Master Of None (2010) by Bateman Sonya

Author:Bateman, Sonya [Sonya, Bateman,]
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2011-01-14T19:20:08.218000+00:00

CHAPTER 21

Four in the morning wasn’t my idea of a good time for an argument.

It wasn’t hard to find Tory. I just had to follow the trail of angst leading to Lark’s living room, where a plasma TV blared old Bugs Bunny cartoons at a volume suitable for old folks with broken hearing aids. The djinn sprawled on a couch, shirtless, beer in hand. He’d obviously adjusted to life as a typical American. In the blue-white glow of the screen, I made out armband tattoos that matched Shamil’s. For some reason, the sight of them pissed me off.

Probably because I knew where Shamil was right now. Didn’t seem right that this asshole should sit here drinking and damning Ian while his clan member took Trevor’s abuse.

I moved between Tory and the television. He lifted bleary eyes and let out a grunt. “Fuck off, monkey.”

“You sound like Lark. Besides, I thought you liked humans.”

“I don’t like humans who choose to associate with Gahijian. Especially the female ones.” His gaze narrowed. “Or humans who go around crippling people and then screwing them over.”

I winced. Couldn’t defend what I’d done to Lark, but I wasn’t about to let his idiotic tirade against Ian continue. “Let’s get a few things straight here,” I said. I reached down and hit the TV’s power button.

“Hey! I was watching that.” Tory grabbed for a remote lying on a side table.

I got there first and threw it across the room. “No, you don’t. You’re going to listen to me, damn it.”

“Why should I?”

“What are you, five years old?” I folded my arms, took a breath. “Okay. First, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about what happened to Lark. I would’ve stuck around and tried to help, but he asked me to leave. Actually, he told me if I stayed, he’d kill me.”

Tory glowered. “He should have.”

“Maybe. But he didn’t, and that’s for him to decide. Now, about Ian.”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“You’re going to if I have to tape your mouth shut.”

“Not if I turn you into a frog.”

“Oh, come on. A frog? I do know a little about djinn, and I’m pretty sure you can’t do that. But maybe I’m wrong. If I am, go ahead and prove it.”

Tory sank lower into the seat cushions and knocked back a swallow from his can.

“Thought so.” I relaxed. A little. “Ian didn’t desert you.”

“Right. I just imagined him going off with those half-breed morons.”

“Shut up and listen.” I had to drop my arms and clasp my hands behind my back to keep from strangling him. “Those morons had your tether, and Shamil’s. They were going to kill you both unless Ian did what they wanted. He had to wait until they died to get the tethers back, and then he couldn’t find you.”

Tory sprang to his feet. “You’re lying.”

“No—”

“Gahiji-an cares for no one but himself. He rejected me, the same way he rejected . . .” The color drained from his face, and he slid back down on the couch.

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