Assassin's Heart (Assassin's Heart, #1)(54)

“And I don’t know that you should be walking about on your own. There’s a serial murderer on the loose.”

“Is there?” I played dumb. It was clear Lefevre suspected I was the clipper he’d seen my first night here. But I wasn’t sure if he suspected me of also being their serial murderer.

“I only arrived a few days ago,” I said, “so I hadn’t heard anything about it.” That should clear me of any suspicion.

“Yes. When the priests lent you a robe. I spoke with them, though, and they don’t seem to remember anyone arriving in the last few days.”

He’d been checking into me, asking around. He was dangerous, in more than one way.

I bit my lip in fake concern. “It was a visiting priest from a monastery. His name was Faraday. He can provide you more information, if you’d like.”

“I’ll seek him out, then.” He led me around a corner and the market spread before us, the crowd growing.

I released his arm and fought the desire to wipe my fingers on my dress.

“Thank you, Captain Lefevre.”

“It was my pleasure, Miss Lea. I’ll be seeing you around. Stay safe from the ghosts.”

It was a common Yvain good-bye, but Lefevre made it seem like a threat. I bowed my head and pushed my way into the crowd. I couldn’t return to Les and Marcello now, not with Lefevre so clearly watching for me during the day. I could feel his eyes on my back, and it took all my willpower to calmly stroll through the market.

I was frightened of very few things, but Lefevre was slowly making his way up the list.





twenty-three


THE SUN SET, AND I CLIMBED TO THE ROOF OF MY SAFE house. Lefevre wouldn’t be watching for me at night, so I was hoping to return to Les and Marcello’s and ask for their forgiveness. Time was running out.

A thump behind me. My hand dropped to my stiletto, but then I realized it was Les. I grunted and got to my feet.

He stared at me, his hood casting his eyes in shadow. My mask covered my face, but it didn’t hide my eyes.

“You came,” I said.

He didn’t say anything. Finally he sighed. “I saw you this morning. With that lawman. Lefevre.”

“I didn’t mean to draw him to your entrance,” I said. “I was coming to apologize. To give back the money. But he’s been trailing me since I arrived. I led him away as best I could.”

“I followed you two. You could have told him the truth. About his serial murderer. About me.”

Lefevre was after me for the murders Les had committed. Lefevre had the right motive in mind, but the wrong clipper.

I paused. This could be some sort of test for me. If I said the wrong thing, maybe he would leave again. “Why would I do that?”

“Who am I to you? And telling the truth would make things easier for you.”

He was right. Telling Lefevre that Les was his serial murderer, and even where he could find Les, would get Lefevre off me. But I needed Les and Marcello, more than I needed to be free from Lefevre.

“I need you,” I said.

He dropped his head, but not fast enough for me to miss the twitch of his lips. “All right. You give me the coins back, and I’ll still help you.”

I shoved my hand into my purse and scooped out the remaining coins. I poured them into his palm.

“Is this all of them?” he asked.

“Everything I didn’t spend.”

He nodded and slipped them into his own pouch. “Then we’re back on equal footing. At least between you and me.”

It was so easy for him to forgive what I’d done to him and Marcello. I wish I could forgive as easily. But all I could do was remember the horrible things done to me and my Family and focus on my revenge. It had been my fault, though, what had happened. And maybe Les wouldn’t be so forgiving if he knew the truth about me.

I sighed. “Les, I—”

Les held up a hand, cutting me off. “I said we’re good. I don’t need another explanation. Let’s just get back to work on the firebomb.”

He watched me and I watched him until finally I dropped my head and nodded. It didn’t matter if he knew the truth about me, or what he thought about me. All that mattered was killing the Da Vias.

False dawn crept over us, and I stifled a yawn.

“Maybe this is hopeless.” Les ran his hands through his hair before he retied it out of the way. “Maybe I was wrong to think this would work.”

“No. It’s not hopeless. We just need to keep trying.” I sprinkled a little bit of a gray dust into a mound. “Don’t give up on me yet.”

Les shot me a sideways glance and I flushed. Why I had said that, I had no clue.

“What is the purpose for this firebomb anyway?” Les asked. “I mean, I’m guessing you want to set fire to somewhere without having to be there?”

I measured out some of the acid, careful not to spill any on my hands or leathers. I had long since put my mask aside. “I’m going to burn the Da Vias out like they did to us. I’m going to sneak into the center of their home, leave this as a present, and then just wait at the exit for them.”

Saying it out loud felt good. And if I was lucky and it worked like that, there was a chance I might emerge from this plan alive. At the least, I probably wouldn’t burn to death.