Her guidebook had been right about the City of Sin. It was morally decrepit. It was disgusting and rotten. It was stained black to its very core.
But her guidebook had been wrong about one thing—it had been wrong abouther. She had entered New Reynes as delicate as glass. She had even shattered. But as it turned out, beneath the dust and shards, something stronger lay within her, a substance less easily broken.
She would never forget the ache of her mother’s death, but she would also never regret uncovering the truth—about Lourdes and about herself.
Even deep within St. Morse, Enne could still make out the wail of sirens outside. She could still hear the echoes of engines roaring, timers ticking and guns firing.
Her guidebook claimed the City of Sin was a game.
She’d made her first move.
LEVI
“Levi, my dear,” Vianca cooed as Levi entered the donna’s unholy, unfashionable lair. “Look at you.” Shetsked with feigned concern as she examined the bruises on his eye and neck. “I’m surprised you can walk.”
He sat on a chair across from her, and it made him as stiff and uncomfortable as she did.
“Miss Salta has proved to be quite an impressive young woman,” Vianca mused.
He didn’t like that smile on her face. “Yes, she is,” he answered carefully.
“Tell me—how does it feel to be a celebrity? You’ve always wanted that, haven’t you?”
Levi had always wanted to be a legend. Maybe he was, after tonight. But he was also a target.
He leaned back into the seat and winced from the pain in his ribs. “It could feel better.”
“The whiteboots have searched your apartment—and this casino—from top to bottom. They’ll be leaving soon. You and the rest of your...associates can sleep here tonight, in Miss Salta’s apartment. I have my men watching every entrance and floor. Starting tomorrow, I’ve made arrangements for you to stay with a friend of mine named Zula Slyk. She lives on the Street of the Holy Tombs.”
“We’ve met before,” he said drily. The idea of bunking with Zula and her unsettling ramblings about shades and curses sounded less than appealing. Though, admittedly, he’d live just about anywhere if it meant escaping St. Morse.
“You know each other?” Vianca asked, surprised.
“I know everyone in Olde Town.”
“Yes, I thought you’d like to stay within your little territory.” She said it as though she’d kept his wishes at heart. “I’ve never understood what you see in that place. It’s a stain on New Reynes.”
“Can we trust Zula?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. You’re not the first runaway she’s stowed, and I’ve known her a long time. We run in similar circles.” She smiled in a way that was nearly giddy. In all the years Levi had known Vianca, he’d never seen her smile like that. Her yellowed teeth, her flaky lips—he actually preferred her scowl. “With Sedric removed, the monarchist party actually has a chance. Only four months left until the election—I can’t imagine they’ll find someone else suitable in time.”
“You know I hate politics.”
“I’m sorry—am I boring you? With the Chancellor dead, this is set to be the most important political moment since the Great Street War, and you’re at its center. You should be paying attention.”
Levi was treading dangerous waters. When Vianca launched into one of her political tirades, there was no interrupting her for hours. It wasn’t that she bored him—he just had no desire to review the night’s events with her. She was the reason he’d nearly died.
“It’s been a long night,” he said, hoping that would satisfy.
“Yes, well...” She lifted her chin higher, and Levi braced himself for whatever insults she would throw at him, as she usually did in each of their conversations. “All of this business with the investment scheme—I didn’t know what I was getting us into. More specifically, what I was gettingyouinto. And I am genuinely sorry about that.”
Levi was too stunned to do anything but nod. He’d never heard Vianca apologize. He’d always thought remorse was beyond her.
“I’m set on making it up to you,” she said. “I thought you should know.”
Oh, no,he thought, sure that whatever gift she was planning would prove to be another death sentence in disguise.
“Go rest,” she told him. “By tomorrow, the whole city will know. By tomorrow, everything will be different.”
