Free The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter Page B

happened to be at the hotel when he checked in.
              He didn't believe in coincidences, so the first was most likely. Cronus was helping the Lords and Rhea, the god queen, who was at war with her husband, had teamed up with the Hunters. But why would she send recruits to fight him, rather than actual Hunters? And would Gideon's location be compromised no matter where he went?
              Probably.
              His hand clenched on the steering wheel as he threw the vehicle into Reverse, Scarlet's arm moving with him.
              "What's got your panties in such a twist?" she asked conversationally.
              He wasn't fooled. She was still pissed as hell at him.
              Silent, he maneuvered them through the gloomy garage and back onto the city streets. Late as it was, traffic was light. His gaze kept returning to his rearview mirror, though, just in case.
              "You're begging for another fork in your chest," she muttered.
              Again ignoring her, he shouted, "Cron!" Stop. You're ticked at him. There has to be another way. But Gideon knew better, and wouldn't lie to himself. Not now of all times. "I don't need you!"
              In the passenger seat, Scarlet stiffened. "Cron. As in Cronus?"
              He nodded.
              She hissed in outrage and jerked at the cuffs. "What the hell do you want with him? I hate him!"
              Did she have a beef with everyone? "Not answers, okay?"
              "Well, you can let me go and then chat with him." There was an edge creeping into her voice. One he'd never heard before, even when she'd stabbed him. Her struggles increased, and then she was kicking at the passenger door to pop it open. Was she... scared of the god? Couldn't be. Scarlet had faced down four potential Hunters without any hesitation.
              "My reasons for...avoiding him are...not urgent." His stomach twisted. He'd almost spoken the truth. Had almost told her that his reasons for summoning the god were indeed urgent. He'd had to force out the lies. "And those reasons aren't life-and-death."
              "I don't give a shit!" Slam, slam, boot against plastic. Crack. "I don't want him here."
              Oh, yes. She was scared. Why?
              Rather than ask--he knew she wouldn't tell him if he did--he changed the subject to give her a moment to calm down. If she kept pulling at him, he was going to lose a limb. Again. "Did you have to leave those kids alive?" She'd killed them without any hint of mercy.
              He would have done the same, sure, but he was a guy. Weren't girls supposed to be softhearted and shit? Well, besides Cameo, keeper of Misery. She could kill an enemy while filing her nails.
              "Yeah." Scarlet's frantic bid for freedom slowed, then ceased altogether. She peeked at him over her shoulder. "So?"
              "Why? We could have pleasured them for information."
              Her lips twitched as if she were suddenly fighting a grin. "Why, Gideon, I didn't know you swung that way. They were cute, though, weren't they? Especially the blond. Is that who you were imagining sexing up?" Now that tone he recognized. Sugar-sweet and irritating as hell. But yeah, the blond had been cute from what he'd been able to tell, and he hated that she'd noticed. Actually, he hated that she preferred blonds. His wife should-- You don't know that she's your wife. Not mine, Lies piped up. Not mine.
              Meaning Lies was claiming her? Hardly. If anyone claimed her, it would be Gideon. If they were married.
              And then what? he wondered. He still planned to return her to the dungeon, no matter what. Which meant she was going to hate him. As if she didn't already. As poorly as she'd treated his man-parts, he suspected that she did.
              His guilt returned, filling his