Zach had never met the man, but he’d heard stories. Tall, well-built, with silver hair and a perpetual sneer on his face. Geraint had furnished them with that description. But Falcon had aged a great deal since then. His shoulders were stooped, and his face was pale and gaunt. Lines creased the edges of his mouth. Perhaps life in prison had not been as easy on him as it appeared to be. But those eyes were everything Zach had been led to believe. The man was evil.
Zach bowed mockingly. “It was our pleasure.”
The man’s lips tightened.
“Are you behind what has been happening to those French prostitutes?”
Falcon raised his arms and made a show of looking around the room. “And how is that possible?” His words were mocking.
“Clearly you have the ability to manipulate people,” Zach said. He wanted to wipe that smug expression off his face but stood where he was, unmoving. He might appear to be the impetuous member of the Deville family, but he could be restrained when required.
“What do you speak of?”
Zach studied his face, trying to read what lay beneath those eyes.
“Three dead, and each strangled and left with your mark on them,” Zach said. “One on the run, or perhaps dead and as yet unfound. Ottilie, Nita, Marie and Julia I believe their names were.”
Falcon smiled. “How proud I am to hear someone is carrying on my legacy.”
“Perhaps it is Francine and the man who comes here to visit you?” Zach said, scoring a direct hit when Falcon’s eyes narrowed and swung to the sheriff.
The man had no idea what they spoke of as he clearly did not understand French. But Zach thought he would be learning of the Falcon’s displeasure over sharing this information soon.
“Why did you choose me to come in here?” Zach asked. He was curious because he’d thought if any of the Devilles would interest a man like this, it would be the earl.
The evil bastard smiled again, and when his face changed, all civility was gone. “Why revenge, of course, young Deville.”
Zach felt another shiver travel through him.
“Really? I am all ears as to what you mean.”
“Vengeance will be mine, you see, sir.”
Zach folded his arms and pretended to look bored. “You had prostitutes steal papers from Lord Blackhall for revenge?”
Falcon had clearly decided to come clean now he knew Zach was appraised of most of the goings-on he had implemented. He made a pffting sound.
“That was merely a faint hope your king would be scared enough by my threats to release me.” His lips thinned. “But I know there will be those that will fight to ensure I never leave here.”
“Which you won’t,” Zach said. “In fact we who belong to Alexius are determined to see you hanged.”
Falcon snarled at him. “I will make those who were behind my downfall suffer in unimaginable ways, Deville.”
“Really? Who may they be?” But Zach knew. The Deville brothers had played their part, and he knew there were others. Monty for one.
“There are two who will receive my special brand of punishment. It has taken me time to identify them, but finally I have their names and my plans for revenge are in play. However, you coming here is fortuitous as I had not hoped to extract revenge in person on any member of Alexius.”
“Your puppets will not get revenge on your behalf,” Zach said. “We will stop them as we stopped you.”
“But those who support me will do whatever it is I wish of them, even if it costs them their lives.”
“Like the women you had murdered?”
He shrugged. “My man is overzealous. I told him what I did to my victims, and he wants to be just like me.”
“Sadistic bastard,” Zach growled, losing his calm.
“Indeed I am. I also have friends in high places.” He smirked. “Very high places like Alexius. My revenge will be complete soon.”
