Page 154 of Empire of Shadows

The sound of his voice startled Adam—and immediately grated on him.

Had he? Adam cast his thoughts back to his conversation with Dawson the night before. He didn’t actually remember agreeing to anything… but then, he didn’t put it past Dawson to have stopped listening and simply assumed that everything was going the way he wanted it to go.

“What can I say?” Adam returned flatly as he found another handhold.

“I believe we may both agree that your assistance will be granted to the utmost of your ability without any additional complications?” Jacobs offered. He set his boot to the stones and followed adeptly.

Adam paused with his hands on the next boulder. He cast a slow glance back over his shoulder at where Jacobs climbed below him.

“Or you start cutting up my friend?” he returned coldly.

“Good,” Jacobs replied, easily pulling himself up another step. “I see we understand each other.”

Adam contemplated kicking Jacobs in the face. It would have felt great—but he had no doubt that Jacobs was carefully watching his every move, and the man still had the gun. Adam didn’t doubt that Jacobs knew perfectly well how to use it.

Adam might be prone to occasionally rash decision-making, but even he could see that those were lousy odds… and if he got himself shot, there wouldn’t be much reason left for Jacobs to keep Ellie around.

No kicking for now, Adam decided. He gritted his teeth and pushed on.

“I believe the professor may be considering whether you could be of longer-term use to us,” Jacobs continued.

Adam halted in his tracks to stare down at the other man in surprise.

“I’m sorry—What?” he blurted.

Jacobs didn’t stop. He stepped neatly up the rest of the winding trail, only stopping when he had come parallel to Adam.

“Dawson is looking for a way to avoid the aspects of his own duties he considers less appealing, of course.” Jacobs was not the least bit out of breath. “He dislikes enduring the outdoors—nor is he much good at it. I don’t believe anyone would be averse to replacing the professor in that capacity. Were you to show an interest in such work, it would certainly extend your usefulness. I am sure you have realized by now that your and Miss Mallory’s continued health depends on how long you remain…useful.”

Adam’s jaw clenched as he absorbed Jacobs’ revelation. It certainly made some sense of Dawson’s weird conversation with Adam the night before.

He recalled how the professor’s attitude toward him had shifted when Adam had first revealed that he’d attended Cambridge. He wondered if it would shift again if Dawson learned that Adam had walked out without a degree.

But Jacobs wasn’t bluffing. Adam knew perfectly well that he was only alive because Jacobs needed him. The minute that changed, both he and Ellie would be in serious trouble.

If Adam had been smart, he would have pummeled Braxton Pickett, reclaimed his machete, and made off into the woods with Ellie days ago. Sticking around in the hopes that they could find a way to prevent Jacobs and his companion from destroying whatever lay in this mysterious city was a hell of a lot more risky.

It might be slightlylessrisky if Jacobs believed that Adam was interested in taking over Dawson’s job.

Adam suppressed a groan. He was still fighting the urge to grab Jacobs by his waistcoat and start pummeling him—even though he was pretty sure he’d get stabbed someplace vital as soon as he tried.

But he also knew an opportunity when he saw one.

“You asking if I’m interested?” Adam said. He hopped down from the boulder he’d just climbed, landing solidly beside Jacobs in a dry streambed.

“Are you?” Jacobs returned.

“Sure,” Adam replied neatly.

As lies went, Adam thought it was a pretty good one—even for him.

Jacobs smiled. His dark eyes were unreadable.

“Thank you,” he said evenly. “That is most informative.”

Jacobs sounded a little bit like someone who had just confirmed something which he had already suspected. That should’ve been a good thing. An uneasy lurch in Adam’s gut said otherwise.

Jacobs turned away to continue up the trail with the rifle still slung casually over his shoulder… as though he knew that Adam wasn’t a real threat.

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