Alien Collective by Gini Koch

Author:Gini Koch [Koch, Gini]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781101635698
Google: tGN-AgAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0756407583
Publisher: DAW
Published: 2014-05-06T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 48

“EXCUSE ME?” Mahin sounded shocked and horrified. “I haven’t had contact with any of them since they murdered . . .” she glanced at Gower guiltily.

“My brother,” Gower said gently. “And we believe you, Mahin. Don’t worry.”

Siler shrugged. “That wasn’t an accusation of evil activity. However, the reason they’ve spent this year finding, prepping, and brainwashing the others is exactly because of you.” He looked at me. “And you, of course.”

“Mind explaining that? ’Cause I don’t see the ‘of course’ in regards to me.”

“Sweetly naïve. Not your best look. But I’ll explain for the apparently slow ones in the room.” Siler grinned at Claudia and Lorraine, who both laughed. Jeff rolled his eyes and Christopher hit us with Patented Glare #2.

“Yeah, explain for all the slow of wit,” Tim said. “Because I’m with Kitty. Why would she be the reason they don’t flip?”

“I get it,” Chuckie said. “You’re the one who ensured Serene flipped to our side, Kitty. Not Brian—you.”

Serene nodded. “Ultimately, that’s true, Kitty.”

“And you’re the reason Mahin flipped,” Chuckie went on. “You and White for Mahin.”

“I didn’t do any of it,” Christopher said. “Buchanan and Kitty’s father did more.”

“But you were there,” Chuckie said patiently. “For her and Serene. So was Jeff, but you were the one they were doing a different kind of brainwashing on. And Kitty figured that out, too.”

“Ah, Operation Confusion. Good times . . . good times.”

“Other than our getting Jamie, were they?” Jeff asked.

“Everyone’s a critic. So, you’re saying that because we’d stopped three attempts, they felt it was three strikes and they were out?”

Siler nodded. “Essentially. But I’m saying ‘you’ specifically, not ‘all of you’ generally. The assumption—which, after spending time with you, I think is completely accurate—is that there’s at least a fifty percent chance that any of the Yates progeny who interact with you are going to flip to your side. Especially the women.”

Considered this. “You know, I kind of bonded with your mother. Right before she tried to kill me and Adriana arrived to save the day.”

“Not a surprise. Hell, you’ve flipped the top assassins in the world to your side. And if you could make my mother like you, then you have a lot more persuasive power than you realize.”

“We . . . kind of . . . understood each other.”

“Exactly. So, your enemies made the decision to spend this past year bringing in the rest of the Yates progeny and brainwashing them. They’re good at this kind of persuasion, and these people aren’t going to join you now, because you stand in the way of everything they want.”

“Money, power, ruling everyone else?” Reader asked.

“That, and regaining their family glory, seats on the YatesCorp board, and more. They’ve been promised a lot.” Siler shook his head. “If I’d had all this offered to me when I was young and, more importantly, alone, I’d probably have gone for it, too. They’re very persuasive, and they’re offering something most of these people have never had.”

Looked at Serene and Mahin and it wasn’t hard to guess what was the biggest thing our enemies were offering.

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