His corresponding laugh left me floundering. “You really think that will

work? It was such an epic failure last time. Nothing’s changed. I’m in your mind, bitch. Too late to lock the door now.” He stood, and behind him, his shadow shuddered and stretched. “You’d be amazed at what the mind can

accomplish.”

The walls wavered, then steadied.

But he didn’t appear to notice. “Every time I acquire a new ability, I play with it, stretch it, then merge it with the ones I already hold. I can break you into little pieces and reform you into exactly what I need.” His smile widened and the

evil lurking inside began to seep out. “And no one, not you, not that dick Shaw,

or even the almighty Delacourt, can stop me.”

Maybe he could break me, but there was no telepath in his list of victims, so

he had to be lying. It was a wafer-thin hope to hold on to, but I’d take it. His rising maliciousness sent a tremor through my shoulders, but I lifted my chin, refusing to submit. “You sure about that?”

Something sneaky and sly stared back. “You’re going to do what I want you

to do.”

The insidious whispers returned in a pounding wave. I gritted my teeth and

dug deep. “It wasn’t you with Tito.”

“Sure of that are you?” He stopped inches away, knocking his knuckles

against my skull.

I reacted on instinct, my hand moving before my mind could fully

comprehend my action. I caught his wrist and twisted it into a wristlock.

Utilizing the painful hold, I forced him down and away from me. Just for a second, I thought I had him. Then his image shimmered, just long enough to be a

distraction. He struck out, ruthlessly targeting my ribs that were still sore from my previous beating. I lost my grip and stumbled back.

“Who do you think left those bruises all over your pale skin?”

I cradled my damaged ribs and sucked in air. Somehow, I managed to gasp

out, “Wasn’t you, dickhead.” And I believe that because that nagging thing that

was bothering me about Ellery finally clicked. Someone else was hiding behind Ellery’s face.

What had Wolf said? My mind, my rules.

I concentrated on shattering the hold he had on me. On the periphery of my

vision the walls undulated, and dark lines, like cracks in a mirror, snaked across

the whiteness.

Fake Ellery’s head jerked up and his eyes narrowed on the phenomena. He

turned back to me with a reptilian movement. “Nice try,” he murmured as light

flared and the walls re-formed.

Agony burst through my head and dropped me to my knees. I thought I heard

Kayden call out, but the cacophony of wanna-be Ellery’s influence shut my awareness of everything else out. I clawed through the pain and found myself staring into his face as he crouched in front of me, watching me with

amusement.

“You’re not strong enough.” The quiet confidence in his statement shook me.

“You can’t be because I already broke you and you know it.

“Don’t touch me,” I hissed.

The words echoed between us and resonated in my battered mind, searing

through the blankness. The pain was sharp, and I doubled over as a face I didn’t

recognize replaced Ellery’s smirk.

“Don’t touch me!” My lips were cracked, hurting. Hands tied behind myback, wrists burning as the plastic cut through skin, I could no longer feel myfingers.

Sitting inches in front of me, the monster smiled. “Then give me what Iwant.”

Dark blond hair, military short, muddy eyes filled with hungry avarice, such

an incongruous fit in his All-American face. Who the hell was he?

I shook my head, and it screamed in protest. The movement fuzzed out theedges of my vision.

Water hit my face, and I reared back, gasping for air. Behind me, someoneyanked my hair and snapped my head back.

Tito’s leering face stared down. “You with us?”

“Let her go.” The monster’s cold demand got Tito’s immediate obedience.

He shoved my head forward.

Monster lifted my chin. “Don’t pass out on me. We’re just getting started,love.” He leaned forward, an empty water bottle held between his knees. “Brace

yourself, this is going to hurt.”