She shrugged. A total knee replacement had been performed a month ago, but there had been some complications, and the doctors were trying to decide if they needed to go back in. The poor function of the new knee required that she go back to wearing the knee brace.

They sat with that for a moment while hidden speakers played the opera Atlàntida, a cantata escénica based on a Catalan poem by Jacint Verdaguer. It was moody and superb. Two full minutes of it played before Eve spoke again.

“Knee or no knee, I’m telling you right now, Daddy, that if I don’t get out there and do something, I’m going to go totally apeshit.”

Santoro nodded. “I understand, my sweet, but we cannot act rashly.”

“Is that some kind of dig because of what happened at the Pavilion?”

He smiled and shook his head. “My angel, what does it matter to me if you vented some of your pressure by indulging your appetites?”

“HK fucking freaked.”

“Hers is a more orderly mind.”

“More sane, you mean,” said Eve, cutting him a suspicious glance.

“No. Are any of us truly sane? We could not be who we are if we were that mundane. No, my daughter, you are allowed to play.” She started to speak, but he stopped her with a raised finger. “As long as you do not include the Righteous and the Elites in your fun and games, yes?”

She said nothing.

“Please show me the respect of an answer, Eve,” he said, and there was that subtle edge. He never clubbed her, but he did make small cuts.

“Yes, Daddy.”

“There’s my angel,” he said, smiling warmly. Then he changed the subject. “HK has kept me up to date with the training, and our development team has assured me that the equipment we have is more than adequate to our needs.”

“Even with Joe fucking Ledger cutting throats all over the place? Seems to me that he’s on to us.”

“And what if he is?” asked Santoro, raising his eyebrows.

“Isn’t the shit he’s done going to derail us?”

“Oh no, Eve, it’s far too late for his shenanigans to stop what’s coming. At best, he’ll find us just in time for your Righteous to tear him apart. Tell me, do you know what it means to draw and quarter someone?”

“Sure.” She brightened. “Oh, sweet! I can have four of my guys do that.”

“Yes,” he said, “you can and you should. So … if he is on his way, then let him come.”

“He’ll bring that whole goon squad with him.”

“I dearly hope he does,” said Santoro. “Even with whatever information Ledger has managed to steal or coerce from our various laboratories … he will never be able to stop what’s about to happen.” He leaned forward. “America will burn, my daughter.”