“Huh. I never thought about it that way.” I lean back on the soft grass, watch a few fluffy clouds pass by. “Maddox, can I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
“Are you… Are you only friends with me because I saved you?”
He chuckles. “Harry. We met because you saved me. Because you acted quickly and pulled me out the ravine. But we’re friends because you’re good people. I like you, and I like your family a lot.” He gazes toward the clouds. “You guys are real. You do the right thing because it’s the right thing. You don’t do good things just for the clout, like my dad.”
I smile. “Really?”
He nods. “Really.” Then he chuckles. “You’re a good person, Harry. Only a truly good person would have thrown himself into the ravine to save a kid he barely knew.”
I don’t think.
I just leap. Throw myself over Lou’s body.
Rouge’s dagger buries itself into my right shoulder. The pain is searing, but I don’t care right now.
Rouge gasps. “The good doctor fancies himself a hero, does he?”
She brings the dagger down again, this time into my left shoulder. I cry out in pain, but I’m not going to stop protecting Lou and Carol. They may not have gotten their organs by the book, but they’re innocent. I know they would have refused the transplants if they had known where their donations came from.
Twin trickles of blood pour down my back, and the pain melts away temporarily as time seems to freeze for a moment.
It’s the adrenaline.
Rouge will surely bring her knife down on me a third time. If she hits my spinal column, I’m toast.
She’ll summon her remaining Kings from there, and they’ll take the rest of us out. Maybe she’ll let Bianca live, but I have my doubts. Vanya will certainly die. His head was on the chopping block already. He’s just delayed the inevitable.
It’s impossible.
There is no way out of this.
But then I remember Rouge’s own words from just a moment ago.
Always let your enemies think they’re in control. The more vividly the mirage of power gleams, the tighter your grasp upon their fate.
They echo words that Chet said when he recounted his story to us.
Always let them think they’re in control.
Rouge claims Chet is loyal to her and only her.
That isn’t true.
Chet is loyal to one entity alone.
Chaos.
Rouge can kill all of us right now, tie her whole mess up with a neat little bow.
And Chet won’t like that.
Before Rouge can bring her dagger down again, I glance over toward Chet. “That’s it, then. Congratulations, Chet. You and your Queen have won.”
Rouge cocks her head. “Dr. O’Rourke?”
I ignore her. “Everything will go back to normal now. You guys can run things the way you want at Aces. You’ll return to your job as a bouncer. Checking driver’s licenses. Never letting anyone in unless Her Majesty commands.”
