"He let people run rampant around the island causing chaos. Drugs, counterfeiting, racketeering. Edwards let it all go unchecked during his mayorship. But no more. We will put an end to this."
"You think Edwards' might be Salieri—" I started but before anyone could answer, I stared back at the stage.
Wilson zeroed in on us. On Wyatt more specifically. We might have been further back than most, but it was unmistakable.
"And we will put an end to these so-called vigilantes who think they can take the law into their hands no matter who it hurts and what lives it destroys."
A chill cut into my spine like a knife.
"So-called vigilantes?" I muttered.
Slade turned to me.
"Isn't that what Salieri said in his messages to Lombardi?"
I nodded.
"That can't be a coincidence," Slade said.
"It's not," Wyatt replied. "It's him. He's making himself known to us. He wants us to know he's got all the power now. He doesn't need to hide anymore."
Autumn's brows knotted over the bridge of her nose in confusion.
"Are you saying Wilson is?—"
"Wilson is Salieri and Salieri is Wilson," Wyatt gritted between his teeth and when I looked down, his hands had balled into fists.
I reached for his arm before I could think twice about it and shook him gently.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
He didn't look back.
"No, I'm not okay. This monster has been toying with us all this time and I've been too trusting to see it."
"You couldn't have known," Autumn said and touched his other side.
"What are we going to do?" Slade asked.
"Well, it seems like he's just declared open war on you—us—so what is there to do?" I asked.
"We fight," Wyatt said, spittle coming out of his mouth, his gaze boring into Salieri's on the stage. "We bring him down once and for all."
"How?" I asked. "He's powerful now. Too powerful. How do we bring down the mayor of this island? He's going to go all out now that he's shown his face. Now that he's made himself known to us."
The whole town, and everyone in it, was in danger. If we weren't careful, we could lose everything we loved in the process of taking Salieri down.
But if there was one thing certain, that was I couldn't avoid it anymore. I was part of this fight, whether I liked it or not. And if I wanted to keep my Zach, my farm and my friends safe, I had to fight alongside my ex.
I had to fight alongside the man I hated. Wyatt Goodman.
THIRTY-EIGHT
ZACH
Alittle to the right.
I stepped back and admired my work.
