Free Ghost Phoenix by Corrina Lawson Page A

anxious to meet you too, Genet,” Montoya said with a growl.
    â€œWhy do you hate my client?” Did everyone but her know what was going on?
    â€œHis brother was behind some really bad shit.”
    â€œThey killed my brother,” Richard said.
    â€œHe deserved it.”
    â€œAnd that means I deserve to die as well? Do you always try to kill the families of those who attacked you?”
    He didn’t, Marian noted, sound the least bit scared. What other immortal tricks did he have besides self-healing?
    â€œIf you share your brother’s attitude about how to treat people, then we’re gonna have a long discussion. It won’t be pretty.”
    â€œI look forward to it,” Richard said.
    Marian shook her head. This was making her more confused. She lowered her voice. “Richard, why did Montoya call his boss Firefly?”
    â€œFarley is a telekinetic and firestarter. He makes the flames dance.”
    â€œOh.” Someone else with powers? “Is Montoya a psychic too?”
    â€œNope, not psychic,” Montoya said.
    â€œMontoya works for Farley. Tell your boss I disapproved of my brother’s methods. And that we might have some interests in common.”
    â€œI sincerely doubt that.”
    â€œReally? Then why am I bleeding in the back seat of your van after taking a bullet meant for you?”
    Montoya didn’t answer.
    â€œSo what does the Phoenix Institute do besides send you to follow people around and kill immortals?” she asked Montoya.
    But Richard answered instead.
    â€œThe institute is ostensibly a place given to the study of those with extraordinary abilities so individuals who possess them can use them responsibly. Do I have that right, Montoya?”
    â€œYeah, Genet.”
    â€œPerhaps that’s true. Or perhaps Farley is busy gathering all the telepaths, telekinetics and other psychics of the world together for some other purpose. Such as manipulating those with no defense against him.”
    â€œFuck you,” Montoya said.
    â€œPower was Richard Lansing’s goal. Why not the same for his heir?”
    â€œWho’s this Lansing and what was he to Alec Farley?” Marian said.
    â€œLansing was the founder of the place. He raised Farley. Lansing is gone now but Farley’s lover is a telepath. They’re a team well suited to manipulate others.” Richard directed his last sentence at Montoya.
    â€œLansing is dead, and Beth is the last person who would control someone. Besides, your brother worked with Lansing on his last project. It was Alec and Beth who shut that down. So what does that make you?”
    â€œThe person who took a bullet for you. And I’m not my brother nor did I work with him on that operation. Or with Lansing. Ever.”
    â€œWe’ll see.”
    â€œYes, we will.”
    â€œOkay, so what is the actual goal of the Phoenix Institute? Was Richard right?” Marian asked.
    â€œAlec wants to help those with psychic abilities learn how to use them safely,” Montoya repeated. “He worries if people aren’t properly trained, their lives will be messed up.”
    That’s a really good idea, Marian decided, if that’s what this Farley really wanted. A firestarter and a telepath? Wow. She’d known about the family gift long before she started manifesting the signs of the phantom power. What would she have thought if she had no knowledge that her gift was real?
    Terrified, most likely, especially when various body parts had turned immaterial without warning. She hated a lot of things about her power, mostly connected to her grandfather, but she wasn’t scared of it, and she knew damn well how to use it.
    Montoya tapped the steering wheel. “I’m sorry to bring you with him, Miss Doyle. We’re not kidnappers. We just need to talk to Genet.”
    â€œAnd if I pose a threat?” Richard raised an eyebrow.
    â€œYou’re