Page 107 of Hell and High Water

“It’s about time. You haven’t responded to me in days!” Devonde’s simpering wine makes me want to strangle the squirming lizard. He’s a wretched little thing.

But he eked out a nice little nook here. One I’ve put to good use.

“I’ve been a bit preoccupied. Assassination attempts tend to make people nervous.” Not that I think anyone was actually trying to kill me with that bomb the night of the Sinner’s Ball. It was a distraction.

Still, in the aftermath, Clive gave me a healthy dose of patience chasing my motorcade out of town. The bastard almost had me there at the end.

“Well, I can assure you, it wasn’t my doing. I wasn't keen on your appearance at the ball, but I know an opportunity when I see it. We have a lot to discuss!”

“Do we?” I mock.

“If we are going to be partners, you will treat me with respect.” Devonde raises his chin.

“Then talk, instead of mewling,” I sneer.

Devonde’s lip curls, his eyes widening. Apparently, he’s as accustomed to people fearing him as I am. And not at all prepared for whom he’s dealing with.

He’s used to having the upper hand, a greater force, more power. If he were smarter, if he were more capable, he’d play this a lot differently.

“I apologize. Things have been trying lately.”

“Has it? I thought your drug trade was booming, or that’s how you made it seem.”

“Things will level out. There have been some… inconveniences.”

“Do tell.” I smile, letting him wonder.

He matches my grin, pasting a fake rictus on his sunken face. Ugly fucker.

“Nothing to concern yourself with, Mister Vice. I’m sure you are all too aware of the risks of this industry.” He shrugs, watching me for any reaction.

I give him nothing.

“Enough with the small talk. Tell me how things look in Sanctum. Have you found what I asked you to find yet?”

“I’m still looking into it. Unfortunately, our town has a bad habit of losing important records. Goes with the territory of being run by a shadow council.”

This piece of shit thinks he can lie to me?

Dig the hole deeper, snake.

“In any event, I wanted to discuss some ground rules with your return to my city. I need assurances of our agreement. Just so we can all stay in our lanes, carve out our own kingdoms, and coexist.”

“Naturally.”

“The drug trade into Canada and everything down in Dockside is my territory. I think that’s only fair, since you will be taking over the bulk of the city works, the political center, the media, entertainment, etc. I’ll leave it to you and Clive to discuss your own terms with the Block?—”

“Clive declined to meet with us, told me to go fuck myself,” I interject, scowling to keep from laughing.

Devonde shakes his head in disbelief, like he’s not surprised at the MC president’s decision. He mistakes my expression, though. I’m not disappointed in Clive. I’m disgusted with the fact that Devonde thinks he has a fucking chance.

“Fool. Can’t he see what an opportunity this is, our three organizations teaming up? I mean, I don’t want to presume, but we could run an entire time zone, am I right?’ Devonde’s eyes flare, greed and hunger in his eyes.

But he’s the fool here. Clive was smart not to try and deal with me.

If he’s really smart, he and his little gang of cyclists will be long gone by the time I get to Sanctum Harbor.

“Well, if Clive doesn't want in on this, I'm happy to cut him out and divide the spoils among the two of us. I apologize for holding out on you, but I wanted to make sure things were well in hand before playing my hand. What you are looking for… it’s there. Right underneath the town. I found records. As to our agreement, I can have paperwork drawn up?—”

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