“N-Nate?” I stutter, watching him with wide, concerned eyes.
“Good job,” Joseph praises. “Now, here’s what will happen: we need to find the whereabouts of Benji Presley, and you will get those answers from him. He seems quite fond of you, Nathaniel, so he should listen.”
Nate is still staring at me, his expression devoid of emotion as he takes in what Joseph is telling him.
My palms begin to sweat, my heart thumping wildly. What is happening? Is Nate actually… does he truly work for them?
“Tell them, Nate,” I murmur, drilling my eyes into his. “Tell them you won’t do it. That you are fond of me, too.”
I know I’m admitting to having greater feelings than we originally shared. I know I’m making myself vulnerable. But he has to remember that hotel room. He has to like me just as much as I like him. Right?
Another moment of silence stretches between us before finally, Nate says, “Just info on his uncle? I can do that.”
“W-what?! Nate, tell them!” My words are desperate, and without the use of coercion, I can’tmakehim do anything.
I was running on pure faith and belief.
“Tell them what?” he hisses. “That I fucked you until you trusted me? That I delivered what they asked for?”
Joseph lets out a loud laugh at my look of horror.
“Brilliant, Repressor Nathaniel! Honestly, Landon, you should feel honored.” The man takes a step toward me, giving me a bright smile. “This man is a legend. Did you know that hetook out hisentirefamily? Repressed them all and took their power of illusion? He’s very dedicated to our cause.”
Their cause? What exactly is this organization, and what do they want with me?!
“I can see your confusion,” Joseph says, offering me a sympathetic look. “Here at EP, we hunt down the most vile of power abusers and repress their gifts, keeping them from harming the general public. It’s our job as civil servants to do this much. And Nathaniel? He’s the angriest of us all. Hehatesthose who abuse their power.”
It all makes sense. I’m not an idiot, even if Nate thinks I am. He has been warning me about how I use my gift for months now, all while keeping tabs on me and reporting back tothem.
“But I don’t hurt others,” I counter defensively, sending Nate a piercing glare. “I never have.”
“That’s not what Nathaniel has said,” Boston interjects. “He has said you’re manipulative and evil.”
You’re taking away a person’s free will, he had once said.
But I never intended to hurt anyone; I just wanted my tea made properly!
“Get the information,” Joseph pushes, and Nate nods his head.
“Yes, sir.” With one intentional step, Nate is standing before me.
“Don’t do this,” I plead, but it’s quiet and broken; something intimate between us.
Nathaniel Barfred is the only man I’ve ever begged.
“Landon Presley,” he says, tone bored and expression detached. “Where is Benji?”
“No,” I demand. “No. You will not do this to me. You will not make mefeelfor you and then betray me. I won’t… I won’t accept it.”
“I don’t care what you accept,” Nate shoots back easily. “You mean nothing to me, and you will give me the answer or die.”
In a single, smooth movement, Nate snatches the gun from Ryan’s hands and presses the muzzle to my forehead.
Joseph lets loose a startled laugh.
“N-Nate,” I gasp out, my eyes widening as they search his. And in those honey, cat-like eyes, I see no scheming. No secrets or affection. Just hate.
“I will ask once more,” he says gently. “Where is Benji Presley?”
