I blinked. Even she's not that crazy —
Oh, but she is. His mind tone was grim. She wants power. Hungers for it. And she will never be satisfied until all who live bow at her feet.
Wow. Just… wow. And yet it certainly made more sense than the council wanting the keys so they could use hell as their own private jail. Not that I'd ever really believed that particular statement – or, at the very least, I'd always suspected there was something more. I had no doubt that if Hunter did get the keys, then she would use hell. It would amuse her greatly to cast those who annoyed her into that place.
I returned my attention to the vampire. "Look, I know your name is Trent Fagan, and I know you're a contract killer for hire. Tell me the truth about what happened here today, and I might just let you live."
Surprise flickered briefly through his eyes, but he remained mute.
I sighed. "Fine. But consider this, the Directorate are on their way, and we both know they had a kill order out on you. It might have been rescinded, but do you honestly think you'll be given such a chance a second time?"
He contemplated me for a moment, very obviously weighing options. "Living probably isn't in my future, given capture was never part of the plan."
"And what was the plan?"
Something flickered in his eyes. Annoyance or acceptance, I couldn't tell which. But after a brief hesitation, he said, "To kill Jak Talbott."
"Why gut him? Why not just drain him?"
"Because gutting is the more painful death."
I clenched my fists. God, what I wouldn't give for Amaya to be buried in Hunter's flesh right now. "And who sent you here?"
Again he contemplated me. "What makes you think someone sent me here? That reporter has stepped on more than a few toes in his time."
"He certainly has, but you're not one of them. Besides, you don't work for free, even on kills you desire."
That last part was a guess, but I was betting it was a correct one.