Page 101 of The Dis-Graced

Bruiser turns to Irene. “Ma’am, you don’t have to be here for this.”

“This is a Dallanger problem, and I’m choosing to stay here with my future daughter-in-law.”

My head snaps towards Irene. “What?”

“I know my son, and I’ve never seen him quite so beguiled by a woman. It’s about time for him to settle down. I’m pretty sure he has his eyes set on you, and I’m rarely wrong.”

My mouth gapes open, unsure of how I should reply.

“Alright then, let’s get you in the other room,” Bruiser says, and as he and Irene head through the door, he turns back and says, “You’re on.”

Chapter 34

Grace

There’s nothing like having to wait for shit to hit the fan. Those terrible minutes leading up to disaster are cruel, uncaring of how good your intentions are, or even the fate of the world.

I know that in a couple minutes, there’s going to be a knock on the door, and Devon will be on the other side. I know that shortly after that, there will be another knock. One I’m not at all prepared for.

I wish they’d give me an update on Drake and how things are going on his end, but they’ve insisted that we have ‘tunnel vision,’ focusing on our mission alone.

“Grace?” ALAN’s voice streams from my phone.

“Yes?”

“Judging by her tone, which I analyzed when you talked with her during your stay with Drake, I would say that Stephanie is incredibly self-serving. Elliot is a man that will go down with his ship, Stephanie, on the other hand, would be more willing to cut deals and do anything she can to come out on top. If she knew that unleashing my greater form could in fact destroy humanity as you know it, she would not be inclined towards its release.”

“ALAN,” I say. “You are the greater form.

The knock comes, and for a moment, my body goes entirely numb, my legs refusing to move.

Another knock sounds and I snap out of my paralysis. With a shaky hand, I open the door.

Please, please, please don’t let me forget my lines!

As expected, Devon is on the other side. “You wanted to talk?” he says bluntly, an edge to his tone.

I’ve been preparing for this. Bruiser insisted we stay in character until we no longer can, even if there’s no possible way that Stephanie could know what we’re saying.

“Come in!” I gesture for him to enter, darting my eyes down the hallway before I close the door behind him.

“Look,” he snaps in an angry tone. “I’ve already bailed you out once, what little thanks I got for that. Now, you want more? You want something else?”

“If you would just listen,” I shout, repeating the lines I’ve been rehearsing throughout the afternoon.

“No, I’m through with listening to you. The second you found out that I don’t have any of my family’s money, you bailed!”

“I didn’t bail on you!”

“You think I don’t know about the offer my mother made you?”

“The offer? Your mother came by to check on you!”

“Yeah, you think I don’t know? You think I can’t put two and two together? My mother would do anything to keep me dependent on her!”

“I just need you to get a message to your brother.”

“Why don’t you go deliver it yourself!”