“He’s working with Kroll,” the man gasped. “They’re at the old processing plant near the state line. Vance has the details on all your shipping routes.”

Dante’s face remained utterly still, like carved stone.

But I saw the slight tightening of his jaw, a muscle twitching near his temple.

He turned his dark eyes toward me.

“You know this man?” Dante asked me. “Vance?”

“He was my employer,” I said, my voice barely steady. “Before I ended up at the diner. He destroyed my reputation.”

Dante stared at me for a long moment, processing the information.

“He sold me Vesper,” Dante said, his voice dangerously quiet. “He swore the horse was sound.”

“He lied,” I said. “He wanted to ruin you, just like he ruined me.”

Outside, the sound of a distant car engine revved, then died out in the dark.

The rain continued to beat against the metal roof of the shed, a steady, rhythmic drumming.

Dante looked back toward the open doorway.

“We aren’t safe here,” he said. “Kroll’s men are retreating, but they’ll be back with reinforcements.”