“Yeah, well…” He scratches his neck. “It never would’ve happened if it wasn’t for that money-grubbing jockstrop bringing in enough cash to turn OptiSynth into a monster. He was the face of it, you know. The one they trotted out to bring more investors in. Dumb fucking ice-freak can’t be good for much else.”
I nod, inwardly wincing.
“He fed the monster. He brought it to life. He robbed us blind!” His gun jabs the air and I jump. “Fuck, if he hadn’t gotten all the wrong people on board, if it hadn’t launched, I wouldn’t be ruined. At least, I wouldn’t have been tricked into slashing my own throat. And not just me. So many people, kids just startingout who’ll never get to live off their creativity. The children, lifeless, and their children’s children.”
…is he sobbing now?
This man is a human land mine.
Trembling, he wipes his face.
“This… this isn’t my revenge. I’m not that selfish,” he whispers, shaking his head. “No. It’s collective vengeance. I’m just the instrument. The moral arrow always bends this way, you know. Justice. And sometimes justice can be very, very painful.”
Justice.
It’s creepy how he echoes Viola’s favorite word of the day.
I don’t know how much longer I can keep a straight face, but I have to try.
For Kane.
For the kids.
For my life.
“Lee,” I whisper, keeping my voice low like he’s a stray dog I’m trying to coax from the corner. “Listen to me, okay? Kane told me everything.”
“I bet he did. Did he also tell you how he abandoned us after they picked our bones clean? Did you know he had conference calls with artists in the pilot, dozens of us?” He curls his lip, teeth glinting white in the the flashlight. “Were you impressed how he made his money?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Bullshit! He didn’t give a flying fuck what happened to me or anyone else. He was just in it to eat and run. Now, he’ll taste lead.”
“That’s not fair!” I throw back.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from living with Kane, it’s that he doesn’t flaunt his wealth.
He doesn’t fear getting his hands dirty doing things most people with his money would hire folks for.
If I had to guess, he cares more about the kids’ college funds than whatever big nest egg he has sitting with a wealth manager.
“You still think I’m the villain, don’t you?” Lee snorts roughly, leaning forward, gun hanging loosely in his fingers as he takes my chin in his other hand and stares down at me with hollow eyes again. “Just because I’m the one holding the gun?”
“I don’t think you’re a villain, Lee.”
“Fuck yourself, princess. After I’ve dealt with your boyfriend, you’ll see. I’ll turn myself in. Guys like me get a lot of fans in prison. I don’t care about winding up behind bars. I hate violence.”
Oh, I wish he hated it now.
I reach up to touch his wrist, and he releases me.
My chin throbs from his grip, another bruise guaranteed.
“Kane didn’t know about the software replacing people until it was too late,” I venture, rubbing my chin. “He didn’t run away. He left because the other people wouldn’t listen. The way they screwed you over broke him. Honestly. He’s been beating himself up ever since.”
“Liar,” Lee spits. “You expect me to believe that?”
Up comes the gun again.
