Page 80 of Bite of Sin

“Not from you,” I drawled. “I’ll give you a few answers—of my choosing. But I’ll only talk to one person.”

“You only talk to me,” he seethed as he stepped closer.

“That’s not going to work. But feel free to keep tormenting me while I stay silent.” I kept his stare. “I could do this for days. And I hear you’re on a time crunch. How long can you be away from Project Hope before they figure out you’re gone?”

His face turned a shade darker, and he glared at me with murder in his eyes. “Who?”

“I’ll only talk to Kali.”

Chapter31

Kali

“Don’t do this.” Warner grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the stairs. “You don’t have to.”

Tim frowned, his eyes dropping to Warner’s hand. “He’s chained up. He won’t be able to touch her. And we need answers. He agreed to talk to her.”

“You couldn’t torture the answers out of him?” Warner snapped. “Isn’t this what you’ve been waiting for? You’re not prepared?”

“Kali is a Clover,” Tim said slowly, trying to keep his composure. “We’re a team. She can help get this done faster. Let her go, Warner.”

“She’s dealt with enough,” Warner exploded, not backing down. “She was trapped with him for almost two weeks. She gave you everything you needed in that note. Which was how you got into the city in the first place. She did her part.”

Chills raced up my spine as my eyes darted to the basement door. Fucking great. I was positive Zan was listening, and him learning that I was the reason they were able to capture him was not a great way to start the conversation. I doubted he’d give me any answers Tim wanted, and I had a feeling he wanted to talk to me for a whole different reason.

“Warner, I can do this,” I told him, pushing his hand off me.

His jaw clenched. “I’ll be right out here.”

I nodded before opening the basement door and going slowly down the stairs. It had only been a couple of hours since I’d woken up, and after food and a shower, I sat in the room with my thoughts flooding through my head. When Tim approached me about talking to Zan, I jumped at the chance.

My body felt perfect, buzzing with energy I didn’t even know I had. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was Zan’s blood racing through me that was making me feel this way.

Once I got to the bottom of the stairs, I hesitated, staring at the closed door. Zan had saved me, and now I was with the people holding him hostage. I had no idea what to expect when I faced him. His voice suddenly drifted through the door, making me freeze.

“I know you’re out there, Kali. Don’t make me wait any longer. Get in here.”

I frowned, my pulse thudding nervously as I slid the dead bolt and pulled open the door. My eyes widened when I saw him, and I slowly stepped into the room as he stared at me. His neck had a thick collar on it that seemed to be connected to the pole behind him. His arms were bound behind him, and his legs were stretched out in front of him, with his ankles chained together.

It was the first time I’d seen him shirtless, and I tried and failed not to study the black ink sprawled all over his skin. Nearly every inch was covered in beautiful work, and drops of water speckled his skin. I raised my gaze, seeing his dark hair was still soaked and dripping. I knew Tim had been down here hurting him, but there wasn’t a mark on him. Vampires healed so fast. About as fast as his blood had healed me.

Before I could stop myself, my eyes darted back to his body when he shifted. I knew he was in shape, but fuck. Before I could inspect him more, he spoke, making my gaze go back to his face.

“Go back upstairs.”

“What?”

“I told Tim that I didn’t want anyone on the first floor when I talked to you,” he murmured. “They either go upstairs or outside. Or I don’t talk. I can hear him and Warner at the top of the stairs.”

“They’re not going to leave,” I snapped.

“Then I won’t say a fucking word.”

With a huff, I spun around and ran back up the steps. Warner pushed off the wall, and Tim cursed under his breath.

“What’s wrong?” Warner asked in alarm.

I looked at Tim. “He won’t talk until you do what he says.”

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