Page 36 of Captured Immune

A nod.

“Why am I here?”

My question is met with silence. Trey springs back onto his feet and groans while running a hand through his hair the same way Mustache Man did. They’ve got to be related. Mustache Man is probably his dad. Trey’s story about how his parents were killed was just a cover-up for his parents being criminals or to gain my sympathy. I can’t believe I trusted anything he ever said to me.

In a regular tone, Trey asks, “Can you call your grandma back?”

“No.”

“Arella, you have to.”

“Says who? Mustache Man? The guy who a minute ago was choking me by the neck and?—”

“He did what?” Trey’s entire body goes rigid.

I shoot dagger eyes at him. “Don’t be so surprised. If he’s willing to sedate and kidnap me, he’s probably willing to do much worse.”

“You were sedated?” To himself, he says, “That explains why I didn’t feel it right away.”

Feel what?

Trey’s hands clench into fists as he sucks in a deep breath. When he lets it out, his fists relax. “Did he do anything else to you?”

How can I explain that Mustache Man probably tried to melt me with his black eyeballs without sounding like I’m crazy? Does Trey know he can do that?

“Who is he?” My tears are starting to let up because I’m more angry than shocked now. I want to know what’s going on, how Trey is involved, and most of all, I want to go home.

“His name is Victor. He’s the CEO of ZIRDA California, which is a secret organization that, um...” Trey’s gaze falls to a burn spot on the carpet. “It’s complicated.”

A secret organization?That, along with some words Katie said earlier, likemissionandunderground facility surrounded by about two hundred trained agents, makes me feel like I’ve been sucked into some messed-up spy movie.

“Better question,” I say. “How doyouknow Victor?”

“He’s, um... my uncle.”

I knew they were related.Maybe that means Trey wasn’t lying about his parents getting blown up. Victor is probably the abusive uncle who took him in after the explosion. “Did you help your uncle kidnap me?”

“No. Fuck no. If it wasn’t obvious, Arella, I’m just as shocked to see you here as you are to see me.”

“He’s your uncle!” I shout. “You really want me to believe you had nothing to do with this?”

“I didn’t!” he shouts back.

I must be dumb, because I actually believe him. Mostly because my baby senses how angry he is about this. Correction:ourbaby. Oh my god, I’m pregnant with a baby who belongs to a man with a PhD in lying.How is this my life?

Trey paces the room, pulling at his hair before finally turning to me. “Could you please call your grandma?”

Does he really think sayingpleasewill change my mind? “I said no.”

“Look, I know you’re probably scared right now, but trust me, everything’s gonna be okay.” The way he says all that makes me think he’s trying to convince himself, not me.

“Why should I trustyou? You’re one of them!”

How could I not have known? This should have been the first question I asked him on our first date:Hey, is your uncle a crazy dude running a secret organization in an underground facility crawling with secret agents?My second question should have beenAre you one of those secret agents?The next guy I meet, I’ll make sure I know the professions ofallhis uncles before even considering having dinner with him.

I glare at Trey with the most venomous look I can muster. “You’ve been one of them this whole time, haven’t you?”

His silence is all the answer I need to lose any hope I had left in him.

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