Page 57 of The Fall

“A merger.”

“Fuck you, Dimitri.”

“Are you still hung up on the trafficking? I thought with Chalice gone, you’d be over it.” Dimitri sat on the corner of the desk, like he was staking a claim.

“You’ve yet to produce any evidence that you took care of her.”

Lusa’s eyes locked with Kerr. She’d heard it too. Had Cinder sent the Styx after Chalice? What did that mean for Pinga? But there was no proof that they were dead. Lusa clenched her jaw.

“They’re in the old vault. There’s no way in or out for either her or Kerr.”

Kerr frowned. What the fuck was he on about? She was right here. Unless they thought Pinga was her?

“Without proof, I’m not making any moves. This conversation is over.” Cinder stood dismissively, the chair scraping along the concrete.

Neither of the Styx moved. “Oh, I know. You need to wait the appropriate period of time and then choose a new leader. A shame that we don’t have all the time in the world to waste.”

Cinder waved Dimitri away. “Shut the fuck up, or spit it out.”

“What if I guaranteed your takeover?”

“Planning on sending me foot soldiers to strong-arm anyone who doesn’t back me?” Cinder sneered. “Chargers don’t work like that. Most of them are ex SecTac. They’ll swarm your men for even suggesting it.”

“Perish the thought.” Dimitri examined his fingernails. “You don’t need more violence down here. In fact, I’m offering the opposite.”

Cinder narrowed his eyes. “Go on.”

“One latest gen DocPod. With expanded port capabilities. It can do whatever you want. Rapid detox for trash that shows up on your doorstep. Regrow your goons’ limbs.” He motioned to Servo and Cog. “Even give you a great set of tits if you want.” Dimitri blew Cinder a kiss. “They’d look fantastic on you.”

Cinder looked away in disgust. Dimitri grinned. “I don’t think you understand what these models can truly do.” He leaned on the desk. “I caught a Harpy spy last week. She resisted everything.” Dimitri sounded almost proud of her. “Until we put her in the DocPod.”

Cinder looked bored. “You can remove and cauterise limbs without one.”

“Your imagination is far too small.” Something about Dimitri’s smile with the fangs sickened Kerr. She could tell Lusa saw it too. “Women always want to look younger. So, we obliged. And then we gave her to the men.”

Even Cinder looked horrified at the implication. “You’re a sick fuck.” Cinder turned to his men. They shrugged, the unspoken made clear. Power was worth it. “Not until the waiting period is over,” Cinder cautioned. “How would this merger work?”

Dimitri’s grin grew wider.

“Joint rule. Ten year minimum. As co-leader, you and Mashö can hash out succession formalities after that.”

“And how do I know I won’t end up with a knife in my back?”

“Because no-one uses knives anymore.”

“Cute.” Cinder raised his middle finger. “But seriously.”

“Seriously Cinder, I don’t fucking know. How did you make it this far without figuring out your own protection?” Dimitri rose. “If you don’t want to play the game, I’ll find someone who does.”

Cinder’s men drew their weapons. He held his hand out to put them at ease. “Find whoever you want. Do you know how many Chargers wound up here after fleeing the Harpies?”

“We had nothing to do with their internal spat” Dimitri scowled. “We only took their turf because they lost so many people. A lesson you might heed when Chalice fails to show. We can wait while you fight amongst yourselves, or back the winner before it gets that far.”

“You also took over the trafficking everyone hated them for.” Cinder snarled. “You wouldn’t have had the support from the district if they’d known. Our people won’t trust you.”

“Your people won’t or you won’t?” Dimitri ran his tongue across the point of a fang. “We can always use force.”

Cinder’s men looked to him before going for their weapons this time. “Fuck off. We have more people than you.”