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Ethan let out a sigh. “Babe,” he said gently. “You have a good eye, and it was right to call that out. But what you saw in itself does not prove that she’s not in on it. He could be reminding her to smile even if she’s willingly working with him.”
“What I want to know is why we’re talking about this stuff with you to begin with,” Amos bitched. “You’re ten, kid.”
“I won’t let you cut me out. I care about Reggie. And Cass.”
The door opened, and Darius leaned into the room, very relieved to see Holly. “Oh, thank God.” He frowned fiercely at Holly. “Really, Holls? You think this is the time to run off alone in a public building, where Halliwell and his goons running around loose? You practically gave me a heart attack!”
“I’m sorry about that,” she said. “I just had to see this video, and I knew you wouldn’t let me go. And besides, you should still be up there guarding Reggie.”
Darius’s eyebrows rose. “We still think that Reggie needs guarding? Why?”
“Lots of reasons.” Holly’s voice rang with conviction. “She definitely needs it!”
“At least until we know more,” I conceded, hedging my bets.
Darius let out a huff of air. “Back I go, then. Oh, it looks like she’s conscious again, by the way. She was talking to the nurse when I was leaving. Asking about her sister.” He shot a tight-lipped glance at me. “Think I might just sit that one out.”
Everyone’s eyes slid away from mine, as I realized that it was my job to inflict heartbreak on an innocent little kid. That’s what I got, for unleashing this hell on my family. I’d brought this poor little girl here, and I’d let her into our inner sanctum. If someone was going to crush her hopes, it had to be me.
“I’ll, ah… go talk to her,” I said heavily.
Surprise, surprise. Nobody followed me on my way back to Reggie’s room.
I’d been such a boneheaded idiot. Thinking with my dick. Dazzled with Cass’s beauty and nerve and brilliance. And breaking Reggie’s heart was my punishment.
I’d rather have someone break both my legs.
CHAPTER24
Cass
Samuel followed us down from the helipad. Halliwell looked over at me, his eyes keen and appraising.
“You’re not going to do anything stupid,” he said. “Not with both myself and my operative holding exact copies of this remote. Am I right?”
“I won’t do anything stupid,” I said stiffly.
“Excellent. Samuel, leave us. We have a great deal to discuss. Come with me.”
Discuss, my ass. I had nothing to discuss with this man. He was going to talk at me, and I would pretend to listen while I thought faster than I’d ever thought before. Trying to figure out which answers might keep me and Reggie alive a little longer. It was like having someone throw knives at you and calling it a friendly game.
We walked down the corridor of the top level, toward the Bridge. This place was usually bustling with activity, people desperately trying to be the best of the best in hopes that Halliwell would notice them. Maybe even offer a glimmer of approval.
Today, there was no one. The place was deserted. The computers were dark.
It was eerie. The place had always been unnerving, but now it seemed under a spell, like Sleeping Beauty’s castle. Everyone locked in a deep, enchanted sleep.
“Where is everyone?” I asked. “Did you give people a day off?”
“I suppose you could say that,” he murmured.
His tone made me nervous. “Wait… what? Meaning what?”
Halliwell made an impatient sound as he opened the door to his palatial office and beckoned for me to follow him in. Lights flicked on, a subtle glow to augment the muted light from the gray, cloudy day that came in from the floor-to-ceiling picture windows. “I told you I was doing some house-cleaning, remember? It was time to trim away the deadwood.”
I reluctantly followed him in. “Wait. You mean, your own children? You kicked them all out?” I was appalled at the idea. That crew was so psychologically unstable after years spent under Halliwell’s thumb, there was no way they could function normally in the outside world. It would be a disaster for everyone concerned.
He looked irritated. “It was time. I was so tired of all their fits and freaks and fatal flaws. After everything that I invested in them. I even tried some bold surgical and pharmacological interventions over the years. To liberate them, to boost their natural abilities, make them bolder, more fearless. But instead of taking off like eagles, they collapsed as if I had removed all of their spines. It’s so ironic that the only one of my offspring even remotely like me is you. The only one that I couldn’t alter or mold, thanks to Laurel’s small-minded fears. Oh, and Jana, too. I admit, she had more spunk than I thought. Did I tell you that she tried to snoop around in the Coatesworth databanks? I caught her, of course. She was digging for info on Regina’s implant, and she was actually trying to contact you when I put a stop to it. Just in time.” He shook his head. “Bold of her, yes. Too bad that courage couldn’t have been in my service. But no. The answer is always… no.” He huffed out an irritated breath.
