Wired by Robin Wasserman

Author:Robin Wasserman [Wasserman, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BluA
ISBN: 9781416974543
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: 2010-09-15T07:00:00+00:00

"We had a deal," Jude growled.

"And now we've made a better one," M. Poulet said.

"It will be a great endeavor," M. Sani added, enunciating crisply to make up for his slight accent. "We are all looking forward to it."

M. Poulet gave the screen a bow, and it went dark. "Not all of us, I assume," he said to Jude.

Jude didn't say anything. None of us did.

201

"Surely you didn't think we'd actually let you follow through with your pathetic little plot," M. Poulet added. "You'd do well--all of you--to remember that we're in control here. Surely, Lia, at least you understand how much control we have. And what we can do."

I suddenly understood. This is the man who sentenced me to death. He was practically bragging about it. So disgustingly certain that there was nothing we could do to him.

Maybe he was right.

"Will that be all?" M. Poulet concluded. "Because if so, I have some actual business to attend to today."

Call-me-Ben cleared his throat. "Lia, if you and your friends would like to discuss this further--"

"I think they've wasted enough of our time today," Poulet snapped. "We've both got busy days ahead of us."

His meaning couldn't have been clearer if he'd fitted Ben with a leash and muzzle.

"My assistant can show you out," Ben said, cowed. Pathetic. Though no more so than we were.

"We can find our own way," Jude said.

"Oh, I think it'll be best for you to have an escort," M. Poulet said. "Don't you? Wouldn't want you wandering off and getting lost on our property again, now, would we?"

So we lost even that battle. We followed Ben's assistant, not speaking, avoiding one another's eyes. We did as we were told.

202

* * *

We retreated to the outer edge of the parking lot, which was nearly empty but for our two cars. It must have been obvious from our expressions how the meeting went, because neither Zo nor Sari asked. They just watched us warily, waiting for someone to make a move.

"Assholes," I finally said.

Jude snorted. "Can we skip the ritualistic licking of wounds?"

"Right, no point in dwelling on past mistakes," Riley said. "Especially when they're yours."

"Mine? This was your idea."

"My idea to go, yours to talk--and talk, and talk, and talk, and say nothing. As usual. And then there's Aikida." He shook his head. "You're some master strategist."

It took me a second to identify the expression on Jude's face, as I'd never seen it there before: humiliation. And almost as soon as I caught on, it faded away, replaced by pure anger.

Sari draped herself over Riley, her head on his shoulder. "Is anyone going to tell me what happened?"

"What do you care?" Jude spit out. "What the hell are you even doing here?"

"Leave her alone," Riley said.

Jude scowled at Sari. "She's a big girl. Let her defend herself."

"She shouldn't have to."

203

"And Lia shouldn't have to deal with this crap," Jude said. "But you bring that here and rub it in her face. Nice."

"Can we not do this?" I said.

"She's none of your business," Riley warned him.

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