Chapter 42 · You are unbelievable

He laughed once, breathless and sharp. "You are unbelievable."

"And you're still talking."

"Because you keep asking stupid questions."

"Then give me better answers."

Her thumb moved once against his pulse. The gesture was small, almost careful. Kane hated how quickly he noticed it.

"You want inside my head," he said. "Fine. But if you see the worst parts, don't pretend you can walk away clean."

Selena leaned in until their foreheads nearly touched. "You think I scare that easily?"

"I think you scare yourself."

"Keep pushing."

"You keep coming closer."

For one dangerous second, neither of them moved.

The machine hummed around them. Her breath brushed his cheek. His restraints creaked as his hands tightened.

Then Selena pressed two fingers beneath his chin and forced his head back against the chair.

"Open up," she said. "No more walls."

"You first."

"Kane."

"Say you'll stop if I tell you to."

Her eyes dropped to his mouth, then lifted again. "You don't give orders here."

"Say it."

"You're bargaining with your life."

"I do that a lot."

The meter hit eighty-two percent.

Pain detonated through both of them.

Kane saw Selena's fear.

Not the fear she showed soldiers.