Page 98 of Property of Bones

“Everyone calls meel Muerte,” he says, arms spreading slightly in mock welcome. “But you two? You can call me Luis.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Why do people call youMuerteif your name’s Luis?”

I don’t even know why I ask. Maybe my brain’s trying to keep me grounded.

He grins like I just made his day. “It was given to me by the people,” he says, amused. “It meansdeath.Fitting, really. I liked it, so it stuck.”

Iwantto lie. Want to tell him his name is stupid, that he could’ve picked something better. Something less theatrical.

But I don’t like lying. Not even to men like him.

“Suits you,” I say quietly.

“Indeed,” he chuckles, clearly pleased with himself. “And this here is my good friend…”

“Max,” Abby finishes, her voice trembling.

Muerte grins wide like this is all some kind of game. “Right you are, Abigail. Max has beenveryhelpful these past few months. Smarter than I expected. But loyalty?” He clicks his tongue. “That’s always the question, isn’t it?”

He steps aside, gesturing toward Max.

“I need to be sure his allegiance doesn’t still lie with those men of yours,” he says.

Then he looks Max dead in the eye.

“Prove to me who you follow. Kill them.”

“Not happening,” Max says immediately.

“Excuse me?” Muerte asks, his tone turning sharp.

“I don’t kill women unless they deserve it,” Max replies evenly. “Not even for you, boss. Now, put Spike or one of those fuckers in front of me? No problem. I’ll put a bullet in their skull without blinking.”

“Noble,” Muerte muses. “I suppose I can give you this pass. Then how shall we deal with them, if we’re not going to kill them?”

“Lock them up,” Max says. “Hold them until you’ve taken control of Palm Springs and I’ve taken over the Shadows. Then let them go. What are they gonna do…go to the cops?”

“Wouldn’t matter,” Muerte laughs. “I’ll have the entire department replaced with my own men the moment I take over.”

“You’re insane,” I snap, the anger bubbling too hot to hold back. I turn to Max. “Andyou…how could you betray your family like this? Theylovedyou. They would’ve died for you. And you traded them forthis? For power? Control?”

My voice breaks. “Well, controlthis, you shithead.”

Without thinking, I yank off my shoe and hurl it at the man who hurt my friends. It hits his chest with a softthumpand drops to the floor. His only reaction is a raised brow.

“I like this one,” Muerte chuckles. “Feisty. I think I might keep you. How would you feel about being queen to thousands?”

“Fuck you,” I growl, already reaching for my other shoe.

He laughs again. “Yes. That would be fun. You’ll be my queen…after a littlesubmission training,of course.”

I hurl the second shoe at him. He sidesteps it, still grinning like the devil himself.

“I could give you the world,” he says smoothly. “Want me to kill the men who took you? Done. Want a house made of diamonds? An island? A jet? A closet full of pretty dresses like the one you’re wearing?”

“What I want is for you to let us go,” I growl.

He shrugs. “No can do.”

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