“It isn’t until I’m sure of its silence that I’m able to relax. Straightening, I huff out a breath, slicking back my hair and cracking my neck. There. That’s better.”

This is the first indication that James has a deep, psychological trauma associated with the ticking of a clock. After killing his uncle, the anxiety of his presence does not dissipate until the clock is destroyed. The return to James’s typical composure also signifies the clock as a weakness of his, which becomes increasingly relevant in the later stages of the novel.

“She, like most people, can’t understand what it’s like being Peter Michaels’s daughter. Even if I wanted to, there is no cutting the cord. His power and influence reach every corner of the universe, and there isn’t anything or anyone that escapes his control. Or if there is, I’ve never met them.”

Wendy internally identifies her own limitation with her father here, as Angie’s suggestion that she “cut the cord” prompts an acknowledgment that no amount of distance can break her ties to Peter. She feels trapped by her upbringing and connection to Peter, explaining an initial factor in her desire for independence, as well as her emphasis on being equals with James.

“If you want to ensure someone’s loyalty, you have to make sure they understand why you deserve it. And I’ve made sure that people understand the end of a blade hurts worse when the person wielding it enjoys causing pain.”

Though James is not aware of it, he reveals in this quote that he is perpetuating the cycle of abuse initiated by his uncle. He did not betray his uncle for years, and the reason was precisely this understanding that his uncle enjoyed hurting him. Now, as the leader of this group of criminals, he enforces the same rules.