Chapter 55 · Wrong Heartbeat

"Kneel, Cain."

The command hit harder than the shock collar ever had.

Cain's knees dipped.

Lila caught his arm before he hit the floor. Her fingers locked around his wrist, small and hot against the metal band buried under his skin.

"Don't," she snapped. "You don't kneel for him."

Across the killbox, Silas smiled.

He stood behind the glass wall in a gray coat, one hand resting on the control panel. Four armed guards surrounded him. Their rifles were aimed at Cain's chest, but nobody looked as dangerous as the man behind the glass.

"Still giving orders for him?" Silas asked. "That's cute."

"Open the door," Lila said. "Or keep hiding behind your toys. I really don't care."

Silas's smile sharpened. "You brought him here."

"I was trying to get him out."

"You walked him straight into my facility."

"Your facility has one entrance and three dead ends. I didn't have a lot of options."

Cain's vision flashed white.

A red line of text burned across the inside of his skull.

PRIMARY COMMAND RECEIVED.

KNEEL.

SUBMIT.

RETURN TO OWNER.

His hand tightened around Lila's wrist. Not enough to hurt her. Enough to keep her close when the room tilted sideways.