Page 82 of Heathens

“Because she can help.”

“Yeah, and thank God she can, but you didn’t know that when this all started. Besides, even if she couldn’t, you’d still keep her here.”

He’s got my number, and we both know it.

“Look, man. You don’t want anything to happen to her, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then you have to get this shit moving and shut down whatever Rene’s doing. Or he’s going to deliver on those threats and do to Sofie what he did to Selene. He’s angry, Dominic. He’s setting up to slaughter us.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

“Don’t talk,convinceher. Lie to her, tell her Rene knows everything, use the weapon angle, anything.”

I scoff, and Theo raises a brow.

“Look, you can’t just pull her teeth out, no matter how much you like doing that shit.”

I know he’s right, and I hate it. I wanted to give her a few days, take her back down to the lab and ease her into it, but we’re on the clock now.

He perks up, but I’m not in the mood for another speech.

“The steaks…”

“I fucking get it, Theo, the stakes are high and we don’t have time, but can you just–”

He points behind me.

“No, Dom, you’re burning your steaks.”

I whip around and see smoke wafting up from the pan, rushing toward it as I grab the spatula and turn down the heat.

“Goddammit!”

How the fuck did I miss the smell? I must be more exhausted than I thought.

“I’m heading back out,” Theo calls as I salvage the non-charred pieces of steak.

“Where?” I shout back at him as I struggle to salvage the meal.

“I’m gonna figure out what Rene’s next step is. Help us stay ahead of him. You just get her to make that shit!”

I sigh as he steps into the elevator and disappears.

Trying to forge a genuine relationship with Sofie is a luxury I can no longer afford.I’m going to have to convince her.

Tonight.

SOFIE

Duncan Towers

Itfeelslikesomeonetook a sledgehammer to my head.

No, that’s not quite right.

It feels like someone beat me with a bat, and then ran my skull over with a fucking tractor.

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