“Well,” Hector says through the loudspeakers, “it seems we have our winner tonight. Don’t ever say I don’t keep things interesting!”
People laugh and clap, but I can sense their confusion. Word of this will quickly spread. The lights go dimmer, indicating to everyone it’s time to leave. As people get up from their seats and make their way to the entrances, a group of Hector’s personal guard enters the arena and hurries toward Finn.
“Hey!” I move to get in their way, but a sudden pain at the center of my skull stops me.
Don’t, Hector says in my head, not angry but decisive.
The guards grab Finn and drag him away as he struggles and calls my name. I fight every instinct in my body to remain still, watching until he’s out of my sight. I look up at Hector, trying to convey with my eyes that he better not hurt Finn. He looks back at me with contentment, as though the only true winner here tonight is him.
*
“Calm down.”
I can’t stop pacing back and forth, furious at Finn and whoever helped him get into Denver, because I’m sure he didn’t do it alone. After they took him away, I checked every corpse in the arena to make sure none of them were Josh. If I weren’t there last night, Finn would have died without me ever knowing about it. I can’t stop thinking of those crucial seconds, how close he was to brutal death in front of all those cheering assholes.
“I need to see Hector,” I tell Elijah, who’s sitting on his couch.
“You know it’s up to him to decide that. Now, assuming that your friend survives the interrogation—”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
He gives me a hard look. “On your knees.”
I do as he says, kicking myself for stepping out of line. A few blowjobs don’t make us friends or even allies, and I’d be wise to remember that. Maybe I should tell him what is happening with Hector, but I don’t trust him enough, nor do I hate him enough to put him in danger.
“You have made it obvious you care about that Finn,” Elijah says, “which can only mean he’s someone from your Hive who came here to find you. And if he’s here, others might be as well. Hector will want to find out everything he can, hence my comment about the interrogation.”
I hate that his words make sense.
He touches my chin to raise my face. “Who is Finn to you?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“A lover?”
“I need to speak with Hector. Please send him a message.”
“No, Caden. It doesn’t work like that. You may go.”
“I’ll blow you.”
He smacks the side of my head. “You’re trying to bribe me? You think I can’t fuck you on this floor right now if I want to?”
I shake my head. “Sorry.”
He smacks my head again. “Get the hell out of here. Hector knows where to find his toy.”
*
I barely sleep, and when the sun begins to rise, I trudge to take a cold shower. I have hours of training ahead of me, but I don’t dread them like I used to. On the way to breakfast, I return a polite “Good morning” to those who greet me. I have no friends around here, but after all these weeks, I’m no longer looked at as dirt, just as an anomaly.
I eat with the rest, ignoring the conversations around me since my mind is occupied with thoughts of Finn at the hands of Hector. Not knowing what is happening gives room for horribleideas to haunt me. Once I’m done eating, I walk to the training area, but I stop when I notice Elijah. He signals me to come over.
“What is it?” I ask, trying not to get my hopes up.
“There’s a car here for you. Get dressed.” Before I can turn to leave, he grabs my arm. “Whatever happens, follow your head before you follow your heart.”
“I know.” I hurry to change out of my training shorts, then I run to the main gate and climb into a fancy black car, where two of Hector’s personal guards are waiting. We drive toward the heart of the city and it takes me a while to notice we’re not taking the same route I’m used to. “This isn’t the way to Hector’s.”
