Chapter 21 · Mercy's a Death Sentence

"Selina wants you on a platter by midnight. Give me one reason I shouldn't hand you over."

Kael's hand is locked around my wrist, pinning it flat to his desk. The holo behind him is still frozen - Selina smiling like she just won the whole damn game.

"Wow. Romantic as always," I say. "How about because I'm the only reason you're still breathing?"

"You're the reason she's burning my ports down." His voice is flat. Ice. Boardroom ice. "She hit three of my freight lines an hour ago. Says the next one burns with crew inside unless I deliver you."

"So deliver me." I yank against his grip. He doesn't let go. "That's what you do, right? Trade your hound for a better deal?"

"You think this is a trade?" He leans in. Close enough I can smell the coffee on his breath, the clean sharp scent of his shirt. His thumb presses hard against my pulse, not to hurt - to count. "She doesn't want you dead, Vesper. She wants you taken apart. To see what makes you tick."

"Yeah, well, joke's on her. Even I don't know what makes me tick."

"Not funny.