Page 238 of Savage Throne
“How would I give you all justice?”
“We built Crownsville. We bled for it. And now it’s time forourdescendants to reclaim it.”
“How do you want me to do that?”
“Evil men buried all their dirty secrets with murky water." Her silhouette flared green. “Get rid of the water.”
The absurdity of the task tickled at the back of my mind, but then again, what was ordinary in my world anymore—scheming father, handcuffed new love, crows, ghosts, and a translucent bandit.
Surely, I could add getting rid of Dream Lake to the list.
But could I really do it?
I thought back to what my father had said the night he’d kidnapped Moni.
My father’s eyes glimmered with this calculated intensity as he placed his other hand on TT’s shoulder, like a serpent coiling itself around its prey. “This little girl will not only fully unite the Diamond Syndicate but she will make us the most powerful and richest organization in the world. Do you understand this?”
I scowled. “You think a treasure at the bottom of the lake will have all of those effects?”
“It’s what you all willdoto get to the hidden treasure that will unify and strengthen the Syndicate.” He moved his hands from TT’s shoulders and then he placed them on the map.
Soon, he trailed his fingers across the jagged daggered surface and made a huge circle around the town. “All of this is Dream Lake now.”
I frowned. “We know that.”
“Yes, son. But. . .in order to get to the treasure,” He looked up at us. “you’ll need todrainDream Lake.”
I stepped forward. “That’s impossible.”
My father chuckled. “Is it?”
“It’s a massive lake, father. Do you realize how many people would oppose that? Environmentalists alone would raise hell.”
“Dima is running for mayor, isn’t he? Has he told you?”
“He mentioned it but I’ve been busy chasing after a psycho maniac. Dima will officially announce it to all of the Syndicate once you’re dead and we can go back to everyday business.”
“Dima will need the votes in order to win. Of course he has the North but everywhere else in Paradise City will be tricky. We have 1.4 million registered voters in the East.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What does that have to do with anything?”
He grinned. “That’s why politicians always want to come to our galas, isn’t it? To prance around, shake hands, and gather favor withourpeople. The East holds heavy voting power. If Dima wants the East’s votes, he’ll need to back the idea of draining the lake.”
Next to me, Moni sucked in a sharp breath.
My father shifted his gaze to her. “Monique, I bet you can get Marcelo, Banks, and Einstein to jump on board. The South has strong political influence as well—another million voters.”
She pursed her lips.
“With both the East and the South pushing for it, draining Dream Lake won’t seem so impossible. And you can talk to Kashmere. The West would want the lake drained too.”
Leaving that memory, I returned to Dream Lake and realized that the Bandit no longer sat next to me.
We can do it but what would happen to Paradise City if we do?
The dark body of water rippled in front of me.
Draining this lake wasn’t just about revealing secrets buried in the muck—it was about power. Sure, the West would reclaim something their ancestors had bled for and lost to greed and hatred.
