Page 86 of Barinov

“What is your name?” I whisper.

“What?”

“What is your fucking name?” I repeat, more sternly this time.

He nods against me. “Ezekiel Malik Blackwood.”

“Again.”

“Ezekiel Malik Blackwood.”

“Again.”

“Bells,” he whispers.

“Again!” My voice cracks.

“Ezekiel Malik Blackwood.”

“Good,” I say, pulling away and wiping a tear off my cheek. “Do you want to talk about where you just went?”

He shakes his head violently. “I-I-I can’t, Bells.”

“Okay. Okay.” I say, reaching for his hand. He doesn’t retreat from my touch this time. “But if you ever want to, I’m here.”

“I know.” He squeezes my hand. “I know.”

“Change of subject?” I ask, keeping my voice soft.

“Please,” he says through a small laugh, releasing my hand.

“Alright,” I continue. “Miami. Why the hell did he send you there?”

He lets out a long sigh. “For the trials.”

My brows pinch. “The what?”

“Bells, I don’t really know how to tell you this. It’s like this… a game. Well, sort of. I mean…” he starts rambling. “Luca has these… well they’re these—”

“Just tell me,” I snap. “Please.”

“He’s putting your boyfriends through trials out there.”

“Why?” I sit up straighter on the bed, criss-crossing my legs.

“Between buying time for you to remember that you’re Izzy and making them suffer for touching what he thinks is his, I guess.”

I blink back the tears. “What sort of trials?”

“Twisted ones that are built to break their spirits,” he says, looking off at the mural. “Twelve of them.”

“Twelve?!”

He looks back at me. “Yeah, but it’s ok. We’re gonna get out before then.”

“How? You’re forgetting the part about the electroshock poisonous bomb collars strapped to our necks.”

“Still working on it.” He shrugs, scratching at the skin under his collar. “I’m never around a computer long enough without him hovering.”