Page 150 of Hell and High Water

“At least that’s what I think. Marco had me doing seismic readings. He needed to know for sure that his gambit was worth it. That the rumors were true.”

“And you told him…?”

“The city is built over miles of caves and tunnels. Mines. I never found the entrance, but that was a gamble I was willing to risk to get the upper hand in our dealings.”

“You lied to him?”

“Not exactly. But I wanted to draw him in. Use him.”

“So you could turn on him and take the town for yourself after he took over.” Gavin shakes his head in disgust.

The gurgling laugh that escapes Devonde’s lips makes my skin crawl. It’s manic. Bitter.

With Tell’s fate still unknown, I fidget, wanting to leave.

But he’s fading. I won’t get another chance to ask questions I need answers to.

“Who was your sinful contact?”

“Voracity. At one point. Who was yours? Or were the orders delivered through your little dance partner at the ball? The angel…” His eyes glitter. Even as he’s dying, the bastard can’t help himself.

“That's none of your concern.”

“Come on, humor a dying man.”

“Hubris. But we think someone else was using the moniker to deliver orders too. Spite. Hubris. Voracity.”

“And what about the others?”

“Ire and Avarice died years ago. Likely taken out by rivals, as well. We don’t know about Ardor.”

“I knew it. I fucking knew it. If only we had met sooner, Miss Michaels,” he rasps. “We could have combined our knowledge. We could have saved this town.”

“I would never work with someone like you. And I still plan to save it, regardless.”

“Why not? I might not employ means you approve of, but we both want the same thing. To preserve what this town was founded for. A haven for the unwanted.”

“You sell poison. Death.”

“A means to an end. Someone will always do what I do. Better me than another less responsible. At least I can develop the cure and treatment for the disease, too.” He laughs cynically.

“You’re sick.”

“No, my lungs are filling up with blood.”

“We could get you to the hospital,” I offer, knowing it’s futile. I’m honestly not sure I would want to save him if we could.

“There's no point. There's nothing worth living for, anyway.”

“I disagree.”

“You don’t stand a chance against Vice.”

“That doesn’t mean we won’t try. We have to try to save Sanctum. And if we can’t, we intend to at least save as many of our citizens as we can.”

“I applaud your altruism. But it’s hopeless. He’s already won. Why keep fighting?”

“It's what my father would have wanted.”

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