Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

L io sat beside Bel in the big conference room, facing off with Morrisey and Farren, though facing off might not be the right phrase given Farren sat back in his chair, looking calm and relaxed, which meant he'd made up his mind and wouldn't be swayed.

A muscle twitched in Morrisey's jaw. "I like our plan, and I think we should go through with it."

Because he thought of it, or because Farren told him to?

"I'd love to get even, but Big Tony and Bennie don't matter anymore." Well, they did, and Lio seeing Emilio as something of a brother drove him to seek retribution, but Lio's life was happy now. Besides, Morrisey and Farren were representatives of law enforcement. He couldn't encourage them to go rogue.

Farren leaned toward the table and rested his clasped hands on the surface. "From what you tell me, Big Tony is a traveler, and Bennie could be, too, but they're too low-ranking to recognize you for one. If they appeared as monsters, they've corrupted their souls into occisors."

Bel lifted an eyebrow. "After all this time, you're going back to Vegas to confront them. Are you sure you want to?"

Farren trained his earnest gaze on Lio. "Five years have passed for them, but only a short time for you, Lio. We've checked. Both are still there, and if anything, their behavior has only worsened. We won't do this if it'll cause you pain. Or rather, we won't take you with us. But if they're travelers who think nothing of killing humans, they must be stopped."

Morrisey drawled, "I've done cleared it with the boss. While other agents have jurisdiction in Vegas, Farren and I called in a few favors. And if those two have been operating for years, someone's turning a blind eye."

"Besides," Morrisey continued, drawing Lio's gaze back to him, "those bastards aren't our only task in Vegas. If there's corruption in the local FAET office, we need to deal with it."

"Can you promise that Big Tony and Bennie won't hurt Lio again?" Bel squeezed Lio's hand under the table.

"He'd have to come through both of us first." Morrisey grinned. "Many have tried, all have failed. I will personally open a can of Southern whoop-ass on the bastards."

"First time for everything," Bel muttered.

When it came down to a fight, Lio would put his money on Morrisey and Farren every time.

Farren added in more serious tones, "I promise. We wouldn't put Lio in danger, but we wanted to offer him the opportunity to confront them if he wanted. Gain closure."

Lio recalled Emilio and Dave and all they suffered, the future they could've had together. Emilio, who'd given Lio life. Lio owed this payback to his host. "Yeah, let's do it."

Jessa coordinated ensembles for Farren, Morrisey, Bel, and Lio in attire she called "high-roller chic."

Lio pulled at his uncomfortable tie while ogling how well the fine cut of Bel's slacks cradled his ass. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Morrisey checking out gorgeous Farren. Rumor said Farren's host had once been a model. Lio could see why, but his looks still couldn't rival Bel's, at least not in Lio's eyes.

Focusing on Bel kept Lio's heart from hammering too hard. He pulled his attention away and swept his gaze around the casino. He actively fought residual memories to prevent being triggered by the environment. The constant pings of slot machines, laughter, and occasional disheartened moans from losers would no doubt have set Emilio off.

Local FAET said Big Tony and Bennie were here today. The other goons involved in Emilio and Dave's torture had met violent ends of their own without FAET's help—two in a shootout with law enforcement, one in a drug deal gone wrong.

The Atlanta Delegation, as Farren called them, settled at a roulette table, Morrisey posing as the gambler, with Bel, Farren, and Lio as his entourage. Lio scanned the area to ensure no other travelers were present. Or rather, none that Farren hadn't planted in the crowd.

Morrisey placed his bet, the wheel spun, and it was easy to nudge the balls into position. He'd won ten straight bets when a slab of hired muscle approached. "Sir, Big Tony wants to see you in his office."

Big Tony's office. Lio shuddered. Nothing good came of visits to Big Tony's office, but at least he'd taken the bait. He'd never allow anyone to win too big in his establishment.

Farren, Morrisey, Bel, and Lio all headed toward a sea of roulette tables and slot machines and to the long hall at the back of the building. Lio knew the route well.

"Just you," the goon snapped, grabbing Morrisey's arm. Oh, big mistake. Morrisey glared at the goon, then the offending hand. The goon released him. Good. He had some sense anyway.

Farren's malevolent smile sent cold chills skittering along Lio's spine, making Lio glad Farren was on their side. "Try to stop us." Farren opened his jacket enough to reveal his gun.

The guy spoke into a headpiece, then said, "Follow me." Judging by the awkward fit of his jacket, he wore a gun but wouldn't pull it out in the middle of a crowd.

Though Lio had never been to the office, Emilio had, and it took every ounce of Lio's self-control to keep walking, ingrained fear making his stomach roil with each step he took. Nope. No old memories. Not now. They passed by the roulette wheels and were nearly through the slot machines when Farren dropped back to ask, "You okay?"

"No," Lio answered honestly, "but I'm going to do this, anyway." He strode forward with determination, right up to Big Tony's office door.

The goon opened the door, and the four of them stepped inside, Bel and Farren scanning the area for threats.

Five years hadn't been good for Big Tony. More gray shot through his hair, and his paunch had grown. He no longer resembled the handsome man Emilio had thought him to be.

The scent of something like oregano hit Lio's nose, and for a moment, he saw the double aura of a traveler in a host body. Big Tony's aura rivaled any Tenebris' for darkness. No wonder he had devolved into an occisor.

Big Tony growled, "My boy tells me?—"

Morrisey stepped up to the desk so suddenly that Big Tony flinched back. "Yours isn't a speaking part unless we ask you a question, got it? And there's no need to try to contact any of your guys. I'm sure you'll find them already occupied."

A loud thump sounded outside the door, and Lio imagined their escort lying crumpled on the floor. Morrisey and Farren had brought in some of their own guys to augment the local force.

Tony recovered some of his bravado. "Who the hell are you?"

Farren joined Morrisey at the desk and dropped the shield that kept other travelers from seeing him as Magestra. "Someone with the power to make you go away for good."

"What you want with me? I ain't done nothing." Tony puffed out his chest, defiant until the end—which this likely would be. Underneath the posturing, though, Lio noticed a slight tremble in Tony's hand.

Big Tony glowered Lio's way, but then he froze, eyes going wide. "You!"

Lio forced a smirk that he didn't truly feel, terror filling every inch of him. But he'd persevere. Then he noticed the fear in Big Tony's eyes. Ah, the tables had turned. "Yes, Big Tony, me. And I brought some friends."

A knock came at the door. "Go away!" Big Tony yelled; at the same time, Morrisey called out, "Come in!"

Sweat beaded on Big Tony's brow. How sweet this revenge would be.

The door opened, Bennie flew through as though he'd been thrown, and the door slammed shut again. Lio would have to thank the local FAET agents later.

"Boss, what the fuck is going on?" Bennie roared, glaring at Farren and Morrisey, hand going to the gun at his hip. His gaze landed on Lio, and he scrambled behind the desk with surprising speed for such a big man. Lio could now see that Bennie, too, was a traveler.

An occisor who'd traded his soul.

"What's going on," Morrisey said smoothly, "is that we're with FAET. Ever heard of us?"

"We got no beef with you," Big Tony blurted. "We make our payments on time."

"A matter to be addressed later. And we definitely have issues with you. You'll be happy to know we've rounded up the agents you paid to turn a blind eye, and they'll soon meet their FAET. Get it?" Morrisey grinned, but it wasn't friendly. "This man," Morrisey nodded to Lio, "is witness to your torture and murder of humans and the attempted murder of a traveler."

"I ain't never touched no travelers," Big Tony blurted. Telling that he didn't deny murdering humans.

Lio could almost taste the fear pouring off Big Tony. "You shot one and left him in the desert."

Big Tony stared at Lio. "Emilio?"

"No. You killed him. I'm Lio. Do you remember learning Domus legends?" Lio didn't give him time to answer. "You're doing something few Domusians have ever done: stood in a room with two living Tenebris." He wouldn't add and lived to tell the tale because Big Tony probably wouldn't. "Two pissed off Tenebris."

Tony's face drained of color. "T… Tenebris?"

"Do you deny the charges against you?" Farren asked, so calmly he could have been asking for directions to the nearest bar.

"Now, wait a minute! I?—"

"It's a yes or no question." Farren examined his impeccably groomed nails.

Big Tony's mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out.

A flick of Farren's fingers and a shining portal appeared next to Big Tony, a shimmering nothingness hanging in the air. Farren recited, "For your crimes against humans and Domusians and for putting our kind in danger, I sentence you to banishment. May you find peace in the great beyond."

Farren pulled Big Tony's soul out and discarded it into the portal so fast that Lio barely registered the motion. Big Tony collapsed in his chair, his head hitting the desk.

Farren turned to Bennie, who shuddered nearby, face white. "No need to ask. I can see the oily darkness of your aura. For your crimes against humans and travelers, I condemn you to?—"

"Wait!" Lio cried out. Bennie's end couldn't be so easy.

Panic turned to hope in Bennie's eyes. "Emilio? You wouldn't let them hurt me, would you?"

Lio strode purposefully over. Morrisey and Farren parted, letting him through.

"Lio?" Bel asked, brow wrinkled in confusion. Panic came through the bond that Lio quickly dispelled.

"It's okay, Bel," Lio said, not turning away from Bennie. To Bennie, he said, "You laughed as you tortured Emilio and Dave. You took great pleasure in every blow, every stab. I'd like to pay you back in kind, but although I'm darkness personified, I'm still not as lost as you." Lio swung back his foot and connected with Bennie's balls.

Bennie doubled over, clutching his groin and cursing.

"That's from Emilio, Dave, and me." Lio turned to Farren. "Carry on." He left the office without looking back.