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Quillan pauses for a second before exploding into laughter.
Mathias’s gaze slides back to me again.
Adrien moves half a step to block me from view.
Something hot and protective swells inside my chest despite how scared I still am.
“He is not a risk,” Adrien says.
Mathias’s expression barely changes. “I didn’t say he was.”
“You ordered him dead.”
My fingers tighten in Adrien’s jacket.
Mathias’s eyes cut to me. “I did.”
Adrien’s voice drops. “And I told you he was handled.”
“Yes, you did. I’ve always known you hadn’t killed him. I didn’t expect this, though. It’s very interesting.”
Quillan whistles softly.
Mathias ignores him.
Adrien continues before anyone else can speak. “I have him under control. He’s completely dependent on me now. There’s nothing left for him out there. He won’t betray me.”
My cheeks flare, but I don’t contradict him. I couldn’t, even if I wanted to. He’s right.
Quillan makes a short, skeptical sound. “You sure you want to say that in front of him?”
“He knows,” Adrien says, not looking back at me. “He knows it better than anyone.”
The room is silent for a heavy beat, as if everyone can hear my heart pounding.
Mathias leans forward, hands loosely clasped. “He’s a liability.”
Adrien’s whole body goes tense. “No. He’s loyal. He’s traumatized and frightened and—” His voice cracks, then resets, steely. “He needs me.”
Quillan’s eyes go sharp. “And you need him?”
Adrien’s jaw moves. “Yes.”
The silence now feels pressing, full of all the things no one’s saying.
Mathias lets his gaze linger on Adrien, then on me, quiet and hungry. “You’re certain he won’t run?”
“I’m certain,” Adrien replies.
His thumb strokes my hand, a silent promise. I want to nod, to say something, but my lips feel glued shut. I can barely breathe.
Daddy sounds like he is arguing for my life, and I’m pretty sure he is.
“Hm. Kamden,” Mathias calls for me, “come here.”
Daddy stiffens. I peek around his arm.
Mathias says, “It’s alright. I just want to look at you as I ask you a few more questions.”
