THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

losing one or both, forced to admit she couldn’t afford to care for two children.
    At eight years old, Tony had begged the don’t-give-a-damn social worker to take him and leave his little brother who’d only been four at the time.
    That’s when he was given his first lesson in logic.
    Younger children were easier to place, sort of like mutts were cuter as puppies.
    Tony squeezed his eyes shut, fighting off the misery of thinking about Vinny. Gram was too old to fight the authorities. She barely managed to keep her and Tony alive, even with him working every minute he wasn’t in school.
    The day she told him only wealthy and powerful people got to choose their futures, Tony chose his and studied nonstop.
    He’d jumped at the opportunity to be tested as a candidate for the Institute three months ago. Money and age didn’t matter to the Browns. If he made the grades, he got a full ride to a prestigious university. But the Top Ten Project meant going to MIT a year early if he won the competition.
    No. Not if, but when.
    That was a year closer to finding Vinny.
    First though he had to get out of this freakin’ prison hut...and this nightmare.
    If Neelah came back, he’d find out just how willing she was to go against Zilya and maybe Mathias. He should’ve asked her to go find out what was happening at the healing hut.
    Gabby could be dead from her reaction to the vine if that goofball healer in the skirt didn’t kill her. And Rayen had beaten one croggle, but that Callan couldn’t be trusted. He might spear Rayen and serve her up to the croggle.
    Even if Mathias has any doubts about Rayen and Gabby, he’s still convinced that I’m the devil’s spawn.
    He hoped Gabby and Rayen were having better luck.
    If they survived.
    He swiped a layer of sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.
    Friction sparked in the air, alerting him to potential company again. Good. Just give me someone who isn’t a kid, or a girl . Someone he could pound out his frustration on if they refused to let him out.
    Stepping to the middle again, he faced the blurry change in the wall where everyone had entered so far. Fists raised, he shifted his body into a fighting stance.
    When the opening finally appeared, a tall guy stood there in a metallic jumpsuit Tony couldn’t decide was green or gray. Dark, short-cropped hair and a sick-looking tattoo on his exposed neck. Dude made a good candidate for the Scorpion gang from Tony’s old hood. The guy was shoved inside so hard he fell flat on his face at Tony’s feet.
    Looking over at the opening, Tony found Etoi standing half inside the hut with her spear propped on the ground.
    She sneered at the guy on the floor. “You two should get along fine, TeK scum.”  When her gaze jumped up to Tony, she took in his raised fists and rolled her eyes then disappeared as the opening vanished.
    The guy on the ground let out a painful groan. The tat snakin’ around his neck was a cobra, which writhed as he moved. Tony was so gonna have to get one of them. Floor guy bent his elbows and pushed, tryin’ to get up.
    Ah, crap. Tony dropped his fists and hooked one of the guy’s arms, giving him a tug.
    Once Cobra guy was on his feet, he dusted his hands then wiped green off his face and stretched his jaw back and forth. “Not broken.”
    “Who are you?” Tony asked.
    “A scout of course. Phen. You’re?”
    “Tony.” That’s all this guy needs to know. “You’re a TecKnati?” Tony asked just to be clear.
    “Course I am.” Phen eyed Tony. “Where’d you come from?”
    “One of those pod things. Transender.”
    “What TecKnati brought you here?”
    Shoving his bottom lip up, Tony shook his head. “Don’t know any TecKnatis, except you. I traveled here with friends.”
    “Not possible.”
    “Why?”
    “MystiKs can’t travel in a transender without an escort.”
    Tony tossed his hands up in the air and walked away then swung around. “I’m not a MystiK or a TecKnati. Got a third choice?”
    “C’raydonian, but you couldn’t be one of those.”
    Based upon Phen’s dark tone, Tony didn’t want to be one of those either. “What’s going on between you guys and the MystiKs anyhow? You have a throw down?” 
    Phen’s forehead wrinkled and he stared harder. “Your clothes and speech...I’ve never seen or heard anyone like you.”
    Making a chuffing noise, Tony gave him a wry smile. “Not surprised. There’s only one o’me.”
    “You say that as if it is a