Page 55 of Devil's Thirst

I’m so terrified that my entire body shakes.

I fumble to get my phone out of my purse and debate whether I should call the police. Sante put this in motion—he seems to know these men—but that doesn’t make me feel any better. The two-to-one odds alone are terrible, not to mention these guys look like they could take a two-by-four to the face like it was a pool noodle.

My concerns about Sante’s sanity are validated when he lets out a chuckle.

“Not to worry,” he says to them. “I won’t say anything. I owe you two anyway. It’s not often a kid gets to take a joyride in a yellow Lamborghini. I couldn’t believe my luck to find that thing running.”

The Russians exchange a shocked look, which Sante uses as a perfect distraction to launch his attack. His hand flies out of his pocket and pulverizes the bald man in the face with one sweeping motion. He doesn’t stop there. He uses the momentum to continue turning, then kicks out behind him, landing a vicious kick to the other man’s middle. Still, he’s not done. Returning to his first victim, Sante gives him one more blow to the head, thendoes the same to the other man. Both drop unconscious to the ground.

The whole thing doesn’t last thirty seconds.

I see why when he finally stills. Silver glints off his fisted hand.

“Are those …brass knuckles?” I ask in astonishment.

He drops the weapon back into his pocket. “Yeah. I have this guy to thank for that.” He pokes a foot at the motionless bald guy. “Taught me years ago to always be prepared. Fucker broke two of my ribs.”

If my jaw hangs open any longer, I’ll end up with a bird’s nest in there. I don’t know how to process the calculated violence of what I witnessed. Sure, he’d punched the stalker, but this was next level.

I’m still reeling when he gently takes my face between his hands and kisses my forehead. “You okay?”

I nod.

“Good. Let’s get the fuck outta here.” He curves an arm around my back and leads us to the car.

Once we’re both buckled in, he pulls onto the road when I blurt out, “Stop!”

We lurch forward when he hits the brakes. He peers over at me, then eases the car back against the curb. I could wait until we get back to the apartment, but I’m done waiting. It’s time to take that leap of faith. It’s time to ask for help.

“I got a note the day after I went to the police station warning me to stay quiet. That incident with Lina today—I don’t think it was an accident.”

Sante nods. “Oran said as much but had no idea where the threat was from. Said he saw it all, and there was no way it wasn’t intentional.”

My chin quivers. “I know it was meant as a message, and I’m so freaking scared.” I close my eyes and force a slow breath inthrough my nose and out my lips. “If I tell you the name of the man who tried to buy my virginity, I need you to promise me you won’t take action without my express permission.”

He opens his mouth to protest, but I stop him with a raised hand.

“If you know what my mother tried to do to me, then you probably know she did the same to Lina, except…” I struggle to fight back a cresting wave of emotion. “Lina wasn’t as fortunate as I was. Sante, this guy has a video of her. He wasn’t the one who raped her, but somehow he got ahold of a video. He’s threatened to hurt her if I step a hair out of line, and he’s using the video as leverage if anything ever happens to him—he says it’ll be released all over the internet. I can’t let that happen, Sante.” My words are a strained whisper, no voice left to squeeze past the lump in my throat.

I have to pause and swallow hard to keep going.

“I’ve done everything I can to protect her because she’s done the same for me, but I’m scared it’s not enough. I’m so damn scared. If I tell you his name, you have to swear to me that you won’t touch him—not you or anyone else. Not unless we find a way that ensures Lina isn’t harmed in the process.”

Sante gives a somber nod. “We can do that.”

I take one more deep breath. “His name is John Talbot.” A part of me half expects the man himself to appear like a Harry Potter Deatheater summoned with a touch of a dark mark.

“I’ve been away a while. The name is familiar, but I’m not sure from where.”

“He’s the attorney general for the state of New York, and he’s incredibly connected.”

His chin lifts in understanding. “And that’s why you’re terrified of cops.”

I nod. “They keep him informed of everything that happens in this city, including everything I do.”

“Maybe some of them, but he doesn’t own the entire force.”

“No, but I have no idea who’s loyal to whom. Better to avoid them all.”