Rhadamanthys took a slow sip of the martini the bartender placed in front of him. “And who, pray tell, initiated the contract against Azevedo?”
I met Luka’s eyes. Luka gave a shake of his head, but I answered anyway. Better for Rhadamanthys to hear it directly from me. “Dionysus.”
The judge choked on his martini. “I see,” he said, recovering. “You do realize…this is a trap?”
“Seems like it. Die if I win, die if I lose…Seems like someone out there really wants me dead.”
Rhadamanthys frowned. “That is…unfortunate. But it doesn’t change what I’ve come here to tell you. Per the coin’s rules, until the coin's demands are satisfied, you are suspended from the Pantheon. No safe houses, no resources, no protection of our covenant." His voice softened. "One hour to conclude your affairs and vacate all Acropolis-affiliated properties. I'm sorry, Lorenzo. Truly."
My throat constricted. Every contact, every resource, every safe harbor I'd cultivated was now off-limits. "And if I succeed? If I kill Dionysus?"
The silence stretched. Rhadamanthys's face went ashen. That scared me more than anything else because when Judges looked worried, normal people should be fucking terrified.
"Then you will have murdered a Director. And the Judges will be bound by oath to hunt you down and execute you." His voice was barely a whisper. "Every path leads to the same end, Lorenzo. No matter what you choose, you die."
I pushed my drink away. “Well, then why bother? Why not just kill me now and get it over with?”
Rhadamanthys stood, replacing his Stetson. “A man’s legacy is not measured by the time and circumstances of his death, Lorenzo, but by the way in which he lived. You have a choice before you still. How you conduct yourself in the coming days will define your ending. Make it a good one, Piccolo.”
Then he was gone, vanishing into Ossario's elegant crowd like expensive smoke.
Luka's hands trembled as he poured more vodka. "Christ, Lorenzo. What did you get yourself into?"
“Someone set me up,” I said, snatching up the coin. “And I intend to find out who. Right after I finish this one last job.”
"Lorenzo—"
"I’ve got an hour to get out of Rome." I looked at him, and something in his expression made my chest tight: worry, real worry. "I'm sorry, Luka. For dragging you into this."
"Just come back alive, Lo. We'll figure out the rest."
The nickname hit differently than it should have. How many times had we said goodbye like this, both of us knowing the odds? This time though, we both knew the truth: I wasn't coming back.
I pocketed the Judas Coin and walked away, threading through Ossario's elegant crowd toward the exit. Assassins and arms dealers parted, their conversations resuming only after I'd passed.
I made it through the bone-lined corridors and into the reception area, past the same well-dressed killers conducting their civilized business.
The elevator waited at the far end, brass doors reflecting amber light. When the brass doors slid open, I paused, eyes widening as I took in who was waiting for me.
The hot priest from the Vatican straightened, and a smile played at the corners of his mouth, the kind that promised violence or pleasure or possibly both.
"Lorenzo Vasquez." My name rolled off his tongue like he'd been practicing it, tasting each syllable. "Just the man I was looking for."
I stepped out ofthe elevator, reaching for the knife hidden in my cassock. Lorenzo took two steps back.
"Excuse me, gentlemen." The receptionist appeared. "Violence is forbidden on Acropolis grounds. You'll need to take your business elsewhere."
Lorenzo smiled as I released the handle of my knife and straightened my jacket. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a situation.”
My fingers curled briefly into fists until the holes in my palms hurt. “You can’t hide in here forever.”
“You’re right about that.” He checked his watch. “I’ve got an hour to get out of town. I’d rather spend it dancing than fighting. You?”
"I'm not here to dance. I’m here to kill you."
Lorenzo's eyes lit up like I'd offered him a gift. "You're welcome to try, Father. But it’s like the lady said. Violence is out of the question as long as we’re down here. Might as well make the most of the situation." He stepped back, giving me space I didn't want anymore.
He turned and started to walk down the corridor, pausing after a few steps to look back. “Coming, Father?”
