“So you’re telling me the Bureau, the congressional oversight committees, Attorney General and Director of National Security are all on board with your whole angels and demons thing?”
Parker snorted. “I’ve got a big picture of that. And being locked up in a psych ward would be the least of our problems. No, as far as the powers that be are concerned, Sixers is just what I proposed: a program that utilizes the special abilities of a handful of individuals, human beings, in the fight against crime.”
“What I signed up for was a sham.”
“Not a sham, Zachary. A test. An introduction. To something so much bigger. So much more important.”
“Screw you.” He stood, sending his chair skidding backward. “You’ve done nothing but manipulate and lie to me. From the beginning and at every turn. I’m not your partner in any of this, I’m your pawn. Your half-breed pawn at that.” He started toward the door. “I’m out.”
Parker stood. “We need you, Zach. You’re special, first generation.”
Zach froze in the doorway, then turned. Looked at Parker. “How do you know that?”
“I knew your mother. She was one of us, pure Light Keeper. That makes you special. Your abilities, your light, more powerful.”
Zach felt the words like a blow. They reverberated through him. Parker had known his mother. A Light Keeper, he said. One of them.
Had known.
Had been.
Past tense.
“Where is she?” he asked, voice thick.
Parker didn’t blink. “Dead.”
Zach laid a hand on the door casing to steady himself. “How? When?”
“Does it really matter?”
“Yes, dammit!”
“Shortly after you were born. A Dark Bearer.”
It cut. Deeply, shredding. A jagged blade. “Her name . . . what was it?”
“Arianna.”
That was it, then. He would never know her. “Your five minutes are up.”
“Have you heard the term The Tipping Point?” Truebell called after him.
He looked over his shoulder. “What about it?”
“The level at which momentum for change is unstoppable. Unstoppable, Zachary.”
“Which means?”
“The tipping point is near; the battle for the world has begun. Will destruction and chaos win the day? Or life and hope?”
Parker stood. Held out a hand. “You wanted to be a hero. Here’s your chance. Are you in, Zach? Or out?”
The static in his brain spiked. Fury took his breath. Duped. Manipulated. Lied to.
“I’m out,” he said flatly. “But thanks for the memories, assholes.”
Chapter Fifty
Thursday, July 18
4:15 P.M.
Parker caught up with him at the front gate. “Zach, wait. We need to talk.”
He stopped, furious. “No, you want me to listen. I think I’ve heard enough of your bullshit.”
“I need you to reconsider.”
“Seriously? It’s all I can do to keep from decking you right now.”
“Maybe you should. You might feel better.”
“Don’t tempt me. I’m out.”
He started off again. Parker called after him. “You walk away from this, you walk away from Sixers as well.”
He called back. “It doesn’t even exist.”
“Tell that to Dare.”
Mick. Another life screwed with. “Another one of your pawns.”
“She’ll be fine. She’s stronger than you are, Zach. You’re weak. That’s why you’re quitting.”
He stopped, swung back to face him. “You son of a bitch! I had a good life. I had everything I wanted, living was easy.”
“You were empty. That’s why you said yes.”
He clenched his fists. Disgusted. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, man.”
“No, it’s what ever you need to tell yourself. Fact is, you’re going to let those girls die, sit back and let other people step up to try and save—”
“The world? Right. The world’s going to be just fine without my special little powers.”
“Of course. Take the easy way! You’re good at that. Your mother would be ashamed.”
In a flash, Zach was in the other man’s face. He shook with fury. “Don’t you fucking dare, you son of a bitch! You knew her—”
“She was strong and good. She—”
“You kept her from me. You kept it all from me.”
“You weren’t ready! Obviously, you still aren’t.”
Zach shoved him, hard. He stumbled backward.
Zach advanced, the urge to do violence—to pound Parker’s smug puss to a bloody pulp—roaring through him.
He shoved again; Parker went down. But he didn’t shut up.
“I should have known better than to think you could ever be a hero. You’re a selfish, spoiled little boy. Keeping all your special gifts to yourself, using them in whatever egocentric, self-serving way you can up with.”
Zach snatched him up by his shirt, dragging him to his feet. Rearing back with his fist.
“I’m your uncle, Zach.”
Zach froze. “What did you say?”
“Arianna, your mother, was my sister. My only sibling.”
“That’s a lie.”
“You know it’s true. You wondered why we can communicate the way we do, the way you can transfer energy to me? That’s why.”
Zach released him. “You son of a bitch.”