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  Mary laughed softly. "I think that's a good idea." She glanced at the clock on her night table. It was almost 2 A.M. "You want to try to get some sleep?"

  Gaia shook her head. "Nah. How about I teach you how to play chess instead?"

  Neutralization

  THE LISTENING DEVICE WAS GOOD FOR A range of up to forty miles. Mary Moss's bedroom was no more than one-tenth that distance from the loft, so Loki had excellent reception.

  He switched off the receiver and leaned back in his desk chair.

  Well. That had been quite an enlightening little exchange. Quite an outpouring of emotion. Two girls, united by loneliness. Two misfits. Two outcasts. He shook his head. The bug had certainly proved its worth. It had been easy enough to plant; it was no bigger than a fingernail and practically transparent. And those so-called high-security buildings on Park Avenue were nothing of the sort. They could be easily penetrated in a variety of ways. Loki hadn't even needed a key. Earlier in the day he'd slipped undetected through the service entrance in the back. A third-rate burglar could have planted this bug.

  He glanced up at the window and out at the Manhattan night. The city was alive this evening-- crawling with people.

  Of course. It was the holiday season.

  Holidays meant nothing to Loki. As he saw it, they were arbitrary excuses for human beings to associate with one another. He was glad to be alone. He had always prized his solitude, but on nights like this-- nights when he was forced to make an important decision--solitude was imperative.

  He knew what would happen if Ella were here. She'd be clamoring for Gaia's head.

  She'd insist that Gaia's breakdown tonight was evidence of deep-seated psychological instability and that Gaia would be of no use to them.

  And she would be right ... to a certain extent.

  At the moment, in her current state, Gaia truly was of no use to them. She was of no use to anyone.

  But Ella's insight only went so far. True, Gaia was unstable--but that was only because her environment was unstable. Every aspect of her life needed to be controlled. Rigidly. Certain volatile factors needed to be eliminated. Loki couldn't risk another outburst like that. Gaia was slipping further out of control. Too many secrets were at stake. Too many revelations were pending. So. There was no other possible course of action. He'd postponed the inevitable long enough.

  Mary Moss had to be neutralized.

  Immediately.

  LOKI

  It's a shame, actually.

  I know I am not what you wanted me to be. You would consider me heartless. And for that, I am a little bit sorry. But unfortunately, it was inevitable that I would become who I am.

  Almost inevitable.

  Once there was a chance that I could have been more. That chance was you, my love.

  Katia.

  Katia.

  Even now my lips tremble as I speak your name. Katia. I would have sacrificed it all for you.

  But that is not quite how things turned out. Instead you were stolen from me. And you went willingly, though I don't blame you. We both know who is really to blame.

  That night. The last night I could still feel my heart beating in my chest. If only I had seen you there a moment earlier than I did. If only I could take back that one bullet that was meant for someone else. If only you had let me destroy Tom Moore instead of trading your own life for his.

  How I wanted to hold you as you lay in that pool of blood. I wanted to kiss those lips and pull your soul into my own. And how I've spent hundreds of nights, playing it over and over again in my head, thinking what I should have done differently.

  But as I have learned, there is no time for regret. And there is no time to chide you for loving my brother instead of me. There is only time for revenge.

  And believe me, Katia, revenge is what I do best.

  DON'T MISS

  FEARLESS #8

  HEAT

  COMING NEXT MONTH

  FROM POCKET PULSE

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1her kind of game

  CHAPTER 2the coolest thing

  CHAPTER 3the christmas spirit

  CHAPTER 4déjà vu