“I can pick a lock. How do you think I got into my parents' liquor cabinet in middle school?”

“I want you to go back to Tucson and bring me the bottle of tequila I keep in my liquor cabinet. And don't scare Tim."Volusian remained motionless in that way of his. "My mistress grows increasingly creative in her ways to torment me.""I thought you'd appreciate it.""Only in so much as it inspires me to equally creative means to rip you apart when I am able to break free of these bonds and finally destroy you.""You see? There's a silver lining to everything. Now hurry up.”

“How do I know I can trust you?''You can't,' he said bluntly. 'You've got to take it on faith that the enemy of your enemy is your friend.”

“Of course they didn't give us this much, Sage. But I had to make sure I nailed my first assignment. Takes a lot of tries before you hit perfection." He paused to reconsider that. "Well, except for my parents. They got it on the first try.”

“Rose, I cheat at cards and buy liquor for minors. But I would never, ever force you into something you don't want.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Seth, seeing my frown.“That new drummer. Alec. He hit on me earlier, and now he’s moving in on Casey. I think he’s one of those guys who thinks plying girls with liquor is the only way to get laid.”“Wait. I thought I was the only guy who knew that secret.”

“I think I’ve got something else to help center my life.”