The Serpent's Curse by Lisa Maxwell (literature books to read txt) 📗

beating heart of the modern city. Selecting the Fuller Building was tantamount to a declaration—the Order was not content to remain in the past. They were staking a new place, and they were declaring their continued importance.

“The building will be opening by the end of next month, won’t it?” James asked.

Kelly lit the cigarette and took a long drag, letting the smoke enwreathe his head like some sort of demon. “Rumor has it, the Order will be moving what was left of their treasures into their new headquarters in a matter of weeks.”

James frowned. “I hadn’t realized they had much left after the fire.” His mind was already whirling with the implications. Dolph had been so focused on the Book and the artifacts, could he have missed that the Order had something else of value?

“They have a couple of wagonloads, apparently,” Kelly told him. “From what I’ve been able to learn, they’ve been storing them somewhere in Brooklyn—outside the Brink. Originally, they were going to rebuild Khafre Hall, but what happened at the gala made them anxious to move into their new headquarters and reestablish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the city now, before their Conclave at the end of the year.”

“That would be unfortunate for both of us,” James said. “But perhaps it’s also an opportunity?”

“I agree,” Kelly told him. “Which is why I called you here. I want the Devil’s Own on board.”

“Certainly your Five Pointers can take care of a few wagons of goods,” James said, the implication clear.

“You don’t bring a knife to a gunfight, Lorcan, and the Order has weapons far beyond what my boys are equipped to handle.”

James understood now. “You’re afraid of their magic.”

“I’m not afraid,” Kelly said, his tone unyielding. “But I’ll admit I don’t have the specific skill set that you and your people do.”

James knew this was the real reason Kelly wanted control over the Strega and Devil’s Own. Kelly might have despised his sister—he despised everyone with the old magic—but he wasn’t above using Viola or any other Mageus for his own means.

“Think of this as another way to solidify our partnership,” Kelly said when James didn’t immediately agree. “A show of continued good faith. After all, it would be a terrible shame if the Strega started having the same problems as some of the other saloons in the area.”

James saw the threat for what it was, and he found that he had little interest in being Kelly’s pawn. Still, he understood the opportunity that the situation presented.

“Of course,” James said, pretending deference. “It does seem like it would be in both of our interests to make sure the Order can’t regain a footing in the city.”

James was glad suddenly that he hadn’t simply allowed the Order to remove the threat of Paul Kelly at the gala. He’d wanted to, but the Aether had whispered otherwise, and once again his intuition had proven correct. Kelly, it seemed, could still be useful. When the time came, James would pit his two greatest enemies against each other and watch as they destroyed each other instead of him.

As he listened to the information Kelly offered, James’ mind was already whirling with possibilities. The Aether bunched and shifted around him. He would retrieve the artifact he’d lost and take care of the problem Paul Kelly posed all at once. He’d help Kelly rob the Order, all right. Then he’d help the damned Five Pointer right into a noose.

MISDIRECTION

1904—Texas

North had done his damnedest to argue against Esta’s plan, not only because it seemed like they were taking unnecessary risks, but also because it provided the Thief an opportunity to leave them in the dust, like her partner had. She assured them she wasn’t interested in running, but North had a feeling that Esta could lie better than most. Still, it wasn’t like he had a better idea, so there he was, right where he hadn’t wanted to be, watching the train yard from a spot on an outcropping a little way off.

“It’ll be okay,” Maggie whispered from her place next to him. She could always read the direction of his thoughts too easily. “She’s not going anywhere.”

North grunted his disagreement.

From their vantage point, North could see the men going about their business, unaware of what was about to happen, and he didn’t exactly envy them. Esta was below as well, inching toward the tracks. She’d wrapped some fabric they’d found in an empty shed around her waist as a makeshift skirt and covered her head with another strip of bright fabric to make it look like there was more hair beneath. She might have looked a mess, but Esta still moved with the kind of easy confidence that made you believe she could do practically anything. Which was exactly what North was worried about.

Together, they watched as Esta slunk around the edges of the train yard. When no one was looking, she climbed into the engine compartment. None of the men seemed aware of what was happening. No one seemed to notice the girl pressing a gun against the engineer’s spine, so they couldn’t have seen her use Maggie’s confounding solution on the poor guy. No one even looked up, not until the train’s engines started humming and the wheels squealed as it began to move down the track. They paid attention then, because some of the tanker cars were still hooked to the pipes that fed them, and as the train pulled away, black liquid poured out onto the ground.

Before the train could pick up too much speed, North saw Esta push the engineer from the train. He rolled to his side, and some of the workers ran to him. As the engine continued away, the workers launched into action. Some were trying to stop the flood of crude oil that poured from the pipeline, but others were running after the train and trying to catch hold of one of the rails