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“Is this some sort of plan to make me care about you?” I ask sourly. “To make me empathize with you so I feel like we’re on the same side?”
“We are on the same side.”
He’s at the sink again, his back to me, but I shake my head. “I mean some sort of psychological conditioning.”
“Stockholm syndrome?”
“Yes. Except Stockholm syndrome was developed by a cop-sympathizing psychologist to discredit a witness’s testimony. A woman’s testimony. It’s more likely she felt real empathy for her captors.”
“You are the expert.” A smile hides behind his dry tone.
“Shut up.”
He finishes the dishes and returns to me. I slide off the stool, not wanting to act too nervous but needing something physical between us. My hands fist at my side, and I will myself not to run. Not to look towards the dungeon door.
“What now?” I finally ask to keep from screaming.
“More training.” Before I can throw myself in the opposite direction, he says, “Not that sort.” He flicks his fingers, and where they were once empty, they now hold a shining blade. “I’m going to teach you how to throw a knife.”
CHAPTER 13
victor
Her dark brows knit together. “Are you serious?”
“Trade you.” I offer her the knife handle first. It’s one of my favorites, a fixed-blade combat knife, both handle and blade a rain cloud gray.
She stares at it. “Is this for real?
“A trade.” I point to her right hand and signal her to Come. “The fork, Lula.”
She sets the fork on the island and reaches for the knife, every movement broadcasting that she doesn’t believe this is happening and expecting a bait and switch.
It will take time, but eventually, she will realize I am honest with her and worthy of her trust.
A sign escapes her when she palms the knife handle. Her entire stance relaxes. This woman was born to hold a weapon.
“You’re really going to teach me?”
“Yes.”
“And if I attack you?”
I shrug. “You’ll learn faster.” I wait for her to make a decision. If she rushes me, I can overpower her. If she runs, it might be difficult to catch her. Untrained, she’s more of a danger to herself than she is to me.
“What if I don’t want to learn?”
“There are other ways to pass the time.”
She clicks her tongue, and I know I have her. She wants to know what happens next. In a world filled with many dull moments and even duller people, curiosity is our greatest weakness.
Come, I gesture to her. “The training area is this way.”
“Like this?” She gestures to her bare legs. She looks fantastic in my shirt, the tails just covering her soft backside and the tops of her thighs.
“I’ll give you more to wear if you are good.”
She scoffs and tosses her hair over her shoulder.
