Chapter 12 - The Black Lantern Betrayal
Marlo returned to the thirtieth floor alone.
At least Evan believed she did.
Nico followed through a service passage.
Cassian sat in a chair, wrists restrained.
Pell lay unconscious nearby.
Evan held a syringe.
“You're surprisingly difficult to frighten,” he told Marlo.
“I've worked hotel laundry on New Year's Eve.”
He almost smiled.
“Sign the trustee authorization.”
“No.”
“I can stop his heart in seconds.”
Cassian looked at her.
“Don't.”
Marlo ignored both men.
“What was in the tea?”
Evan frowned.
“You know.”
“I know the interaction. I want to hear you say it.”
“Why?”
“Because men like you love explaining how clever they are.”
That struck the right nerve.
Evan began talking.
Licorice-derived compounds.
Altered cardiac medication.
Electrolyte disruption.
A deliberately engineered cascade designed to mimic worsening heart disease.
He had spent years perfecting it.
Marlo kept him talking.
Nico was recording everything through her phone.
Evan finally noticed.
He grabbed it.
Too late.
Nico entered.
Evan injected Cassian.
Pell woke and shouted.
Cassian collapsed.
Evan ran.
Nico pursued him.
Marlo dropped beside Cassian.
“What did he inject?”
Pell smelled the syringe.
Checked its residue.
Then moved faster than Marlo had ever seen him move.
Cassian's monitor became chaotic.
Marlo held his hand.
His eyes found hers.
“Tea,” he whispered.
“What?”
“If I survive…”
“Don't.”
“I'm never drinking tea again.”
She laughed while crying.
“You survive and I'll personally ban it from Nevada.”
Pell administered treatment.
The rhythm stabilized.
Cassian remained conscious.
Barely.
Nico radioed.
Evan had reached the roof.
Marlo stood.
Cassian caught her wrist.
“No.”
“He has my mother's evidence.”
“Let Nico handle it.”
Marlo looked toward the door.
“For thirteen years everyone else handled it.”
She gently removed his hand.
“Look how that worked out.”
She reached the rooftop stairwell.
The door was open.
Beyond it, Evan stood against the Las Vegas skyline.
And beside him was Lena.
May you like
Again.
This time she was standing at the edge.
