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I asked, “How do you propose we do that?”

“Divide and conquer,” he told me “We can’t take both of them down at once, since you said they multiply each other’s powers So, we lure one away, then hit the other with everything we’ve got That should work, right? All of us plus Carter should add up to more power than either brother has on his own”

“Theoretically,” Carter muttered, as he absently adjusted his tie He was in another black-on-black mafioso-inspired suit, shirt, and tie coust were dressed identically I probably would have found that funny if worry wasn’t eating away at ut

I ran both hands over ?”

“Around eight this evening,” Tinder said

“Shit,” I muttered “I don’t know if Elias has that much time”

“You knoe’re not the only people on earth who can workare true, the brothers pose a huge threat across the board, so it’s in everyone’s interest to take them down What if we put out a call and try to asseical ability in Southern California? The ather, the more powerful we become”

“Two problems with that,” Desiree said “First of all, it takes time to build an army, and for Elias’s sake we need to act fast Also, as soon as you start putting out the call for help, you run the risk of word getting back to the brothers If they find out we’re plotting against the they’ll do is kill Elias Then they’ll probably co”

“She’s right,” Imy temples as a headache brewed “I need a few y I’ll be back soon”

I went down the hall to my room and shut the door behind , because I knew as soon as I did, fear, exhaustion, and worry would overwhel to keep me occupied, I stripped and stood under a hot shower for a few minutes

After I toweled off, I got dressed in jeans, a black, long-sleeved T-shirt, and sneakers At the same time, I listened to the conversation down the hall My breath caught when Desiree said, “Heads up, boys A black SUV just pulled up to the gate at the compound I think I see—yeah, the driver just rolled do, and Abel’s in the passenger seat I can’t see Elias with that tinted glass, but I’ to bet he’s in back”

“We need to finalize a plan, and fast,” Carter said “How can we do this whilesure we all survive?”