How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Balancing the little girl in one arm, he dangled the bag in front of the woman. "Now, like I said, we can do this the easy way or the hard way."
"You wouldn't dare," whispered the woman.
"Wouldn't I?" He looked down at the little girl in his arms. "Hey, sweetie, how would you like to go for a swim in the lake?" (21.49-51)
Gemma's mom is a Keeper and relies on Stephan to lead them with kindness and compassion, so when he threatens to send Gemma into the lake, she is horrified. He's definitely turning out to be a sketchy character.
Quote #5
"I can't say for sure because I don't have any proof, but…" He twisted his lip ring back and forth. "Okay, this is what I know about Stephan. First, he is very power hungry, and he likes to be in control of things at all times. If anyone gets in the path of what he wants, he'll do whatever it takes to get rid of them. And because he's the leader of the Keepers, no one questions the decisions he makes." (23.114)
Laylen's not trying to be a snitch, but he can't let Gemma go into this blind to Stephan's faults like Alex is. He has to warn her and let her know that Stephan might be the person who betrayed her mother and sent her to a watery grave.
Quote #6
He swallowed hard, looking… well, really vulnerable. I had to admit, I didn't like how it looked on him. It made me feel anxious and had me questioning whether he was going to fall apart. He couldn't fall apart. Not if his father was secretly working with Demetrius and was the one who had gotten rid of my mother, and was heading here right now. (32.25)
Poor Alex doesn't know who to believe. He's grown up unquestioningly following his father's orders, and now Gemma is telling him that Stephan is evil and working with the Death Walkers. What's a guy to do?