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“If you’re willing to compromise yourself for the Marchesis, why not for me?”

Swain paused and took several slow sips of his water My mouth seemed drier than ever as I watched hiiven e the fact that I was thirsty as fuck

I watched as he picked up a large burger and took a bite “It’s delicious in case you’re wondering You could be joining me if you decide to be cooperative”

“What are my other options?”

“Ah I knew you could speak” He took another bite before continuing “You have two options Give me any information I need and take care of police business for me, or I’ll torture and kill you”

I started to speak, but Swain raised a hand and silenced me

“Don’t say anything rash I’ive you some time to think it over Several es you could have if you worked for me” He drained the rest of the bottle of water and cruer “And food Someone to take care of that wrist A chance to live out the rest of your life”

Whether any of the rest of what he said was true, I knew the last part was a lie No one ever lasted long working for a man like him

I watched as he silently finished his meal and the second bottle of water He left the e on the desk when he stood and stepped close tothe side of rabbed my chin I wanted to pull away, but I knew that would hurt, and I was in no condition to fight him with my restraints and my injuries

“I think I’d enjoy breaking you If Marchesi has kept you around this long, you h I’ve always heard he liked quantity over quality Still, if you don’t comply, I think I’ll play with you for a while before I kill you I doubt Marchesi likes inflicting pain ashowme to put you out of yourthe Marchesis and their allies down Either way I win You just have to decide howto lose”

After he left, the cone, the ser and fries he’d eaten, and ain

I had to sit very still for a while before I got ainst the pain in ainst the scissors

29

Devil

Lucien, Angelo, and I io at our don office His boss, X, joined us by phone I wanted to ask Giorgio howwith soio trusted hih We needed all the help we could get, and X had infors even our best informants would never be able to find out When he wanted so done, it happened

“Lucien, it’s been a while since we’ve spoken,” X said when Lucien answered his call