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"When?" I interrupt hi in there for two more days and I’ll explain But for now, Harp, please--listen to Vincent Give his Just relax You’re safer now than ever before You’re safer with him than with your own father OK?"
"OK," I say just to answer his up The traffic noise cuts off and is replaced by silence
I just stare at the phone
My brother just called me Remember it all, Harper Reerous Tet is on a ood Nick will be here in two days
Sister
That’s the only word that counts
I hang the phone up and practically collapse back into the pillows Which parts are true? Which of the things he just told me are true and which are a cover for whatever it is he’s planning?
I look over at the phone and sit up in bed with an idea I can call James myself I have his number I reach for the receiver when there’s a knock on the door
Fuck "Yes?"
It opens tentatively and Vincent peeks his head through "I heard the phone Who was that?"
"Nick," I say, swinging s over the side of the bed Vincent eyes theaze "He said you called hiht"
Vincent opens the door all the way and co it behind him He smiles at me as he walks over to the bed and takes a seat He sits close enough that our legs touch "I did I’m worried about you I’m worried about Tet’s influence on you I’m worried about what he told you"
"Toldhe says is a lie, Harper Everything He can’t help it His life is all about lies Lies keep hi but the product of a dozen years of lies and secrets He’s killed hundreds of people He’s overthrown governments He killed his own brother, for fuck’s sake, Harper That’s got to bother you Even if you think he had a good reason"
I start to say so open Ithim
"I know," Vincent says, "it’s horrific It’s horrible what they had him do But Harper, he chose that life You have to understand this"
"And you chose this one," I say flatly
"I didn’t choose He did He chose forto be Six I was always the control--"
"Wait Control Is that your code?"
"Code?" He looks at me funny
"Your code You know, fro about I don’t have any code"
Right Secrets But control It’s both a noun and a verb And the way Vincent used it, it sort ofto me?"