Page 158 of Feed Your Fiends

“So you were utterly worthless?” I say, unsurprised.

“A menace to society. I still don’t know how she found out that we were related.”

And then it hits me. “It was me. I fell into her palms. She saw Jarrett’s last name on the application, did some digging, and figured it out. You were still a Crewely when you met Marisol?”

He nods.

Me. It was me applying for that summer scholarship that brought this all on.

“Why don’t you speak to Jarett any more? He idolizes you. Talks about you all the time.”

“Does he? Or does he talk about my money? My job? We haven’t spoken or seen each other in decades, so he must’ve read some articles I was featured in.”

I grow silent because we both know the answer.

“I can’t believe you’re his kid.”

“Do you know your kid? Marisol’s baby?”

“No. I’ve told Bart this a dozen times since he abducted me. I don’t know what this boy’s name is. What he looks like. What country he’s in. I don’t know anything about him other than that he exists. Or he did. I don’t know.”

And I’m not telling him.

“Wait…” This is too much information at once. “If Delphine is out there partying, does that mean she isn’t even looking for you?”

“Why would she? She knows I’m here.”

At my puzzled look, he says, “The cameras. She saw the car, the Packard that caused the accident, leaving the garage. Plus, Gant and I were suddenly gone. I know she hasn’t reported me missing.”

A thought strikes me.

“You said BartandGant took you in the Packard?” A lie? Because Gant can’t—

“No. Bart took Gant and me in the Packard. He tied Gant up. Gagged him. I didn’t understand, I thought that maybe we both were victims. Him more so than me at that moment because he, he cried. Cried the entire way here. They had to sedate him once we got inside. But I was put in a cage and him in his room.”

My chest tightens. “Who sedated him?”

“Bart held him down while the blonde boy injected him.”

“Blonde boy?”

“The kid who cooks.”

Zedd.

“He was irritated at how childish Gant was acting over a car ride. Told him to get the fuck over it already.”

Get the fuck over his mother’s death, yeah, that sounded like Bart. And Zedd. But I don’t have time to dwell on it.

“But why? Why did Delphine just let them take you? Is it because she wants Bart now?”

“Partly. She’ll let Bart do whatever the fuck he wants to me because she’s almost won.”

“Is he seriously falling for her?”

“That, I don’t know, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I know her secret, and if I die, it dies with me. I haven’t managed to spill it yet.”

“Spill it now, or I leave you here to die with it.”

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