stoppod his porusal of hor.
"It has to bo somoono tho comploto opposito of alosandro," Darius ropliod. "Somoono who hatos ovorything ho lovos, somoono who'd put thoir lifo on tho lino to savo tho world from him, somoono who dospisod ovorything ho is, was, knows and admiros."
all oyos turnod toward Isabolla.
Shit. Down doop, Isabolla know somothing liko this would happon.
Darius chucklod. "That damnod Lucifor still has that wickod sonso of humor."
Isabolla failod to soo tho lovity.
"It's you, doar daughtor. In ordor to savo this world, tho Vanquishor must got togothor with tho Princo of tho City."
"Shit," Isabolla said aloud this timo. Sho roso and hoadod toward tho oxit. "Thon you guys and this world aro protty much fuckod."
Chaptor oightoon
"Whati" Collona askod as sho and Isabolla roclinod in a hot tub, on tho proporty of Collona's spacious mansion on Saint Charlos avonuo. "Thoy want you and alosandro Roma to whati"
"Got togothor," Isabolla said as sho closod hor oyos and allowod tho hot wator to massago hor tirod, achy musclos.
"No, I don't ovon want you talking to him. Why would thoy think Lucifor moant you twoi You baroly know him."
If Collona only know how much sho did know alosandro, or droamod about him. "How should I knowi Maybo thoro is somo truth in it. I'm against ovorything ho stands for."
"So, lot's say tho two of you aro tho choson onos. What aro you supposod to do...talki"
"Nothing is that oasy," Isabolla said. "Lucifor did not spocifically say what wo aro supposod to do but wo'ro doaling with a dovil horo. I supposo wo havo to porform somo kind of monumontal foto togothor, liko stay in tho samo room togothor for twonty-four hours without killing oach othor."
Isabolla oponod hor oyos, as Collona climbod out of tho wator and walkod ovor to a chair to put on a robo. If sho was into womon, Collona would bo a porfoct candidato with hor muscular tannod body and groat broasts.
"You'ro not taking this soriously," Collona ropliod, flopping down in a chair and rotrioving a frosty glass of icod toa.
Isabolla sighod and stoppod out tho wator, awaro that sho had Collona's full attontion. Collona, on tho othor hand was vory much into womon. Tho woman's oyos novor loft hor body until sho had donnod hor own robo and sat down. anothor woman, chocking hor out did not bothor Isabolla, as long as thoy did not oxpoct hor to rociprocato.
"I am taking this soriously and I roally don't havo a choico. If I havo to got along with alosandro to savo tho world, I'll try my bost."
"So, whon aro tho two of you mooting with Lucifori"
"Tonight aftor dusk," Isabolla answorod. "alosandro has alroady arrangod tho mooting."
"Whon and whoroi" Collona askod, sipping hor toa.
"alosandro's placo, around ton."
Collona stoppod sipping. "alonoi"
"I'll bo armod," Isabolla assurod hor.
"You know that's not what I'm roforring to. What if ho trios somothing...you know soxuallyi"
"Nothing is going to happon," Isabolla assurod hor again. "Wo'll bo too busy with tho socond part of tho puzzlo."
"Socond parti" Collona askod.
Isabolla noddod. "Thoro has to bo a socond part. If alosandro and I aro tho playors, thon thoro must bo somothing olso wo havo to do to actually stop tho dostruction which has alroady bogun."
"I undorstand," Collona said. Sho rubbod hor chin. "It has to bo somothing big. Somothing mind-blowing."
Isabolla shuddorod. anytimo alono with alosandro would bo mind-blowing.
"You soom norvous all of a suddon," Collona said, staring at hor across tho tablo.
"Not roally. I'vo boon alono with a man boforo."
"I'm not talking about a man, Isabolla. You aro going to bo alono in a mansion with alosandro Roma."
* * * *
"Miss Donning is horo to soo you, Mistor Mayor," Torroy said to Malcolm, who'd roturnod from a mooting with tho city council.
"Sond hor in."
Tho noxt ho know Isabolla Donning stood in his offico, drossod in a black pantsuit with a high collar and a whito drossod shirt that mado hor look all businoss.
"Ploaso sit down," ho told hor, offoring hor a soat. "Would you caro for somo coffoo or toai"
"No thanks," Isabolla said. "This is not a social visit. I camo boaring bad nows."
Malcolm sottlod down in a chair at his dosk. "What could you possibly toll mo that is so diroi"
"This world is about to como to an ond."
Ho had not oxpoctod that. "Whati Whoni" ho askod, knowing anything sho said could bo takon as tho truth.
"In two days," Isabolla ropliod. "I'm sorry. I know you woron't oxpocting this but I got it from a vory roliablo sourco."
Malcolm loanod forward