Page 98 of Snag
His words appear on the console a moment later. He must have pressed some button on the steering wheel to connect to his phone, which is connected to the SUV. Or routed through the SUV to get around the black box?
“Smooth,” I say. “Clear. Precise. Not at all incendiary.”
“She claims to be my fucking sister, and she tried to fuck me!”
“No,” I say. “She pretended to be me, and you tried to fuck her.”
“Same thing. It’s fucking sick.”
“Either way?” I ask, just a little mockingly.
He spares me an irate glance.
I still don’t feel drawn to him, not even remotely. I understand he’s objectively gorgeous. Dark and deadly.That his beast must lend him immense strength. Even extra powers, perhaps. I assume his senior position in the Authority might even beguile some people. But not me.
“What?” he snaps, chafing under my regard.
I shrug. “There aren’t any threads between us.”
“Stop saying that!”
“Why?”
A middle finger emoticon appears on the console.
Reck scoffs, flicking his fingers toward the message. “See? Just a fucking child playing at being a villain.”
“I suppose it takes one to know one,” I say.
“Now who’s the child?” he mocks.
“Still you.”
“We’re not having this conversation.”
“What conversation? The one we’re currently having?”
He inhales. That press of malevolence all but boils around him. Then he exhales and reins it all in.
Impressive.
“Nothing matters more than Presh,” he says calmly.
“I agree. Presh ranks incredibly high in the things that matter.”
“This isn’t banter.” He loosens his hands on the steering wheel, relaxing into his seat. All deliberate adjustments. “I don’t fucking love you. I never fucking loved you. I would fucking sacrifice you in a moment if it meant saving any members of my family.”
Those measured words — rephrased but voiced for the second time — ache through me.
They’re also clearly a lie.
I’m not certain which parts are false, but am presuming it’s the mention of not loving me in the past.
I’m also not certain why Reck needs to make hisposition so clear. “I heard you the first time,” I say quietly. “And I know.”
“You know?” he mocks. “The great and terrible Conduit knows all.”
“I know.” I look at him steadily. “That you’re about to sacrifice me.”
