“Apparently, what you really hate is morality,” Ty chimed in.
Ty, don’t fucking play this game!
Himeros snickered before releasing a full-out belly laugh. “Morality? Human constructs that stand in the way of real scientific progress, Pretty Thing.”
I cringed at his use of my pet name for Ty, a soft growl escaping my lips.
“Oh, is that the sound of love I hear?” Himeros asked. “Surely, you now recognize the great talent I have, pulling all this off over the past decade. I was a patient predator. I stalked and hunted and played the game. And Agent Sparks and Agent Ryan succumbed to my spell, allowed me to infiltrate their hearts. As my mother always said, there’s nothing quite like making a man fall in love. Well, in this case, a man and a woman.”
“What you’re talking about has nothing to do with love,” Ty said.
“So brazen, Pretty Thing. What makes you think you can speak when you must know I could carve out your tongue right now? Hmmm?”
Ty quieted.
“No, I wouldn’t do that. Not when I need your tongue for the little game we must play—a game to make this inconvenience more than worth it. A shame you two made it out of that last hit alive. What a relief that my Blackmore connections had been watching you, Ty, after Agent McKinney’s visit to Atlanta…and then when you escaped with him from Chicago. I’m sure it was a lovely vacation together, perhaps helped you grow even closer. Seems my instincts about human nature have once again been proven correct. I’ve been waiting for Agent McKinney to return to you, and indeed, he did…flying right back into your arms.
“Oh, what a dirty mess the two of you have made of my plans, though nothing a beautiful death and a few acid baths can’t remedy. And then you’ll just be an unsolved mystery on the IPB’s conscience…if they even have one.”
