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“Casey. He was a swimmer for his college team. We used to-" he pauses, laughing dryly. "We played this game in the cell where we came up with the best things that could happen to us. You know - bought for physical work around the house. Bought by a guy who wants someone for convenience but not for fucked up shit. Casey hoped for a guy with a pool - one the guy would let him use sometimes. I know that wasn’t realistic… but if Gabe can one day be a nurse, Casey could one day swim again, right?"
Nathan fights a wince. “Right…”
Carter’s eyes narrow on him. “Why’d you say it like that?”
“Like what?”
“Casey is going to be one of the people we save, right?”
“I… hope so, yes. But-”
“No.” Carter shakes his head hard. “No buts.”
“Carter…”
“Is he dead?”
“I told you already, he survived.”
“You’re a liar. All you fucking do is lie. Tell the truth. No bullshit. No - no made-up story about someone buying him. About me getting to see him again. Tell me the fucking truth, Nathan. Is Casey dead?”
“No.”
Carter’s expression twists. “That’s a half-truth, though, isn’t it? There’s more. I can tell. What is it?”
“For someone who had no idea he was in love with an undercover agent, you seem awfully confident in your ability to tell if I'm lying." Nathan regrets the words immediately, even if they're true. He hates the emotions that flicker across Carter's face. Hurt. Embarrassment. Anger. Hatred.
So. Much. Hatred.
“Tell me the truth,” he growls.
“Casey was alive the last time I checked.”
“Which was when?”
“Yesterday morning. Right before I told you the truth.”
“Is he in danger?”
“Yes. He's still being…punished, according to rumors.” He turns away from Carter, staring at his desk instead. "He’s alive, but not in the best condition."
A choked sound comes from behind him. He can’t get himself to look.
“You said he’d be okay. That he was going to be sold to someone better. Was –fuck– was thatanotherlie?”
“No, Carter. It wasn’t a lie. But-” Nathan stops when he realizes what he's about to say. The guilt it will put on the boy's shoulders, how much it will hurt him to know why Casey hasn't been saved yet, that's not something Nathan is willing to do.
But Carter is too stubborn. He pushes. “But what?”
“Things just got a little complicated. It’ll be handled. I’ll figure something out.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?”
Nathan sighs. Then he turns and sets his gaze on Carter. “Benny was going to buy him.”
Carter’s eyes narrow. “Was?”
Guilt stabs Nathan right in the fucking chest. "Circumstances have changed. He no longer is able to. But I have a few men I think might-"
