Page 40 of Trapped Truth

As I think about Axel bed-bound and bandaged, Warner defeated by it all and Hyland unable to sleep at night from fear of when the next attack will come, it’s hard not to agree. We are getting desperate.

“Come on, I’ll take you downstairs.” He turns to head down the carpeted corridor. “We have a section of the detention wing sealed off for Gunnar to avoid any unnecessary casualties. He’s cunning.”

After seeing him kill without breaking a sweat, I’m inclined to agree.

“How many cracks have you had at getting him to talk?”

“Too many.” Hudson grimaces.

“He wants something. Why hasn’t he made his demands?”

“Perhaps that’s coming.”

“We don’t have time for whatever scheme this is.”

“I know, Ember. Believe me. I need his information before we decide what to do with him. There’s no prison in the country I’d trust to keep Gunnar Slaughter safely subdued.”

I sigh through my nose. “Then I suppose this had better work.”

We descend into the bowels of HQ together, nodding to various staff members who greet Hudson when he passes. Both Knight brothers command the same level of respect. It’s hard not to appreciate their authority presiding over such a huge organisation.

“Have you spoken to Tom?” Hudson scans his ID badge to access the elevator.

“Only briefly. I need to go over there to check on him properly. He wants to go back to work now that he’s feeling stronger, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

“Can’t bubble wrap him forever.”

“He was kidnapped and almost died. I have a right to be concerned.”

“This is the world we live in.” He assesses me from the other side of the metal enclosure. “Tom knows this job is risky, whether you’re on the front line or hot-desking in the legal department.”

“So you’d be fine with someone you love being used as a bargaining chip too?” I glare at him.

“Obviously not.” He glowers back just as passionately. “But if I locked my wife inside and forbade her from taking risks or doing what she loves, I don’t think I’d live long enough to tell you about it.”

“From her reputation, I’d agree.”

“Hah. She’d be happy to hear that.”

As we lower into the bowels of the skyscraper that Sabre calls home, a shudder crawls down my spine. The detention floor still gives me the creeps. I don’t know how Axel works down here every day.

Lit with industrial strip lights, illuminating rows of unoccupied interrogation rooms and long, endless corridors to the holding cells beyond, the entire subterranean level is soulless. There are few staff members down here, mostly security with the odd agent or two.

We halt outside Interrogation Suite 6 to scan to access the observation side of the room, marked by a bay of live feeds recording the interview within. Through a two-way mirror, there’s a clear view inside the cell, where a metal table and two chairs are occupied.

“You may speak freely, Mr Slaughter.” Richards lays his best therapy voice on thick. “This conversation is off the record. I’m merely here to provide a psychiatric opinion to my superiors.”

Seated on the opposite side of the table, Gunnar appears rough. Looking at his round jawline smothered in unshaved stubble and blazing, honey-hued eyes, it’s hard not to see Axel staring back at me.

Their differing hair colour and lack of matching tattoos are the only visible differences that set them apart. Even the way he sits is the same; shoulders slumped, posture relaxed. Like he doesn’t have a goddamn care in the world despite being buried here with no hope of escape.

“He’s completely silent?” I watch the awkward scene.

“Every day,” Hudson affirms. “Not a word.”

“Jesus. He’s fully checked out.”

“Get anything out of the asshole, and you’ll be on my good list forever.”