Page 14 of The Rebel King

I bite into my frustration, let it burst in my mouth like a bitter pill. My hands curl into fists in my pockets. I think I’m doing a decent job disguising my anger until I look up to find Mr. Hunter watching me, glancing from my tight jaw to the bunched fists I’m hiding. An answering outrage flashes in his eyes, and we just nod to each other in recognition. Losing our tempers won’t help Lennix.

“Yes, I’m authorized to negotiate Lennix Hunter’s freedom,” Grim says, his tone brisk, professional.

“Freedom?” Abe’s laugh echoes harshly in my office. “Who said anything about freedom? I entertained this call to let the arrogant prick who thinks he can buy his way into my good graces know that he can’t.”

“It’s in your best interest to—”

“Don’t presume to know my interests,” Abe snaps, any traces of faux pleasantness vacating his voice. “You can let the man hiding behind hispurseand his mouthpiece know I cannot be bought out of my convictions.”

“Convictions?” I spit, fury and indignation torpedoing the word from my mouth.

Grim arrows a glare at me and presses a finger to his lips. “Look, there must be something you need or want that we could—”

“My vaccine.” A loaded silence follows his words. “Can you get me that?”

“CamTech is handling that aspect of the negotiations in connection with Dr. Murrow.”

“You’re confused. CamTech is handlingallthe negotiations because they are the only ones who have what I want, and if they don’t give me the vaccine in…oh, ticktock, forty-two hours now, then I will put a bullet in her head.”

I speed to the table, jerk the phone from Grim, and strangle it in a tight hold.

“Listen to me,” I grit out. “Name a price. There must be something you want.”

“Oh ho ho,” Abe chuckles. “You must be the man behind the curtain. I guess you’re old moneybags, huh? To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?”

“Tell me your name and I’ll tell you mine,” I say, swiping at Grim when he tries to take the phone from me.

“That’s not how the game works.”

“This isn’t a game. It’s someone’s life.”

“It’s someone’s life, he says.” Abe’s flippant tone sours. “Like that matters to the government, to the drug companies, to our fucked-up health-care system. But when your precious is affected, all of a suddenit’s someone’s lifeand it’s not a game.”

“Our health-care systemisfucked up,” I agree flatly. “The drug companiesareleeches. The governmentdoesn’tdo enough when it’sneeded and butts in when it’s not. You’re right, but taking her life won’t change any of that. How does this help?”

His bark of laughter is a switchblade—short, sharp, cutting. “I’m not interested in helping. That shit’s beyond helping, but they’ll at least pay.”

“Paying doesn’t have to mean killing. And does it really get you what you want?”

“I want my mother back. Can you give my dead mother back to me, Mr. Moneybags? Can your wealth and power reverse how this ruined system left her for dead?”

I close my eyes, hearing the bleak fury in his voice. I’m completely ill-equipped to do a damn thing about it.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I say after a moment, “but what will this prove?”

“How does it help? What does it prove?” he mocks. “You’re a pathetic negotiator. You’re supposed to figure out what’s important to me, and neither of those things matter at all. Nothing does anymore. That’s the point you’re missing. So I’d just as soon shoot your little girlfriend’s head off as take a piss out in the jungle. She doesn’t matter.”

That red rage replaces any sympathy I might have felt for this lunatic.

“Nix matters to me, and I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“Nix, is it?” His voice is again lilting, taunting. “She must hold a very special place in your heart, Moneybags.”

“There’s not a price too high. Just name it.”

“I’ve told you what I want. My mother back. Got a wire transfer for that, do you?”

“So you punish innocent people in your mother’s name? I’m sure she’d be so proud.”

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