Page 27 of Wild Devil

“For what?”

“No one knows for sure,” he says. “Some think as slaves to work the cocoa fields. Other thinks that he might brainwash them all to join his cult. I’ve heard some other theories, though.”

“And what is that?”

“Sacrifice,” Marco says. “Like the Aztecs used to. He rips out the beating heart from their chest and burns it on a pyre.”

“You’re shitting me.”

“Maybe.” He shrugs. “But rumor has it that El Diablo has been moving his cult north.”

I don’t like the sound of that. “To the city?” I ask.

He shrugs again. “Perhaps. The point is, El Diablo never moves. In the thirty years that he’s been trafficking drugs, he’s never so much as left his commune. If he’s here, it can’t be good.”

“So, Heywood, who thinks himself some kind of fucking cult prophet, has teamed up with some drug dealer who worships the devil,” I say. “You couldn’t write this shit. Am I really supposed to believe it?”

“Believe it. Don’t believe it,” Marco replies. “But there is one thing you should know. In the village where El Diablo lives now, do you want to know how he established his roots? He kidnapped a quarter of the town and killed the captives, one by one, and left their bodies to rot in the street. No one could stop him. No one dared to challenge him. And for thirty years, he’s operated out of that commune without even the fucking military daring to challenge him. If he was thinking of expanding, don’t doubt that he would have the resources to. And he wouldn’t aim to just settle for a piece of this place. He’d take it all and drive out anyone who got in his way. Westpoint would be reduced to a shell, and if he had the fucking political darling on his side, along with the police commissioner? Who the hell knows what he could be capable of.”

“Let’s say I believe you. What would Heywood get out of it? Why even take the risk of ruling the city with some outsider?”

“Why else? Power and money. He gets to set up in a new, more powerful city in a new, more powerful country. The cartel already has ties in the police department. If he can make the mayor his puppet, there is no telling where his influence may end.”

“But there has to be more to it,” I insist. “Something big enough that Heywood is willing to put his life on the line. Already, there have been bodies found. How long does he think they can keep this up?”

“Ah, but you seem to think that they didn’t want those bodies to be found. You don’t see the city in a panic, do you? What if they weren’t mistakes, but intentionally placed decoys?”

“To distract from what?”

“That’s the real question.” He sits forward, lacing his fingers together. “You should ask yourself why these rumors are coming to light now. If a man wanted to take over the city, he wouldn’t want bodies being found or rumors taking root until well into his plans, right?”

“So, you’re saying that we’re already at the end game. Let me guess, that’s when your big baddie comes to town and starts ripping out hearts?”

“Oh, you don’t want him here,” Marco warns. “If I were you, I’d stop him from ever setting foot in this city. If he’s already on the move, then you don’t have much time.”

“Okay, so if you’re so smart, tell me when this is all going down.”

“Soon,” he says with a grimace. “Maybe even tonight. I know where they’ll be gathering, but you need to do the grunt work of getting inside.”

“Why should I? What’s even in it for you? Let me guess, you’re telling me all this out of the goodness of your heart?”

“No. My sister went missing a few weeks ago. She was always a fuck up, so I didn’t think much of it, at first. But she liked to run her mouth and piss the wrong people off. If she wound up in this mess… I need to know.”

I look him in the eye to gauge his honesty. As the seconds pass, he doesn’t so much as flinch, and I have my answer. When it comes to this, at least, he isn’t lying.

But there is something that he’s holding back.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

Marco smiles. “You seem like the reckless, hardheaded type who runs into danger without a second thought. Do you really want to be bogged down with the finer details?”

I wince. He has a point. If it weren’t for Ben, I’d be relying on just my instincts and sheer damn luck. But he’s right. I can’t let myself get caught up without weighing every option. It’s not just my life on the line anymore.

“I have the time,” I say. “So, what are these ‘finer details’ that you’ve been dancing around?”

“My men know that there’s some kind of event they’re planning for tonight. Something big. If El Diablo is in or near the city, he’ll show for that. Which is bad news for anyone that you think they have their sights set on.”

An event. Like a fucking wedding? I see red, and for a second, it’s harder to remember Ben’s advice. I don’t want to be patient and thoughtful where Frey’s life is concerned. I want to fight. Maim. Kill if I have to.

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