Page 130 of Throwing Fire

“Back on track?” I growl.

“We’re going in the wrong direction. You know we are. Kezra hates the product so much she’s going to destroy the company. Everything we worked for. Everything Sokun died for. She’s going to destroy it. Can’t you see that?”

Fuck, she did it for him.

“That’s what this is all about, Ree? Company’s all you have left, isn’t it? Kison’s dead. Sokun’s dead. All you’ve got is this ghost. And Kez and me are tearin’ it apart. You’re takin’ us down to protect your baby.”

She shakes her head. “I gave you what you wanted. I gave everyone what they wanted. This was the only way?—”

“What Iwanted? Turnin’ Kez over to a fucker who’s going to rape and kill her? That’s what you think I want?”

“Nothing will happen to Kezra. She’ll be released unharmed, I swear?—”

I lean in close and growl in her face. “You know why the Old Man didn’t give you control, Ree? ‘Cause you don’t understand people. You know numbers, procedures, but you don’t know the first fucking thing about human nature. Whatever Erin told you was a fucking lie. Whatever Jaxon told you was a fucking lie. They don’t care about theE.C. orrhodistribution. TheyhateKez. That’s what they care about. They’ve played you to get their hands on her. Erin’s going to turn Kez over to Jaxon and he’s going to torture her and then he’s going to kill her. So you tell me how to find her or I’ll make sure you never kneel again, before I fire your ass.”

She goes very still, despite the pain, and I realize I’ve said the one thing that actually scares her. “Fire me and she dies.”

“Do it. Signal Erin, right now.”

She nods.

“It’s the children’s names. In reverse. Reverse birth order,” I tell her.

Myhre stares at me for a moment. Then she begins reciting the long string of letters to Mother Jo. As she speaks, I rise and circle around behind her. Put one hand on her shoulder.

I’m more than a little surprised when one of her hands, fingertips as pale and cold as fresh snow, creeps up to cover mine. Is she seeking comfort from me? The fucker who just broke her knees? Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised though. She’s devoted her life to the Tyngs, and they’ve done nothing but take from her, so me hurting her is probably just more of the same.

For a second, I wish it could be different. But then I remember where Kez is, whose hands she’s in, and the huge hole that fucker put in her back. And I know this the way it has to be.

I squeeze Myhre’s shoulder.

She finishes the sequence and Mother Jo’s soft voice responds, “Control confirmed Miz Hata.”

“Open Crimson Channel to Erin Agosante. Transmit the control codes and confirm,” Myhre tells Mother Jo.

That trips me over the edge. However beautiful, smart, and talented Myhre is, she’s got entirely too many secrets if she has so many clandestine communication channels she has to fucking color-code them.

“Confirmed,” Mother Jo says.

“Tell Erin to let Kez go,” I tellMyhre.

She nods. “She will now.”

“Nothin’ more?” I ask.

“No. It will be done immediately. Please don’t worry about Kezra’s safety. I promise you she’s in no danger.” She leans forward a little and gingerly touches her broken knee. Sniffles. “You’ll see that this was for the best?—”

I gently pull her against the chair’s back. Give her a last pat on the shoulder.

Then I draw a punch blade from my wrist sheath and plunge it down through her collar and into her heart. The fastest kill I was taught.

She lets out one hissing gasp. Her head lolls against my stomach.

“Oh,” Payton says. I look up and meet her wide eyes. “That was faster than my way.”

She pats the Xec case she carried from Jielt.

“Your way?”