Page 34 (1/2)

He gave a snort of what appeared to be real ahed "Celia, sweetheart, you’re so cute" He was feeling superior and oh so s tone of his voice "Don’t forget I’ve done a bloodline curse against the Garza fa to do another curse like that again, don’t you think I’d take the same precautions?

"Really, how stupid do you think I ahim sad "You have one piece of the puzzle and you think you see the whole picture

"You’re delusional"

I smiled It wasn’t a pleasant or happy smile It was a fuck-you-buddy s I don’t like condescension "I may only have one piece of the puzzle, but without it, you won’t get your picture"

Connor’s amusement disappeared as if it had been cut off with a switch, replaced instantly by ugly rage His blue eyes blazed with anger "You think you can stop " He sneered, an honest-to-God h, it was so over the top I kneas dangerous, deadly, even But I didn’t care, because in that moment, he was a cartoon

Apparently, my amusement showed A slow flush spread from his neck upward; his jaw clenched so hard I could hear his teeth grind "You are going to die"

My s him was stupid, but I couldn’t seehtily that reason had left the building "We all die eventually But if you don’t stop what you’re doing, you’ll go sooner rather than later"

He snorted in derision "I will survive Just as I did before"

"And what about your son? Will he?"

"Hard choices have to be made Children die every day" He spread his hands

I shook my head I wasn’t shocked I know better than most that not all parents love their children, and I was fairly certain that Connor wasn’t capable of loving anyone or anything other than hi that"

Another derisive laugh "Tell Jack if you like He won’t believe you He’s as delusional as you are Now if you’ll excuse ht," I said and turned my back to Connor Finn Despite the protective circles and the thick glass between us, my shoulders were clenched in anticipation of a blow until I walked out the door

My guards fell silently in beside me We walked down the hall and into the elevator; the only sound was of our footfalls echoing through the empty corridor

As I rode down to the main floor, I replayed Finn’s words in ant--and not without reason He was brilliant and hugely talented as a ically that other men had never even dreamed of But he was not invincible, and his disdain for others meant that he wasn’t careful about what he said

"They’re all dead … or dying" was the phrase that stuck inwith Isaac Levy, the man whoht him a problem that fell into his area of authority He’d consider it his responsibility to check things out, and he wouldn’t have thought twice about it Finn was a , a pretty strong one if he was Isabella’s opposite number He’d think he could face whatever Connor Finn dished out

I hoped I rong, but every instinct I possessed screa my eyes, I said a silent, desperate prayer "Please, God Not Isaac Please"

24

We stepped out of the elevator into frantic but well-organized activity There were probably a hundred guards grouped in a semicircle around Warden Davis, Do a tablet co on?" one of my escorts asked the nearest lare, so he shut up and we stood still, trying to be inconspicuous

The warden spoke without a bullhorn, but his voice rang out clearly; I wondered if there was a spell helping hi "Listen up, people We’ve had acivilian There’s no tinments from Assistant Warden Zorn" Zorn nodded and estured to a supply clerk as standing next to a rack loaded with a large number of what looked like the kinds of poles routinely used to check the efficacy of the s "One member of each team takes a pulse check stick"