Page 160 of Riordan's Revenge

When I fell under the water, I’d been clutching a little life. Something small and precious and beautiful. That was love. A part of me that hadn’t existed but now burned bright because of Cassie. It was all the good and perfect things she made me feel. It was real, and I’d be damned if I was losing it.

I centred myself on the goal of bringing this reign of terror to an end and finished the trip down the road. Leaving my bike at the kerb, I eased off my helmet and scanned the scrubby ground which gave way to the riverbank.

There was nobody in sight. The main entrances to the warehouses were on the far side of both buildings, so all that was around me was the empty perimeters and the calm of the night. Only the rushing river and the distant sounds of the city made the backdrop.

A click sounded, and I spun around. A fire exit door opened at the back of the nearest warehouse. Moniqua stepped out. Relief fell over her expression, and she set her hand on her heart.

Once, I’d tried to be her friend. I hated for anyone to suffer, and she’d laid it on thick about how tough her life was with her gangster cousin and her inability to protect herself. Hindsight told me I’d been played.

Her smile appeared real, though. “I’m so glad you came. I’ve got something for you.”

“Where’s your cousin?” I called.

“In the building. He won’t disturb us.”

“But he’s a murderer.”

“Nah, not really.” She returned inside, and clattering followed, then Moniqua backed out of the door wheeling a flat, metal trolley. With a body on it.

In horror, I recoiled. “Who’s that?”

She turned, and the answer presented itself.

Slumped on the trolley was the mayor.

With difficulty, she wheeled him over then unceremoniously tipped him onto the road, apparently uncaring that fifty metres behind me, people slept in their houses and could look out at any moment.

Moniqua dusted her hands. “I knew you’d come. You’ve always been so kind and so good. It’s why I brought you this present.”

I stared at the body. His lolling head and pale skin. “I don’t understand.”

“You want him to acknowledge you, don’t you? Baby, he’s yours. My gift.”

“Is he the murderer?”

Her smile morphed into a more frustrated expression. “Are you joking? After everything you’ve seen, you think this piece of shit could have done all of that?”

My gut tightened, and I dragged my gaze off my father. “I don’t understand.”

“God, men are such idiots.”

“You said you knew who’s responsible. If not Don, or the mayor, then who?”

She widened her eyes, the effect alarming. “It’s me, silly. I did it. They say women aren’t natural killers, but all she needs is someone to lift the bodies for her and wipe the blood from her cheek to even the playing field. I can’t believe you thought he could’ve handled such a well-executed campaign.”

She kicked the mayor’s prone form.

He groaned. Unconscious then, not dead.

I scanned the wastelands beyond us and the road that led back to the houses. There was no sign of anyone else around. No indication that I had backup. Yet Cassie was listening to every word down the open line of the phone in my pocket. With any luck, one of her brothers would already be taking down Don, if he really was here. I was beginning to doubt that now, too.

For Cassie’s sake, I had to make sure this was all clear.

I folded my arms. “How? Explain it to me, because you lied and told me it was your cousin.”

Moniqua rolled her eyes. “Only to get you here, because I knew you couldn’t resist the need to protect me. Don would’ve happily ruined any throats to get to the top, but he’s not stealing my crown. Not after the shit he pulled. It was me in the car with him when Gen pissed him off and rejected him in favour of Arran. I barely survived his rage, and only escaped seconds before the crash. I rolled free, he toasted himself.”

Then he was dead. “You’re telling me that after that, you walked back up the hill and murdered Cherry?”

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