Before he steps out, Finnic looks back at me one last time.
I lean back against the wall, heart pounding, wrists aching against the restraints.
It is written all over him as he lingers in the doorway, like a thought has finally clicked into place.
The faith he has in Dante is starting to erode, and once doubt takes hold, it’s hard to get rid of it.
Chapter Twenty
Viktor
Chloe has beenasleep for a few hours. She’s earned it in my opinion since she has been strangled and beaten half a dozen times over the last few days.
As I lean back in my chair, I flex my bloodied knuckles. The joints are stiff and skin splits where my knuckles have connected with her cheekbone.
The overhead light sways slightly with a soft creak, casting uneven shadows across the room. Chloe’s chest rises and falls in quick, shallow bursts, but the sound doesn’t stir her from sleep.
I stand up quietly and take a few steps until I amstopped in front of her. I then crouch, studying her face the way a doctor would study an ultrasound.
Chloe has inherited her father’s hard gaze. It is interesting since most politicians’ kids are kept away from the trauma and drama of politics. But she has plenty of fight in her and has made the days spent with her well worth it.
I reach out and tap the back of her chair with my gun a few times.
Her eyes fly open and she sucks in a breath. Her body instinctively begins to fight against the restraints before she can stop herself. Pain flickers across her expression when she realizes she is still restrained.
“Easy,” I say calmly. “You’re safe for the time being.”
Her laugh comes out hoarse. “You have a warped definition of safe.”
I smile faintly. “Occupational hazard.”
I straighten and then pull my chair closer, sitting across from her.
“You get some rest, Sleeping Beauty?”
She glares at me. “Go to hell.”
“Already been,” I reply. “Didn’t like the management.”
She shifts, wincing, then lifts her chin.
“You had one of your goons drug me,” she says. “Again.”
“Correction,” I say evenly. “My father made a call telling one of the goons to put you to sleep. I, on the other hand, had to take a call.”
Her jaw clenches. “Did you threaten him or not?”
I lean forward slightly. “Is rain wet? Or are we just asking each other stupid-ass questions now?”
She scoffs as I glance down from her and reach into my pocket and pull out my phone. No new calls from Dante and his fledgling.
She speaks again, “You got somewhere more important to be?”
I click the phone’s screen off before slipping it back into my pocket.
“Look at me, Chloe,” I say softly, leaning closer so my voice doesn’t need to rise. “I don’t care about you. Not really. But you gave us an advantage today, so I commend you for that.”
Her blue eyes narrow. “Wonderful. Did that advantage buy my freedom?”
