Page 99 of Irreversible

“Childish taunts.” He clicks his tongue. “Really, I expected better. But I suppose youhavebeen through the wringer lately. And I’m sorry to break this to you, but you don’t even know the half of it.”

“Kidnapping me, my sister, and murdering countless people isn’t enough? Answer my question. Where is she?”

“Still so fixated on one girl.”

“My.Sister,” I roar the words. “Sara. Notone girl.Sara Carlisle.”

I hear her voice in my head,“My father should have adopted you. Then you could be a Carlisle, too.”She had just come back into my life, eager to make up for our family’s sins.“I could change my name to Porter. It’s only fair.”

My sweet, justice-loving sister. I didn’t deserve her.

I’ll give you justice, Sara.

“Why her?” It’s practically a sob. “Why did you have to take her?”

A flippant shrug. “I don’t know. Why do I choose anybody? She came to my attention and had the qualities I was looking for. After our pretty little birdie Everly proved so lucrative, I thought a crooning canary with striking genetics might fetch a good penny, too. It was a disappointment when she wasn’t compatible.”

“You killed her because she wasn’tcompatible?”

“I killed her because her prolonged upkeep no longer suited my purposes. I needed to free up a spot.” He shrugs matter-of-factly. “But you’ll be happy to know, I respected the wishes on her driver’s license to donate her organs. Not a part of her went to waste.”

“You motherfucking—” I swallow the rising bile. “I’m going to disembowel you.” Seething, I let him see the truth in my eyes.

He chuckles as though my threats are no more than a swat from a kitten.

He’ll find out.

“You really would rip my head right off my shoulders if you could, wouldn’t you?”

“With my bare hands.”

“Such violence. Your buyer is going to love that.” Excitement glimmers in his eyes. “Now, I hate to dash, but I must prepare.First impressions and all that. However, I do have a memento for your entertainment while we’re waiting for him to arrive.”

I don’t react. He’ll tell me anyway.

“Oh yes, did I forget to mention? The man paying for you is on his way. In the meantime, movies!” He claps his hands. “Chop, chop.”

This guy is unhinged.

Dolph wheels something into the cage while I slump, limp and numb. Still feeling the aftershocks.

“Sit him up,” he orders. “He won’t want to miss this.”

I’m turned abruptly to face a television, my head lifted by the hair.

The thought clicks:has Everly suffered for my actions?

If she’s on that screen…

Dread curdles my insides. “Everly.” My voice is wrecked, but I need to know. “Where is she? What have you done to her?” I shouldn’t show him I care. Hell, I shouldn’t care,period.But it’s too late for that. It’s too goddamn?—

“What do you want from me?” a woman’s voice calls from the screen.

My head snaps up.

It’s not Everly.

“You’ve made a big mistake.” On the screen, my sister stands with her chin lifted and eyes blazing. “You have noideawhat you’ve gotten yourselves into.”

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