Page 21 of The Devil in the Details

“I’m trying. The gate is blocked,” a voice said. “There’s a vehicle fire.”

There was only one gate nearby that allowed traffic through the dome. Others were scattered across the city, but it would take time to reach them. No wonder the robbers weren’t in a hurry.

“You,” Mal growled, stalking toward Walker. “You did this.”

“Me? I had a gun to my head,” Walker said, all charm and smiles. He ran a hand over the back of his head, mussing his hair. Mal’s back was toward Zelda, so she couldn’t see his face. Whatever Walker saw—whatever visage Mal was showing him—it made the color drain from his face.

Mal’s hand snapped out, grabbing Walker by the throat.

Fury etched into his very being, Mal dragged Walker through the suite to the open balcony. The crowd parted around them. Gasping for breath, Walker clawed at Mal’s hand, but to no avail.

Zelda hurried after, worried what Mal would do.

Mal lifted Walker, whose face was now red, and held him over the edge of the balcony. His legs kicked uselessly. Mal opened his hand and stepped back.

“Wait! Don’t!” Zelda said, extending a hand like she could catch Walker.

Walker hung suspended. His eyes went wide in disbelief.

Right, a gravitational distortion.

“I should let this pathetic creature fall,” Mal said with a snarl. His eyes were black as ink—black as the void. Moving his hand in a circular motion, Walker turned upside down.

“Please don’t,” Walker croaked. He dangled in midair, one leg rigid like he was suspended by an invisible rope. The other kicked wildly.

“You can’t just drop him off the side of a building,” she said.

“Why ever not?” Mal sounded genuinely perplexed. “You wanted vengeance. This is vengeance.”

Mal’s hand twitched and Walker dropped a foot, yelping in surprise.

“Yeah, I wanted him to suffer, not to be murdered. Big difference,” she said. Dropping Walker to his death was too much. Why couldn’t Mal see that?

“Is this loyalty? You owe this male nothing,” Mal said. Then he grimaced, like he had a bitter taste in his mouth. “You have lingering feelings for this male.”

“Absolutely not,” she said instantly. She didn’t know how long Mal could keep Walker suspended like that. It must have been tiring. This seemed like the sort of thing that warranted a quick resolution.

“You lie.”

Walker dropped a foot and yelped in surprise. “Don’t drop me. Don’t drop me. Please. I’ll do anything you want,” he begged. Honestly, she was embarrassed for him. Abject terror was not a good look for him.

“A few hours ago, I might have agreed with you,” Zelda said, “but I’m over him.”

Mal huffed. “A likely story.”

“Look, just because I don’t want you to murder my ex doesn’t mean I still have feelings for the guy. He’s a snake.”

“A handsome snake,” Mal said, his lips curled in disgust.

“A handsome snake, but what do I want with snakes? Really, all he’s got to offer is good looks. He’s just empty and greedy. I’m over it.” Zelda didn’t know how to better express herself. Then, for good measure, she added, “Besides, he’s boring.”

Mal’s eyes swirled black and blue. “He is rather tedious. All this screaming and begging.”

“Whatever you want, I’ll do it,” Walker promised.

“Confess your involvement in the robbery tonight.”

“I didn’t?—”

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