“He's a snarly little shit sometimes,” Luke said, his stare still on Zayne. “Let me know if he's rude to you.”
The insult didn't ruffle the younger brother. Zayne's jaw didn't even bunch. Expert control. It confirmed what Kira thought about him and proved he meant any shift in his demeanor, no matter how slight, as a message to her. Every time.
Rude.
“What do you need?” Zayne asked.
“I didn't want to be rude and ignore our guest.”
The brothers hated each other. Could Kira use that to her advantage? She'd never been a good manipulator.
Luke's arm slid over the top of her seat as he turned to face her, close enough for her breath to catch. She dug back against her seat, chilled by how the coldness of his eyes contrasted with his warm smile.
“I heard my brother tell you not to be afraid earlier,” Luke said. “I find a rational amount of fear to be healthy. So, while you're getting cozy at your mountain retreat, remember something for me.” The man leaned in more, his presence dwarfing her. “We will know if you lie, and you're not leaving here in one piece if you do.”
Fire burned with her next heartbeat. All thoughts ground to a halt.
“Luke.” Zayne spoke the name in a calm voice, but Kira sensed the threat beneath it. “This is my prisoner. I'll handle her.”
The older brother sneered. “Don't get so touchy.”
No response. No flicker of emotion. Zayne just stared.
Now Luke's deadly gaze bore into Kira. “I'm always watching.”
His threat cut deep into her mind. She'd never free herself of that voice.
Always watching.
Kira forced herself to nod, desperate to get rid of this man who managed to make Zayne seem friendly in comparison.
Luke rose and smoothed the wrinkles from his shirt, regarding her with another smile as he took a step back. “Make wise decisions, Ms. Stiles. We're all eager to see you succeed.”
Captain Luke Riven turned and left them with the heaviness he'd brought into the car.
Zayne's eyes never left his brother.
The polished stone of Dr. Cooper's sprawling clinic looked gorgeous against the distant mountains, but its towering walls only echoed Luke's threats back at her.
Once inside, a nurse ushered Kira into a room that smelled too clean and surgical to be anything except a medical office, though it looked deceptively like a home. Apart from all the equipment.
Sitting in a tall-backed leather chair, Kira squirmed from all the wires they attached to her and watched Dr. Cooper closely. Studying his wiry white eyebrows and the creases at the edges of his eyes. He settled into the chair across from her, cupping his knee, smiling like they were about to enjoy a cup of coffee. Like she wasn't wearing a cap of electrodes and a sensor beneath her nose that monitored her airflow.
She scanned the mirror on the far wall and wondered if Zayne watched her through it. She recognized a one-way window when she saw one. They were a favorite of Ciondian architecture.
“Kira,” Dr. Cooper said in a pleasant voice.
Strange to hear her name instead of prisoner, or a stiff Ms. Stiles. How did something so insignificant warm her? Kira underestimated the emotional danger of isolation and captivity, and the power of even disingenuous courtesy.
“My name is Dr. Cooper. Forgive me for all the equipment. I asked the nurses to make you as comfortable as possible.” He seemed to think for a moment. “Would you prefer to start with a cup of tea?”
“No.” Not unless he was open to her throwing it in his face. “But, uh, thank you.”
“This must feel intimidating.” He tapped the table beside him that housed multiple monitors. “I promise we won't need all of this for your entire stay here. It's important for us to establish a baseline with you and get the pesky questions out of the way.”
He wheeled his chair closer, his stare intent, but also gentle. He didn't care about her and planned to weaponize her own mind against her, but he looked so friendly. Just like how cozy the interrogation room appeared—sterilized and poorly masked by bad art and way too many potted plants.
“The questions will be simple at first,” the doctor said. “Tell me your name.”
