Pain spikes behind my eyes. Sharp, blinding, an ice pick driven straight through my skull.
Kill her.
Kill her now.
She’s the enemy.
She used you.
She lied to you.
She made you weak.
“Do it, Nate, and it will hurt less.” Julia’s voice is soft now, borderline tender. “It’s what you were made for.”
I take a step toward Mia. Julia clicks her device.
Good.
Closer.
Finish it.
CHAPTER 44
MIA
I come to slowly,like swimming up through tar.
Everything hurts. My face, my ribs, my wrists where the restraints have bitten down to raw meat. My mouth tastes metallic and there’s a gap where my molar used to be, my tongue probing the wound before I can stop it. Pain flares and I almost slip back under, back to the dark place where nothing can reach me.
But something is different, the air feels different, the smell familiar…
I force my good eye open—the other one won’t cooperate, swollen shut and throbbing—and the first thing I see are boots. Black boots, military grade, standing right in front of me.
I know those boots.
My gaze travels upward. Black tactical suit. Broad shoulders. Arrow symbol. Hands curled into fists at his sides, trembling slightly, like he’s fighting something.
Vanguard.
Nate.
He’s staring down at me, blank and empty behind the eyes. Like someone’s reached inside and scooped out everything that made himhim. I’ve seen that expression before.
Behind him, I can see Julia, holding something small and dark in her hand, watching me,us, with interest. And beyond her, by the door, is Conrad Marsh, his expression apprehensive, as if he’s waiting for something to happen.
I know what that something is.
I know what they’ve asked him to do.
The ultimate obedience test.
“Nate,” I manage, and my voice comes out as a croak, shredded from screaming. “Nate, look at me.”
He doesn’t respond. Doesn’t even blink. Just takes another stiff step forward, and his hand comes up toward my throat.
“That’s it,” Julia murmurs from the doorway. “Good boy.”
