Page 109 of Hell and High Water

I’ll admit, I can get a bit carried away. Power gets me high.

Especially when I can shove it down some cocksucker’s throat as he realizes how fucked he is.

“Who do you think has been taking out your generals, wiping out your dealers?” I take a step toward him, and he flinches. Good.

“You will regret this. You’ll regret ever stepping foot in Sanctum Harbor.” Devonde turns, heading toward his car, waving for his men to follow.

Two steps out, he stops, looking back.

Both guards watch me, waiting for a signal.

I see Devonde process the betrayal in an instant. Right before be makes a dash for cover.

Guy’s fast for his age. I’ll give him that.

My men spray the warehouse with bullets, fanning out on my signal.

“I would have let you live, Devonde. Remember that with your last breath.” Even if living would only ever be at my discretion.

He darts from cover between the pillars of the old warehouse, ducking between shadows. A yelp of agony tells me he’s hit, at least once, in the process. I watch for another few seconds before heading back to my car.

Even if they don’t kill him, his fate’s sealed. He won’t last the week.

Because we’re taking the town in force. My entire army is with me, ready for a fucking war. And my men know what it means to fail. It’s an all-out competition, and I’m the referee.

As my driver pulls away, I feel a moment of irritation, followed by an intense feeling of anticipation, satisfaction. The gunfire echoes behind us, reminding me that my days of rash decisions and clawing my way to the top are over.

Securing my throne in a veritable fortress will set me up for life, set me up to be a king. Free from threats to my life, free from government, and sitting right on top of more wealth than I could ever need to keep my empire running forever.

Because Sanctum Harbor isn't just a figurative goldmine. It's a literal goldmine.

Every one of those hills is chock full of the stuff, which explains not only why the Sinful established their order here, but why they've been so zealous to maintain their stronghold on the area and how they've managed to do so with seemingly infinite funds.

“Send word to the men. It’s time. We’re going in. No turning back.”

I've done about as much research as we're going to be able to do. I have infiltrated every single level of government. Every level of business. It paints a pretty clear picture.

It’s a ruler’s wet dream.

An autonomous haven free from the US government.

I can start my own goddamn country. There’s just one thing missing, a tidbit secret that I need to lock in to secure my rule there, to unlock the Sinful’s wealth and power.

And I know who holds that secret.

Getting it from her and making her pay for sneaking off all those years ago will just sweeten the pot. I’m going to find Hellena, eliminate anything that stands in my way, and she’s going to tell me what my late wife couldn’t.

She’s going to share her father’s secrets with me. Or she’ll see what true retribution and pain looks like.

Or maybe, she’ll come willingly. With the right incentives.

20

EVAN

The streets of Sanctum Harbor look like a ghost town the next evening as we make our way down the mountain.

Something has shifted in the few days we’ve been at the safe house, the brief stay and packing we did to move back to the city and start working on Hellena’s plan.

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