Requiem for a Mouse Read Online Free

to talk about dying old. Flower, I’ll tell them the truth. Let’s just hope they don’t freak out.”
    Flower let out a breath. She had worried that Sasha would fight her on this. If Sasha was so inclined, nobody in this world could match her stubbornness.
    “Oh, by the way Flower, could you run over to our last drop and see how they’re doing? That one isn’t too far from here.”
    Flower raised her eyebrows. “Why? It’s not like any of them ever care anyways.”
    “Because I asked you to.” Sasha bit her lower lip and gave Flower a hurtful look.
    Flower rolled her eyes. “I’m not Prince, you can’t just give me that look and have me do whatever you want.”
    Sasha giggled.
    “I bet he’s off causing trouble again,” Flower said with a rogue-like grin.
    “Before I left to find Bolt, I told Maverick to keep an eye on him.”
    “Like that would stop him.” They both knew how Prince was. Flower gave Sasha an impish gaze. “Speaking of Prince, have you had any more dreams—”
    “Stop.”
    “I didn’t say anything.” Flower bit her lower lip and replicated Sasha’s hurt look from earlier. “I feel like you always think I’m about to do something bad.”
    “You are.”
    Flower smiled, seeing Sasha’s ears starting to turn red. “You’re no fun.”
    “Go.” Sasha pointed toward the alley exit.
    “Fine, fine.” Flower left, chuckling.

PRINCE
     
    “You fucking cheated!” John’s face turned purple. His voice carried through the bar.
    Mismatched tables and chairs furnished this place. The only piece of furniture that wasn’t rotting or broken was the bar itself. Its polished oak contrasted sharply with the flaking wood of the other tables.
    Prince wanted to explain to John how impossible it was to cheat in chess, but instead just rolled his eyes, “Next time, don’t underestimate me,” Prince said with a waning grin.
    It had been a mistake to gamble with this man. John was the type of man who would rather accuse a fifteen-year-old boy of cheating than admit defeat.
    But I could probably win even more money from him. Prince thrust the thought from his mind, astounded by his own greed. Even when facing such a volatile man, his money-making schemes were so attractive. Luckily, he wasn’t that much a fool.
    “What did you say?” John clenched the table, sending quakes across the chessboard. His arms were pillars of flesh littered with scars. Even his face carried proof of battle. “You arrogant little shit, you’re lecturing me now?”
    “If I were to lecture you, I would teach you to be a more graceful loser,” Prince said, like a fool.
    Prince had always known he was reckless, but this bordered absurdity. Still, he understood why he couldn’t just walk away. He was a gambler. If the odds were enough in his favor, he would bet his life. The fact he had so many opportunities to do so was nothing short of a blessing.
    John swatted the chess table across the room. Every eye in the bar turned to see John’s shadow swallow Prince.
    “I’m going to give you one chance and one chance only to get down on your fucking knees and beg,” John growled.
    It was near impossible, but Prince kept his grin steady. “Sorry that you lost.”
    “What was that?”
    The gamblers of the Riverside Tavern abandoned their games of cards and dice to watch the spectacle. They surrounded Prince and John, a ragtag circle of men dressed in clothes patched beyond recognition. Even the bartender, wearing his nice black vest, stopped washing glasses to listen in.
    John brandished a switchblade from his pocket. “Don’t think just because you’re a kid, I won’t hurt you.”
    “I don’t, but this bar belongs to The Dragon. That’s why you won’t hurt me.” Prince kept his voice level. “There’s a better way to decide these things.”
    John followed Prince’s gaze to the chessboard he had flung across the room.
    “Or do you think you’re going to lose again, John?”
    “Ha.” The laugh sounded