Page 79 of Turn the Tide
Ashley shoved her legs in a pair of jeans. “Or what? You’ll take me to a black site?” She tugged on a bra. “Torture me until I give it to you?”
She was half correct.
“Yes. I will take you to a black site. But I won’t torture you.”
He wasn’t trained in the type of interrogation that broke a person. It took a particular personality for it, and he had no taste for such ugly business. The idea of hurting people he usually looked out for made his skin crawl. Besides, torture wouldn’t work on Ashley. He’d made certain of it in the event she was caught on this op. No need to go that far anyway, as long as he convinced her that he was willing to cross any line.
Sanborn had trained him to do whatever was necessary to protect their people. Even from themselves. Knox imagined the worst possible scenario for Ashley, something that’d eat away at her soul, something that’d break her heart and bring her to heel.
“An interrogator will torture Logan,” he said.
Ashley froze in the midst of pulling on a shirt.
Yes, that love was her weakness. It shamed him to use it against her, but better to frighten her with a threat and spare her from the torment of what was to come if he failed to bring her and the thumb drive in before their deadline.
“No ripping off his fingernails, or anything quite so trite.” He changed his tone from casual to chilling. “The interrogator will disfigure the other side of his face. With a blowtorch. Take his one good eye and ear. They’ll crush his spirit and once that’s gone, what will he have left?”
Civilians had no idea the atrocities committed in CIA black sites around the world. And when necessary, American citizens found themselves behind those walls in unspeakable agony.
Knox didn’t have to persuade her such a thing was possible. Ashley was already well aware. He only needed to make her believe he was ruthless enough to have it carried out.
Pivoting on his heel, he faced her.
Her eyes watered as she finished dressing.
“How long do you think Logan will want to live once they’re finished with him? Would he still want you after allowing him to suffer? He pushed you away once. Next time it’ll be for good. Is hanging on to the thumb drive worth it?”
Quietly, she sobbed. The horrific picture he’d painted was demolishing her will. Her genuine tears made him question sacrificing their friendship for the sake of this mission. Made him contemplate hugging her and confessing he’d never allow such a thing to happen after all Logan had given to the Agency and his country.
But Knox had to hurt her like this, open her eyes, to save her.
“Where is it, Ashley?”
She wiped away tears and glared at him with such contempt something in his chest twisted. “I hid it in a church. In the altar. Don’t hurt Logan, and I’ll take you there.”
