The ache in my abdomen turned to lead at the unspoken words ringing through the silence.
He wants a plaything.
The Hunters—or the National Security Force, as they called themselves—served as specialized armed forces for the New American Order, answering to Richard Haynes, the Commander of the Unified States of America, who had little love for opposition.
Dissenters were exterminated. All hail the Commander.
The NAO detested many things—equality and foreigners among them—but their stance on gender was the crown jewel of their platform. It started as an ode to family values, an homage to tradition, but as years passed, the rhetoric changed. Loyalists began to view wives as property. Women became objects to use. The rise of the independent woman was the beginning ofour downfall, they said. Our rights were stripped away one by one, and women were made into servants, mothers, vessels for pleasure, property for trade.
If I were the currency for this Hunter’s information, I’d be at his mercy, expected to be compliant. Enthusiastic.
I wanted to ask why.
Why would they ask this of me? Why was it even an option?
But I knew the answer to these questions, too.
While the NAO luxuriated in the resources of the Unified States, the Defiance struggled to find advantages against them. With a censored media and barely any electricity, news and resources were scarce. Information on the NAO was worth a great deal, even if they had to blur the lines of morality to get it.
Did they really want me to volunteer my body in exchange for information? What other things had they offered him? What else was he getting for his defection? And why would a Hunter wantmewhen he had entire brothels full of slaves for his pleasure?
And if he really wanted it, could I do it?
Ugh.
Tekqua’s bright, friendly face leapt to my mind, her smile I missed so much.
“Just a quick patrol today. I should be back before lunch.”
My best friend had been gone for two months, and with more intel, maybe we could find her. MaybeIcould find her. My body was a small price to pay for that.
Ignoring the bile in my throat, I hardened. “I’ll do it.”
Williams smiled, but Theo’s eyes widened. “Why don’t you sleep on it, Sophia? Give it some thought.”
“I’ll do it,” I said again.
He frowned. “We can still ask?—”
Williams laid a hand on his arm. “She said yes.”
Theo stiffened. “But?—”
“He’s offering intel we can’t afford to turn down,” Williams said, tone sharpening. “The Defiance is floundering. We don’t get opportunities like this.”
My gaze fell to my hands, and I picked at my cuticles until red welled.
Williams continued, “We’ve got spotty communication and dwindling supplies. Youknowthis, General. We’re at a stalemate, and Miss Reeves has agreed to help.”
Theo expelled a quick breath. “He may be playing games. Messing with our heads.”
And they wanted to whore me out despite that risk. An invisible fist squeezed my insides.
Sothiswas rock bottom.
Theo had chastised me on more than one occasion for throwing myself into dangerous situations without regard to my safety. He used to protect me from that instinct. Now he was letting Williams exploit it.
Had they truly grown so desperate?
