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immediately and bring her to the lift. When he sees you standing there with Petra and
only Petra you will be allowed below. Dixie, end recording and get your ass back to
Petra s office.
The light blinked out, and the bot rolled from the lounge. Bryce sank into a chair,
tears blurring her vision.
Slade squeezed her shoulder. Don t think about Petra. Let s figure out how we
deal with Akim once he steps off the lift.
It s probably a good thing to get Petra down here, Matthias muttered. She s not
going to believe I m dead until she sees my body.
135
Aubrey Ross
Chapter Thirteen
The lift door slid open, and Petra stumbled into the corridor. Her silk wrap wasn t
belted and she clutched it to her body with trembling hands. Slade focused on the
opening, waiting for Akim to emerge. A mirror on a telescoping pole protruded
through the opening.
I m unarmed, you cowardly bastard.
The mirror disappeared and Akim stepped into the hallway. I haven t remained in
power so long without being careful.
You ve been in power less than eight months. That s not much to brag about.
Is this the Toymaker? he asked Petra.
She looked at Slade for guidance, and he subtly shook his head.
No, Matthias is much older.
Take me to him. Akim s imperious tone made Slade grind his teeth.
Petra, you might want to wait here.
Not on your life. I have a thing or two to say to the Toymaker myself.
Slade inclined his head. I thought you might.
Where is Bryce? Akim demanded.
You promised to free her if she got you an appointment with the Toymaker.
Correct?
She is my personal property. You have no right& He paused, slipping both
hands into the pockets of his pants. I m disappointed with Bryce. I will want to see her
before I depart.
Slade didn t respond. He kept Akim in front of him.
I knew he was a lying bastard. He had no intention of releasing me.
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Toymaker
Slade struggled not to smile. Be ready. Once they see the body, they re both going to go
off.
We ll be ready, Matthias assured him.
Slade led them into the lab. Open partition. The retractable portion of the wall
lifted, revealing Matthias body.
Petra gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
What is the meaning of this? Akim pulled a thin hand gun from each pocket,
aiming one at Slade and one at Petra.
You insisted on seeing the Toymaker. Well, you re too late. He officially passed
beyond two hours ago. He was exposed to a bio-weapon that
No! He survived the illness. Petra sank to her knees beside the table. What did
you do to him? Why didn t you take him to a doctor?
I am a doctor. There is nothing anyone could have done. The virus was engineered
to be aggressive and degenerative.
Petra clasped his wasted hand to her cheek and sobbed.
Akim turned both weapons on Slade. Take me to Bryce.
Fuck off and die. With a burst of psychic energy, Slade sent Akim s pistols flying
across the room. You have hurt Bryce for the last time!
Slade narrowed his gaze, dragging psychic energy across the telepathic link
between Matthias, Bryce and himself. Matthias filled his mind with pain and grief and
allowed Bryce to absorb them. Bryce added years of suffering, anguish and loneliness.
She meticulously dispersed the emotions, streaming them across the telepathic link.
Slade opened his mind. His body vibrated and his brain throbbed.
You will never hurt anyone again! Slade sent the emotions deep into Akim,
amplifying the pulse with every fiber of his being.
Akim screamed, sinking to his knees as he clawed at his head. He fell to his side,
writhing in agony, his fingernails drawing blood.
137
Aubrey Ross
Petra picked up one of Akim s guns and shot him between the eyes. The blast
reduced his face to fragmented debris. She didn t even flinch.
That was probably too easy for the bastard, she whispered.
Slade grabbed a sheet from one of the compartments and draped it over Akim.
Bryce had enough fodder for her nightmares without seeing this.
Toss me his wallet.
Why?
He s going to spend a large chunk of his fortune before the enforcers freeze his
assets.
Slade shook his head. Ever the entrepreneur.
I don t want his money. I m going to give it to Bryce.
Did it work? Matthias asked as he came skidding into the lab, Bryce on his heels.
Bryce glanced at the blood-soaked sheet and then focused on Slade. Did his head
explode?
Slade laughed. He couldn t help it. She was just too damn adorable. With a little
help from a pulse pistol.
She knelt beside Akim s body, and Slade s stomach lurched. What was she doing?
Help me get this thing off. She pulled her hair over her shoulder and motioned
toward the nape of her neck. Squeeze his index finger and thumb on either side of the
symbol.
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