Page 82 of Taken By the Convicts
“You’re being evasive,” she said. Ivan remained tight-lipped. “I see. You still don’t trust me.”
“I trust you, but I’m not telling you why Zev is bad news. Stay away from him until Jayce can lock him out.”
She turned on the heels of her boots and headed back to the storage area to find Zev. Ivan grabbed her and pulled her back into his room, caging her between his arms. “You expect me to trust you when you plan on telling him what I just told you?”
She didn’t push him aside, he was too massive, and already his brows had narrowed. He was on high alert, more than usual.
“But you don’t trust me and you never will, not after my part in the Kratos Project.”
“This isn’t about that.”
“It is. I was heading to the storage room to retrieve the bag of flour I found in a bin, but you assumed the worst of me. And you always will.” This time she pushed his arm aside and he let her go.
“Zev’s been trying to set up a meeting with Hawke,” Ivan blurted out.
The very thought of the man who’d nearly raped her made her freeze. “Zev wouldn’t do—”
“I followed him today. He approached Hawke’s camp but didn’t enter, not yet. I’m not sure what he’s up to, Melina, but it’s not good. And I’m afraid it involves you.”
“Me?” she said, spinning to face him.
“Hawke wants you. Zev has access to you.”
“He wouldn’t do that to Reece. Tome.”
Ivan gently tucked her hair behind her ear. “You don’t know that. No one does. He has no other ties here except the one man who can’t speak or write anything. Reece is the perfect man to watch his back.”
“So, Zev’s a solitary. That doesn’t mean anything. Lots of men here are. You were.”
“I’ve had Jayce since I arrived. No matter our differences, we’d never betray each other. And in a pinch, I have Glasner and Kimber, even though they have their own units here. I can trust Reece because I’ve watched him since I arrived. I know what he’s about. The man has never hurt anyone who didn’t threaten him first. He goes about his duties, keeps to himself. He is who he appears. But Zev has secrets.”
“We all have secrets,” she said, wishing she could tell Ivan the rest, but she didn’t want him to think she was looking for absolution. She simply wanted him to judge her based on who she was, not her past.
“You’ve been with him, you’ve talked to him, and I’m betting you know nothing about him,” Ivan said.
“He worked in the tech industry. Information management.”
“An easy lie to construct. What else do you know?”
She opened her mouth but realized she couldn’t answer him. Zev had told her nothing about his past. Not where he grew up, his family, friends, dreams. Nothing.
“Why is he on Veenith?” Ivan pressed. Her soldier had good instincts, but he was wrong about Zev.
“He didn’t say.”
“He’s a user, Melina. And not like Jayce. Jayce sets deals that satisfy both parties. Zev is looking out for himself.”
“Like everyone else here.”
A flash of hurt crossed Ivan’s face before he schooled his features. “I made a commitment to this unit and every person in it, including you. I can’t let a man I don’t know and can’t trust stay here. He’s out as soon as I can get hold of Jayce.”
“Then you might as well get rid of me too because you don’t know me any better than you know Zev, and it’s become quite clear you don’t trust me.”
She walked away, struggling to hold back the tears.
“Melina!” he shouted after her, but she kept walking. She stopped at the stairs. There was nowhere to go. Her tattoo wouldn’t open the door. She was as trapped as she’d been before she fled to the med-center.
Ivan’s hand caressed her arm. He was trying so hard, and perhaps she was making his job hard, but he had to understand she wouldn’t choose him over Zev. Even though Ivan had valid concerns, she knew who Zev was inside.
