She looked down, a frown creasing her brow.“Atropa Belladonna.”
Deadly nightshade.This one had just come into bloom.The plant was known for its distinctive dull green leaves, violet flowers and shiny black berries that grew along its branches.
Careful though, eating those berries wouldn’t leave you feeling too good after.
“That’s what set you off?”Gus asked.
Granted, belladonna was highly toxic, but she doubted he knew that.The plant was native to old Earth.Specifically, central and southern Eurasia.It wasn’t something a Tuann would have come across.
“Our captors had that plant tattooed on their forearm,” Anandra volunteered.
“All of them?”Gus asked, her voice pitched slightly higher than usual.
His cautious gaze on hers, Anandra nodded.
“Wait here,” Gus ordered.
She rushed out of the garden, not bothering to lock the door behind her.Caution was forgotten as she made a beeline straight to where she’d left the humans’ bodies.
“Please, please, please.Don’t let it be what I think it is,” Gus chanted, grabbing the first arm she found and lifting it.
Except her worst fear proved true.There, on the human’s forearm, was a tattoo.Atropa Belladonna.Just like Anandra said.
Gus lowered herself to a seated position, her mind reeling and her face blank with shock.
Someone had stolen her name and was using it to do some very bad things.
Belladonna wasn’t just any organization.It washerorganization.
“No wonder Ryan decided on a visit.Someone is setting me up,” Gus whispered through numb lips.
The would be leader of the forty-three wasn’t coming to Titan to check on Gus.He was coming to kill her.
Gus let that sink in.
Someone wanted her dead.Whether because of a grudge or because they saw her as easy pickings.Weak.There for the destroying.
They’d declared war on her and everything she’d built.
Belladonna and its crimes would trace back to her.The plant obsessed hermit stupid enough to name her organization after one of the most infamous poisons of all time.
In retrospect, not her brightest moment.
And since Gus actuallywasthe person behind Belladonna’s creation, she doubted denial of her involvement would work.
Someone, somewhere, was bound to put two and two together.
Ryan’s impending visit made Gus think he already had.Even if that wasn’t his purpose in coming, there was still Kira and Jin to consider.They were bound to pull on that thread.It would lead them right back to her.
Gus could guess what would happen then.Kira would rampage.Jin would wield his own brand of snarky chaos.
And Gus.Gus would bleed.
She might die.Maybe not.Kira had a soft heart.Their history might stay her hand.
Not the forty-three’s though.
“Think.Think.Think.”
