Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Emily Carter in the back seat. Crimson fangs were already sprouting at the corners of her mouth—signs she was about to transform into a vengeful spirit.
I checked the time. Less than thirty minutes before the Gate of the Underworld closed. Time was running out, and I could no longer afford to waste it.
“You dared to smash into a psychopomp’s car? Looks like your reign as the Midwest’s underworld kingpin ends tonight.”
Tony didn’t take my warning seriously.
“Psychopomp’s car? Kid, you must be hallucinating from the crash. Let me tell you something—across the entire Rust Belt, there isn’t a single car I, Tony Moretti, wouldn’t dare ram.”
I nearly laughed out loud. Ignorance wasn’t scary—what was scary was when someone didn’t even realize they had already sealed their own fate.
While Vince Moretti wasn’t looking, I secretly pulled my phone from my pocket.
“Dad, it’s me, Ethan.”
Hearing my voice, Gabriel Hale immediately asked,
“Why are you calling now? Weren’t you on assignment tonight? This spirit isn’t ordinary—you can’t afford a single mistake.”
I glanced around and lowered my voice into the receiver.