Galilee Rising(91)

The villain glares at me for a few seconds. I don't know why I've wasted my breath. Talking about love to a sociopath is like trying to describe the color twelve. "I have no desire to continue this avenue of conversation."

"So, what do you want to talk about? The weather you never get to experience?"

"Any luck finding our friend the Emperor?" Ryder asks.

"Not yet." I lower my arms. "Let me ask you something. Say Justice had moved somewhere like New Urbana or India, would you have followed him? Set up your reign of terror there?"

"Most likely. Is that your plan? Make Cain someone else's nightmare? How mercenary of you."

"Desperate times."

He cocks an eyebrow, I think in approval. "Have the Triumvirate agreed with your logic? I suppose it is all just geography to them as well."

"Two down, one to go, but he seems dug in. I've turned the majority of the city against him, come close to ruining his personal life, but he just won't leave. He's starting to really piss me off." My eyes narrow. "What would you do?"

"I assume killing him is off the table?" My eyes narrow to pinpoints. "Right. We all have our limits, I suppose." He considers the dilemma for a few seconds. "What it boils down to is blackmail, correct? Well, he does have one hell of a secret to exploit. Use it."

"Expose him?"

Ryder shrugs. "Remember what happened to Johnny Law when his secret identity was revealed? The press hounded him. He lost his job, his family, and then Helter Skelter resurfaced for payback and paralyzed him. Probably would have killed his family too if they hadn't been smart and run for the hills early on. But you know all of this. You just want what? My take on this drastic move?"

"Other people could get hurt if I do it."

"Of course they will. No man is an island. Of course I am preaching to the enlightened on that front. And you will be essentially destroying a life, possibly even signing his death warrant. Justin being a perfect example. But since we're being mercenary, what are one or two lives against all the innocent Gallileans you can save if they flee? You just have to ask yourself if you can carry the hero's damnation on your conscience forever. Would you like my approval or condemnation?"

I sit stony still staring at him for a few seconds. "I have to do it, don't I?"

"Doesn't mean you have to enjoy it, Joanna." He grins. "But it does make it far easier. It can actually be quite thrilling ripping someone to shreds, especially when they've wronged you. That power. Knowing you're hurting them more than they've hurt you. It can be quite cathartic."

"This isn't personal. I'm not getting any satisfaction from it."

"Keep telling yourself that, Joanna," he says with a grin.

"I'm not," I insist.

"Last time we spoke you were desperately trying to arrive at ways to aid your new friends, now you're talking about obliterating them. No one has that colossal an about face without personal feelings entering the equation. I mean, even when you discovered Justin's deception the thought of outing him never crossed your mind. So either a hero really wronged you, or you've come over to the dark side. Knowing what I do about you, I very very much doubt the latter. We recognize our own kind."

I scowl. "I just want him gone. For the greater good."

"Then you know what you have to do." He pauses. "Poor Joanna. Superheroes just keep breaking your heart, don't they? Will you never learn?"

"Fuck off, Ryder." I end the call. "Asshole." Now it's said aloud it's really a tangible possibility, one I've barely given a second thought. Now…

I stare at the black screen with a grimace. Shit. I can't do it. I can't out him. It'll destroy him. No question. His medical career, his entire fucking life will vanish. The press will hound him. Any villain he every fought will come after him. People will loathe him, spit on him for his brother's sins. Hell, the Feds can even arrest and sue him for billions in property damage. A few store owners did with Justin, going after Pendergast Industries. Our lawyers are still sorting it out. I can't do it. Even evil Joanna isn't that cruel.

Well, I'm not doing it today, that's for damn sure. I rise from the chair and go upstairs to change. I'm late to honor the saint who brought Jem into my life after I just chatted with her murderer. Life is so fucking ridiculous sometimes. It makes you want to cry.



*



At least I did this right. I can leave this planet with absolute certainty I did one pure, good thing for this miserable world. The Dr. Rebecca Thornton Pediatric Recovery Wing is as perfect as its namesake. All the bedrooms, the kitchen, the living room, even the nurse's station turned out better than I envisioned. There's even a stocked fridge. It's homier than my own home.