Page 16 of Rooster

"He's never killed anyone that I know of. His games tend to be more psychological than anything else, but..."

I wait, my breath caught in the center of my chest when his words fade out.

"But what?" I insist, resisting the urge to lean closer to him in an effort to get the information.

"Henry doesn't stop until he decides the game is over."

"And you don't think he's finished with me," I whisper, my skin suddenly covered with goosebumps, even my legs under the water.

"I don't think he got what he wanted," he says, his eyes drifting back to me, and I can see the pity he has for me in them.

"What do you think he wanted?"

"To make me completely miserable. It's the only thing Henry has ever wanted in life."

"Why does he hate you so much?" I manage, my voice sounding weak.

"I was the one who ratted him out and got him locked up that time in El Paso. He's been seeking vengeance ever since."

"He broke the law," I argue.

Robert shakes his head. "It doesn't matter. The only wrong Henry ever saw was the one directed at him."

"I think that's—"

"Hey, there you are."

Both of our heads swivel toward the voice.

Twisted narrows his eyes when he spots me. One doesn't have to be a mastermind to see the jealousy in his eyes, but I don't say a word because doing so would only fuel a fire that shouldn't be burning in the first place.

"What's up?" Robert asks.

"I needed that information you said you'd find for me."

"Shit," Robert says as he pops up out of the water. "Sorry. It was nice talking to you, Morgan."

"You too," I say, finding it impossible not to watch the water droplets as they run down the length of his body.

His swim trunks leave nothing to the imagination as they cling to his body. As my cheeks heat, I have to look away.

"You okay?" Twisted asks.

"Getting pruney," I answer, holding up my hands so he can see my fingers. "Probably time to get out."

He holds his hand out to me as Robert walks away, but I make a point to climb out of the hot tub on my own power, hoping he'll start to take a hint. He walks so close to me as I grab a towel and head back inside that it's very clear he's not very good at reading body clues.

Chapter 6

Rooster

Another day, another twenty-four hours without finding a single new clue about Henry.

I'm not surprised because my brother won't be found until he's ready, but it doesn't stop me from looking for more information.

I have had more successes in life than I could ever count, and my biggest success is the most recent one. Being called up and invited to join Cerberus will always be one of my greatest accomplishments.

Despite my success, Henry has always been better. He taught me a lot of what I know. Since I knew early on in our quest to learn everything about computers that he would choose the dark side of what was possible, he stopped teaching me what he'd learned.

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