Ethan Storm’s Dark Awakening

194

Parker felt the line drawn clearly now: it cut through the room and through him. Every eye was fixed on him. Every breath felt like a wager.

“What exactly do you want me to do, Elder?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Elder Hugo’s face was carved out of stone. He didn’t hurry. He didn’t raise his voice. That made what he said all the worse.

“Find that Ethan, whoever he is,” Hugo said. “Bring him here. Break him if you must. But bring him. And bring Bill. Don’t return with only excuses and empty hands.”

Parker swallowed. “If Bill resists?” he asked.

Hugo’s cold eyes didn’t blink. “Teach him a lesson. Make him remember who raised him, who fed him, who made him a champion. Let every crack on his back tell the story of betrayal. And Ethan — make him answer for turning our blood against us.”

A murmur went through the elders. Marco slammed a fist into the table, making the silverware jump. “And if Parker can’t find them?” he spat. “If he comes back with nothing but talk?”

H