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"You think you're going to kill Paige to hurt Lucas?" he said, leaning in, putting his face to Hector's. "That sound like a clever plan to you? Sounds like a coward's plan to me."
Hector tried to wrench his hand free, but couldn't so much as twist it in Clay's grasp.
"Who are you?" Hector demanded.
"The question isn't really who, but what," Clay said. "You want to find out? Lay a hand on Paige or Lucas and you will."
Clay clapped his free hand over Hector's mouth, then squeezed his other hand around Hector's fingers. There was a sickening crunch of bone and Hector's eyes bulged, his scream muffled by Clay's hand.
"You think that hurt?" Clay said. "Imagine what I'd do if I was really pissed off."
He shoved Hector away and turned to me. "Come on."
I followed Clay around two corners before he slowed enough to let me catch up.
"He tried to kill you in Boston?" Clay asked.
"You overheard?"
"I was waiting around the corner. Didn't figure you'd appreciate me interfering too soon. So Lucas doesn't know?"
"No, he doesn't, and please don't tell him. Maybe it seems he has a right to know, but--"
"He shouldn't. He worries enough about putting you in danger. If you want to accept the risk, then that's your decision to make, not his. Just take precautions, and if what's-his-name--"
"Hector. He's Lucas's oldest brother."
"Fucked-up family," Clay said, shaking his head. "If this Hector comes after you again, you let me know. Yeah, I know, that's not how you like to handle things, but with something like this, you're not going to get anywhere jabbing each other back and forth. Give one big shove and be done with it."
He looked each way down an intersecting corridor, tilted his head in a quick sniff, then jerked his chin to the left and set out.
"I take it we're following Lucas?" I said.
"Yeah. Well, no. Elena's following Lucas. I'm following Elena. We figure Lucas is following Edward."
"Uh-huh."
"We saw Lucas take off, so Elena sent me to get you while she tracks him."
He rounded another corner, walked a dozen feet, then wheeled and backtracked to an exit door. He opened the door and stuck his head out, then waved for me to follow.
"Wait," I said. "Benicio. Is anyone watching--"
"Aaron."
I was about to step outside when Cassandra hailed us from down the hall.
"Come out and shut the door," Clay said. "Maybe she'll take the hint."
"Hold on. It might be important."
"What's going on, Paige?" Cassandra said when she caught up. "Why aren't you in the ballroom?" She peered out the door. "Clayton? Who are you looking for out here?"
"Elena."
Cassandra rolled her eyes. "What a surprise. The poor woman gets ten feet from you and you're off like a shot--"
"She's following Lucas, who's following Edward," I said.
