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Then it hits me. I've been such an idiot. All the weird things happening at the house, the leaked information, the missing jewels. The locations where the Jir was being stored. All of it points back to Octavian.
"He stole your mother's jewels," I tell Fabien.
"What?"
Octavian looks embarrassed for a moment, but he quickly recovers. His laugh echoes over the rooftops.
"I thought for sure someone would saysomething," he purrs. "But I suppose I have you to thank for that, too. You, Lily Townsend, have practically vaulted me into power. You gave me everything I needed, and you even made this twit fall in love with you."
Fabien moves quickly, but Octavian slips back with a warning hiss. The blade he draws is more than a foot long. More a sword than a knife. His tongue flicks out and he licks the length of the blade, drawing blood from his tongue that has a faint green tinge in the neon lights.
"Careful, cousin. If you touch me, you may send me to a nightmare of hell, but one scratch from this blade will finish you as well. We should do this the smart way: you give in and let me take power, and I’ll let you and your woman live in exile and shame. I'll tell the whole Raidh what she is, and how you protected her."
"And if I refuse?"
Shots ring out down in the street. I drop and crawl for the rifle, ready to cover our men below. Before I can reach it, it's kicked away over the edge by a booted foot.
"Hello dear," Rasmussen says. "It’s time for your mission to end. Now be a good girl and put a bullet in that monstrosity. I doubt any man will ever want you again, tainted as you are by his filth. But I'm afraid he cannot be allowed to live any longer."
Octavian's smile fades.
"Damn it, Rasmussen! I told you to stay down below and handle the fight!"
"To die as your pawn, you mean? No, I think not. I’m obedient, but not a fool. Come, let's clean this up and finish what must be finished."
Octavian glares at Rasmussen, but he doesn't disagree. If I were Rasmussen, I'd be very nervous about the look Octavian was giving me, but he doesn't seem to care at all.
Either he's oblivious, or he has something on Octavian he can use to control him. Just like he has on everyone else.
"Don't bother talking to Octavian," I tell Fabien. "Rasmussen already has him in his pocket, Octavian just doesn't know it yet."
"What the hell do you mean?" Octavian hisses.
"Oh? Didn't you know? That's how Rasmussen works. He always has something on everyone. It's how he stays alive and in power. Look at him, Octavian. He isn't afraid of you one bit. Once Fabien is dead, Rasmussen will tell you what he has on you, and I promise it'll be enough that you'll be his puppet for the rest of your life."
Octavian grits his teeth.
Rasmussen only shrugs.
"That's enough of that, I think," Rasmussen says. "If you won't finish him, then I will."
Rasmussen turns his gun on Fabien. I scream and run at him. The first shot sprays hot black powder into my eyes, and the sound is deafening. Something hits my ribs like a punch and I'm knocked off course, but not so far that I don't catch hold of him.
Rasmussen looks shocked at how strong I am.
Really?Doesn't he know I do crossfit? He's on the heavy side, but I could deadlift him if I had to. His gun fires again, and I feel my collarbone snap with the impact.
Now I scream from the pain.
But we still go over the edge.
The rusty cage of the fire escape flies up to meet us with a bang. Luckily, I land on Rasmussen, so it softens the blow. He's stunned for a second, just long enough for me to get my own pistol out as I stand.
For a long moment, both of us are dazed. I try to get to my feet with my eyes full of stars. Rasmussen tries to get his gun hand to stay level long enough to finish me.
"I don't work for you anymore," I tell him.
I open up, aiming for his center of mass.
