“I've got a black-belt in crazy, and I know where you live. ”

“I am not a total pervert. Although, to be honest, consider the night we’ve been having. First handcuffs, andnow this? Way more kinky than I expected.”“Please,” M’cal said. “Do not talk.”“You like the strong and silent type, huh?”“If you do not shut up, I will kill you with my voice.”“I love it when you talk dirty.”“Fine. Which would you prefer to lose first? Your soul or your testicles?”“You know, you’re just a bit obsessed with chopping off balls. Do you have issues with your masculinity?”

“Jesus, Dean. I don’t know why you have me around with her watching your back”“You’re just jealous. But don’t worry. One day you too will have your very own little Amazon.”“I’ll just settle for a woman.”“If you’re lonely, you can have the inflatable sex doll Blue gave me for my birthday. I don’t want the twoof you to miss out on an opportunity for love.”“You didn’t like her?”“I wasn’t man enough to satisfy her cravings. I’m sure you’ll be different.”

“So what’s all the fuss?” he asked instead. “Where’s all the shit coming from?”Dean told him. He tried to make it concise, using flash words such as “fire” and “conspiracy” and “bigfreakin’ shape-shifter,” and told Roland, too, about Miri and Robert and Kevin. The red jade.“You’re both fucked,” Roland said. “Seriously. I’ll start arranging the funeral now.”“I want a happy boss. Where’s the positive reinforcement?”“Buried with Pollyanna in my backyard. Which is where you’ll be if you don’t play your cards right.”

“Maxine,” Grant said, but I barely heard him. I was lost in that vision, in those emotions—the pain, and hunger for pain, forming the root of so muchagonized rage.“ ‘Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate,’” I muttered.“Yoda, from Star Wars?”“ ‘Hate leads to suffering.’” I met his gaze. “Yoda knows his shit, man.”Grant’s mouth crooked in a gentle smile.”

“Come on. Let’s go and sit down. I need to have a beer and a nervousbreakdown.”“Talk first, then breakdown. I want answers, not drool.”“You used to love my drool.”“Ha. You funny.”

“How’s his appendix?”“Like crap. They almost didn’t catch it in time, and he’s still doing the ass-plant in a hospital bed, beingdoted on by an army of hot nurses. Makes me sick.”“Maybeyou should rupture something.”“Any more of these stories out of you and I just might. ”