"What are you doing here, old man?"


    Instinctively, Calliope stepped in front of Ss, shielding him. Her eyes were sharp and wary as she red at Oliver. "I told you before, Ss isn''t going back with you. And I''m not divorcing him, so stop dreaming!"


    "Daydreaming all the time isn''t good for you," she added with a scoff.


    Oliver stared at her for a moment before turning his attention to Ss. "So, you need a woman to protect you now?"


    "My wife wants to protect me, and I''m happy to let her," Ss replied coolly, shooting a nce at Oliver. "Now get out."


    His tone was cold andmanding, making it clear he wasn''t pleased to see Oliver in their room.


    "I''m not leaving," Oliver said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "We need to have a real talk."


    "There''s nothing for us to discuss," Ss said, his eyes narrowing, his voice now edged with hostility. "I''m not causing you any trouble, so you''d better behave yourself."


    "Or what? You''ll destroy everything I have?" Oliver challenged, raising his voice.


    "If you don''t leave now, Oliver, don''t me me for getting rough," Ss warned, his icy stare locked on his father.


    "Oh, really? What are you gonna do, hit me?" Oliver scoffed. "I''m your father. Hitting your own dad? That''s a big no-no, son."


    Oliver didn''t believe Ss would every a hand on him. He knew his son hated him, but after all these years, Ss had never actually tried to hurt him. Deep down, he figured it was because he was Ss''s father. No real son would ever go that far.


    But Calliope could see it. Ss was well and truly pissed off. His face was twisted with anger, veins bulging on his clenched fists. His eyes practically shot mes.


    Still, he didn''t move. Ss wasn''t like Oliver. He knew if he lost control, Oliver would only get a sick thrill out of it, proof that they were cut from the same cloth. Ss wasn''t about to give him that satisfaction.


    He thought, briefly, about asking Calliope to leave so he could deal with Oliver alone.


    But before he could say anything, Calliope stepped forward, totally calm. She looked Oliver right in the eye. "Listen, old man, Ss might not hit you but don''t forget about me. I barely know you, so what''s stopping me?"


    She grinned.


    Then, quick as a sh, her hand shot up.


    A slim silver needle zipped through the air, hitting Oliver right in the neck.


    He realized what happened and yanked the needle out. "What the hell, you little brat!"


    He stared at the thin needle, frowning. There was no liquid or anything. Just a needle. He shrugged, convinced it was nothing.


    Looking up at Calliope with a sneer, he said, “You really think something like that can hurt me?"


    ет


    He started tough, but suddenly stopped, confusion flickering across his face. Something felt wrong His body wasn''t quite responding the way it should.


    He lurched to his feet. His legs moved stiffly, as if controlled by someone else, and he shuffled toward the door.


    "What the hell is going on?"


    Oliver''s mind was clear, but that only made it worse. He couldn''t control his own movements, and panic started to set in.


    Calliope quickly pulled Ss out of Oliver''s path, and they watched as Oliver marched out and into the hallway, standing rigidly in the


    haridor.  t


    Right then, Norton and a couple of others rounded the corner. They all stopped,


    staring at Oliver, confused by the sight.