his hand.
    “How about we go for a walk, Shadow?” he asked, “Just the two of us.” He looked back at the rest of his men and gestured for everyone to sit down again.
    I nodded. “I can’t say no, can I?”
    “No, you can’t,” Nathan smiled. He definitely wasn’t a traditional gangster. I could tell from the way he presented himself.
    I needed to know more about him. I needed to see if he was a potential ally down the road. But first, I had to make sure Calisto didn’t have the Triad in her pocket already.
    Nathan gestured towards the Temple Street Night Market, across from the street diner. Crowds of people were filing in and out of the entrance to the marketplace with plastic bags in hand, filled with food, clothing, and other merchandise.
    “Shall we?”
    I nodded.
    “Are you surprised that I’m a half-devil?” Nathan asked, as we stepped into the outdoor market.
    I shrugged my shoulders. After the shocking revelation that Calisto had murdered our parents, I felt prepared for anything.
    “I have to admit, I was surprised about recent changes to the Midnight Society, that it no longer exists,” Nathan continued.
    “The Midnight Society still exists,” I replied. “We’re just streamlining.”
    Nathan laughed. “I won’t pry into family disputes between you and your sister, but I will say this: The Triad is not too happy with the recent change in direction Calisto and her Revenants have forced on us.”
    “Elena Zhao,” I stated.
    Nathan nodded. “Elena Zhao.” He walked over to one of the vendors selling an assortment of foods. He pulled out his wallet and purchased two skewers filled with steaming balls of meat.
    “Curry fish balls,” Nathan said as he handed one stick over to me. “I insist.”
    I took it. “Thanks.”
    “Always one of my favorites,” he said as he took a bite from his snack.
    “How is it?”
    “I’m sure it’s not the savory meal you high society are used to, but it hits the spot,” he said, waiting for me to take a bite.
    I did.
    It wasn’t half bad.
    We continued walking through the market, passing by vendors selling wooden jewelry, scarves, plastic toys, and other varieties of accessories.
    When Nathan was finished with his snack, he tossed the bare stick into a garbage can, and turned to me.
    “I’ll be honest with you Shadow, I do not enjoy doing business with Elena Zhao,” he stated. “She is a shake-down artist, increasing the kickbacks to the Revenants by almost twenty percent. At least with the Midnight Society, the Triad could still earn a decent living. She is also vocal about how my organization should be run and sticks her nose into my business more often than I’d like.”
    “She’s a bitch,” I agreed.
    “The fact of the matter is, she looks down on Triad,” Nathan said. “She thinks she’s better than us with her