Page 69 of Hextreme Measures

“When you die?” Sully guessed.

Her eyes narrowed. “Who said anything about dying? Why are you stuck on that?”

“Because you’re obviously sick.”

“Stop saying that! I’m not sick!”

Was it possible she didn’t know? Sully stared at her, hard, then came up with his own answer. “Denying you're sick won’t stave off the inevitable. You’re dying.”

“Why do you even care?”

“I’m just making conversation.” He flashed a flat smile. “We have some time to kill, right? Just out of curiosity, what are you going to do with me when you’re certain that Angelique has turned?”

“Who says I’m going to do anything with you?” She made a face. “I don’t care about you either way.”

“And yet you grabbed me. Now you’re holding me hostage. That suggests to me that you do care.”

“Well, I don’t.” Shirley emphatically shook her head. “You’re nothing to me. The only thing I regret is where we made our move. In hindsight, that was a mistake. My boy said you would be distracted by your upcoming nuptials, that it was the right time to strike. I’m starting to think he might not be the shiniest diamond in the ring.”

Sully let loose a guttural laugh. “You’re starting to think that? Obviously, you haven’t spent much time with him.”

“Obviously, you haven’t either,” she shot back. “If you had, you would know that he’s a smart boy. He’s going to do great things.”

“No, he’s a bit of a dim bulb,” Sully countered. He didn’t care how angry he made her. If she wanted to retrieve him from the cage, she would make herself vulnerable to him. He wasn’t afraid to take her on now that he knew what he was dealing with.

“He’s not. He’s putting on an act.”

“Nobody is that talented.” Sully shook his head. “It’s good you think he’s smart. If you had to see him for what he really is, you wouldn’t be happy.”

“And what is he?” Shirley practically spat out the question.

“An individual who hoards bitterness like gold. There is so much resentment in that guy. At first, I thought he was just a misogynist. Now, understanding about you and what you’ve put him through over the course of his life, I get it.”

Shirley sent him a sharp look. “And just what is it that you think I’ve put him through?”

Rather than answer the question, Sully went on the offensive. “How many times did you lament the fact that you had a son instead of a daughter when he was growing up? Could you not have any more children? Were you stuck with him?”

Fury lit Shirley’s eyes. “You have no idea what you’re talking about!” she spat. “I love my son.”

“And yet you would have preferred a daughter.” Sully smirked. “I can’t wait to tell him that when I see him next. Well, if I see him next.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Shirley was spitting mad. It made Sully smile, both internally and externally.

“Just that Ofelia knows he’s your son,” Sully replied. “She saw the photo on the wall. I’m sure she’s already been to see him.”

“So what? She doesn’t have any power over him.”

“You’d be surprised how much power she has.” Sully leaned back against the wall and stretched his legs in front of him in lazy fashion. “She’s going to end you.”

Shirley threw back her head and laughed. “She’s not strong enough to end me.”

“Yes, she is.” Sully didn’t doubt that in the least. “And now you’ve ticked her off. May the Goddess have mercy on your soul.”

“I’m not afraid of her.” Shirley turned haughty on a dime. “Besides, I’m not alone. Did you miss the stories about my family? We’re many. We’re strong.”

“And do you think Ofelia will be alone?” Sully challenged.

“We’re not afraid of shifters. You might have taken out one of my children, but that was luck. We weren’t expecting you to shift in public like that.”