Page 97 of My Noble Disgrace

“Tell him to meet us at the southwest shore for the hostage exchange, at the place you last saw each other,” I said.

Cael pulled out the radio. “Which channel?”

“Channel X,” I said.

Cael turned the dial, then held it out to Keane.

Keane knelt to be closer to the radio. “Come in, Vaughn. It’s Keane.”

We waited with no immediate answer.

“Come in, Vaughn!”

I hoped they were still using this channel.

“Keane!” Vaughn shouted through the radio. “You’re alive! The girl told us you were, but we didn’t believe it. We thought for sure you was shot in that fight.”

“If there’s one thing you can count on me for, it’s surviving,” he said.

“Where are you?” asked Vaughn.

“I found myself a nice little cell. Got a window and everything,” said Keane. “But I’m getting a lil’ tired of it. I’ve been offered a deal, and I need your help.”

Vaughn answered almost immediately. “How?”

“They want Dominic back, and their weapons. They’ll let us go free with the boat if we comply.”

Vaughn was silent for a moment. “Who’s they? The Academy? Are you sure you’re not being played?”

“I’m not an idiot, Vaughn. I wouldn’t believe them for a moment if we were only making a deal with the Academy, but this is Mara’s doing.” He paused, glancing up at me. “And I happen to trust her.”

My breath caught and I wanted to look away, but I forced myself to give him a reassuring smile.

“What about the rest of the men? Do they go free?”

Keane sighed. “I’m afraid not.”

“Sounds like a big risk,” said Vaughn. “We dunno if we can trust ‘em. And all they’re givin’ back is you? No offense, but that doesn’t feel like a fair exchange to me.”

Keane looked at us. “He has a point. Wanna sweeten the deal?”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to offer more false promises, but none of it made much difference. They’d all end up in the same place. No harm done—nothing but a little misguided hope, anyway.

Cael shook his head. “I told you it’s non-negotiable. Just you.”

Keane spoke into the radio again. “Sorry, Vaughn. Just me.”

“If we’re givin’ up weapons too, you’ll have to up your bid. Give usallour men back if you want us to return,” said Vaughn.

Cael set his jaw, saying nothing.

“Why doesheget to decide?” Keane asked me. “Is this your plan or not?”

I grabbed the radio on impulse. “It’s a deal,” I said, eager to keep the men from backing out.

Cael took it back. He looked like he wanted to strangle me again. “That wasn’t your call to make!”

I didn’t know why he cared. Sure, it would require more Enforcers and more supervision of the men during the exchange, but he had no shortage of resources with the entire Academy athis disposal. We could make the loftiest promises in the world and it wouldn’t matter. We wouldn’t be honoring any of it.

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