“Yes.” I drew in a sharp breath, hardly believing my own openness.
“Love does tend to complicate things. Eliot loves his brother more than anything.”
“That’s why I’m here—as a twisted, fucking gift to him.”
“Well, I can think of less enjoyable gifts than you. And wasn’t Eliot right to choose you? The Director seems quite fond of you.”
“It doesn’t matter if he was right!”
Mr. White watched me calmly, unaffected by my outburst. “Tell me, how did you feel earlier about Nathan’s accusations toward you?”
Why did he have to bring that up? I crossed my arms, losing my remaining appetite. “I felt bad.”
“Because you were insulted, or because he was telling the truth?”
“He told the truth, but it’s not my problem he keeps on fighting. He only hurts himself.”
Mr. White nodded. “He does, but every man can break, some faster than others. Tell me, how do you and Bo get along?”
My blood warmed just from thinking of him. “He’s a monster. Can you make him back off?” If The Director couldn’t, maybe this man could.
“What makes him such a monster?”
“He… he hurts me. He makes me wear women’s clothes. He chokes me and spits on me. He…” I bit my lips, dumbstruck by my unfiltered flood of words.
“It’s in your food,” Mr. White said.
I looked down at my plate. “What?”
“A truth serum. No side effects for you to worry about.”
“Why… why did you give it to me?”
“As I said, I am a man of the mind. Is there a better way of learning one’s mind than to hear one’s uncensored truth?”
I rubbed my face, feeling violated. “You’re an asshole.”
“I’ve been called worse. Now, about Bo. This place puts two groups of men together: one to obey and one to rule. This dynamic always brings out the worst in people. Some try to fight it; others gladly embrace it. You, by rising above your station, have challenged the norm. To put it plainly, you’re making Bo feel small.”
“I’m not responsible for his fragile ego.”
“That’s beside the point. Either find a way to reinstate his sense of control or find a way to take him out.”
I leaned forward, the candle dancing at the bottom of my vision. “I like the second option better. Can you help me?”
He leaned forward as well, as if we were sharing a secret. “What would you like me to do?”
“Kill him.” The words slipped out of my mouth with ease.
“And how would you go about it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Jonah.”
“I’d choke him. Slowly. He should feel it happening.”
“Would you be able to do it?”
