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A muscle ticked in Keaton’s cheek. “You’re talking as if I’m going to be able to escape from here. Neither of us is going anywhere. We’re chained to a damn wall in case you haven’t noticed.”

“Yeah…”

We lapsed back into silence after that. And over time, while they might not have gone away altogether, the waves of anger coming off Keaton diminished. More like waves lapping on a beach than those whipped up by a storm.

I waited another couple of minutes to be on the safe side. “I really am sorry.”

“Are you?” Keaton’s stare was searching.

“Surprisingly, yes, I am.”

He gave a humorless laugh. “Surprisingly?”

“I’m not big on thinking of others.”

“Yeah, I get that about you.” He crossed his arms. “Why do it?”

“Why do what?”

“Con people.”

“Because I can.” The answer slipped out all too easily. So easily I grimaced. “Even as a child, I found it easy to make people do what I wanted.” I let out a noisy breath. “Even in this world, smiles are a powerful currency.”

“And you’ve perfected yours.”

“I have,” I admitted. I waved a hand at my face. “This helps.”

Keaton’s stare was hard this time, his eyes narrowed. “You’re not all that.”

“You didn’t seem to mind when I had my hand wrapped around your cock.”

“Oh, please. You know how the rain…” He stopped and then laughed. “That’s right. You don’t know. You acted it.” He leaned forward slightly. “Well, I hate to burst that bubble of arrogance you’ve worked so hard on, but I would have let a chimpanzee give me a hand job. I probably would have fucked one as well.”

There was no keeping a straight face at that. He might have meant it as an insult, but it had missed its mark. “I think that says more about you than it does about me.”

Keaton rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

“You―” Footsteps sounded in the corridor again. I changed tack quickly. “Remember what I said earlier.”

“Which part? You say a lot… most of it lies.”

“The part about getting away if the opportunity arises.”

“Like that’s going to happen.”

“Well, if it does, don’t look back. Go to Dover. Kill the bastard who took your sister and then live a good life. It might not feel like it right now, but there is life after the army, and once you’ve had your vengeance, you’ll see that. Find a nice man and settle down. Have some kids.” I was running out of time, so I spoke faster. “Stay out of the rain. Don’t turn. Live to a ripe old age. And remember…”

“Remember what?”

The door was already opening, Oz’s grinning face appearing in the gap, like he’d decided now was a good time for a game of peek-a-boo.

Chapter Fourteen

Keaton

For the second time in quick succession, Oz didn’t spare me so much as a glance. August’s immune status very much rendered him the man of the moment in our captor’s eyes, while I’d clearly been relegated to the role of also-ran. It was no wonder August was acting weird.

Oz seemed even more hyped up than the last time, almost vibrating with excitement. The hypodermic syringe held loosely in his right hand announced his intent. August’s eyes widening said he’d seen it too.