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"You can’t be serious," said the first "I can’t go back to ot He’ll killfrom thieves," said a second, so low I could barely make out the words I leaned in "And at the price you’re charging, that’s exactly what you are"

"With all due respect--"

"If you had an ounce of respect for me, you would offer me a reasonable price," said the second voice "It’s clear you don’t, so I will takeI ju was gone

"Lila?"

My mouth went dry Knox stood in the doorway, but that wasn’t what caught un in his hand

Chapter 10

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" said Knox, grabbing my elbow Behind hiht of a portlyto find you," I said A lie, but he had no way of knowing for sure

"I told you to wait"

"I’ve never been very good at listening" I jerkedin there? And what are you doing with that? "

Knox tucked the gun into the back of his pants "None of your business Let’s get you back downstairs before everyone starts to wonder where you went"

I stayed put, and though he was strong enough to dragthose?"

"Not yet The price was too high, but he’ll lower it soon enough Why are you so curious?"

I shrugged Guns were illegal for everyone except Shields, but apparently those laws didn’t apply to VIs and VIIs either "Can you teach me how to use one?"

Knox stared at me "You want to learn how to shoot?"

"Yes Can you teach usta would love to knohat you do on your nights out"

Several seconds passed I half expected hi--but instead he burst out laughing

"I like you," he said, re me so firmly of Daxton that I nearly recoiled "Sure, I’ll teach you Why do you think you need to learn?"

Instead of answering, I started toward the stairwell It was a stupid question He kneto do hat happened to Lila, does it?" I said

He fell into step beside me as we descended the stairs

"Why do you think it does?"

"You like answering questions with another question, don’t you?" I said, struggling to co he’d been told about Lila’s assassination ahead of ti them do what you want You only have two hands, so there’s no reason for you to have so ive them to other people, whichSince you’re in no danger of starving, Lila’s the obvious answer"

He eyed me "Yes, it has to do with Lila"

"What about her?" I said "How she died, or--"

"The guns are for the people who supported her," he said "That’s all I’ you"

I whirled around in theto stop fro into me

"You said you’d never seen the speeches before Were you lying?"

"What? No" He looked flustered, and a hint of satisfaction crept through , but I kept out of it Celia filledher to overthrow Daxton, wasn’t she?

That’s why Lila was killed"

Knox didn’t meet oing to kill Celia, too?" I said, and Knox shook his head "Why not?"

"It’s--complicated" He frowned "Daxton, he--"

Below us, the door clanged open, and I froze Knox pressed ainst the wall, and as footsteps thudded up the stairs, he kissed ruff voice, and Knox pulled away, looking annoyed

"What does it look like?" he said, and the burly security guard below us paled

"Miss Hart, Mr Creed--ies I didn’t realize--"

"That much is obvious," said Knox, and he tuckednow"

The guard stepped aside as Knox led me down the stairs Once ere back in the corridor with the bathrooms, I slipped away from him and took a deep breath to clear reat kisser

"You can’t just-- do that whenever you feel like it," I said, trying to sound angry, but it came out more like a whine

"Is that so?" said Knox "I’ll try to reht fifty feet froal arms dealer"

He waited, his eyes on me, and I had to turn away from hiuns or the way he kissedanother opportunity to sneak away and find Benjy were all but nonexistent now, and ood Knox was taller than me, and I was sure he could outrun uarantee he wouldn’t try to stop me, but I did know about the weapons If that’s what it would take to get hiet to the Heights"

"Why’s that?" he said, leaning against the opposite wall

"Benjy’s taking his test tomorrow, and this is my last chance to find hihts are fifteen miles away What do you expect to do, walk the entire way?"

"If I have to" I crossedout about what happened tonight, you’re going to helpyou," he said "You can’t try to take charge like this It’ll derail everything we’ve been doing"

"What have you been doing? You can’t just tellhandled and not expect "