Page 2 of Defiance
Narrowing his eyes, Paul watched him in silence. The seconds dragged out for what felt like ages, but Logan didn’t so much as flinch. Let him play his mind games. Logan was used to hiding his emotions. He wouldn’t break so easily.
Seeming to sense that tactic wouldn’t work, Paul looked away, then walked over to the side of the room and fetched himself a chair. Placing it directly in front of Logan, he sat on it backwards, arms resting casually on the back of it, as though they were just two friends having a chat. “How did Moreton escape?”
It took Logan a moment to recognise Cole’s last name; it’d been a while since he’d thought of him that way.
Paul sneered. “Although I guess I shouldn’t call him that anymore.” He met Logan’s gaze. “That privilege disappeared along with his humanity. Either he’ll join our pack or he’ll rot in jail.” He shrugged as if he didn’t give a shit either way, but Logan caught the gleam in his eye.
Paul wanted him for his unit.
Despite Cole’s attempt to escape—or maybe even because of it, who knew with Paul?—his skill set was perfect for the Human Reconnaissance Unit. No doubt Paul was arrogant enough to think he could train the defiance out of Cole and turn him into a valuable member of his HRU team.
Logan was counting on it.
They all were.
“Where’s Aaron?” Logan asked instead. He smirked at the tick of irritation in Paul’s jaw.
“Answer my fucking question.”
Logan looked him straight in the eye, willing his whole body to remain calm. “I can’t tell you what I don’t fucking know. Now, where’s Aaron?”
From the pissed-off expression Paul wore and the way his fists clenched, Logan fully expected to feel the brunt of his anger somewhere on his body, but instead, Paul blew out a harsh breath and closed his eyes. “You’ve no idea how much I’d like to throw you across the room right now,” he forced out through gritted teeth.
How close to shifting was he?
Pushing back was one thing, but Logan needed Paul to remain in control and in his human form. Swallowing back the flippant remark on the tip of his tongue, Logan went for brutal honesty. “Look.” He sighed, letting his shoulders sag in defeat. “I fucked up. I know that. And I know you have to question me—even if you’re enjoying every minute of it.” Paul smirked in acknowledgement. “But I can’t tell you how Cole escaped London.”
No lie there.
Stick to the truth as much as you can.
That was what Jacob had drilled into them.
Paul took a moment to study him, presumably debating what to do with that statement. If they suspected Logan at all, now would be the point where they could press him for more. Paul would take that for the evasive answer it was.
Logan held his breath.
“Fucking fine.” Paul rolled his eyes and waved a hand in Logan’s direction. “We both know that if McKillan thought you were involved, this would be going a lot differently.” He looked a little disappointed.
Logan scoffed, relieved but sending Paul a scathing look. “So being tied to a fucking chair was your idea?”
Paul grinned at him, his eyes remaining cold and unwelcoming. “They told me to debrief you. They didn’t specify how.”
If McKillan didn’t think he and Aaron were involved, then either Cole was holding up okay under interrogation or they hadn’t asked him the right questions yet.
The thought of the ways they might ask them made his blood run cold, and he had to forcibly repress a shudder.
He sighed as if this was all a pain in the arse, but nothing more. “I already told Jacob everything I know about the whole fucking mess.”
“Oh, I know you did.” Paul flexed his fingers, staring at them a minute before looking up. “But Simon thought I might get a little more information out of you. Since it’s what I’m trained for. I know the right questions to ask.”
Usually you ask them with your fists, claws, and teeth. And fuck knew what other methods they had in the HRU. His thoughts raced back to Carnglaze and the serum Tim had used on him. Being kept in a half-shifted state was agony in its own right. Having his fangs and claws torn out had been excruciating.
Would they do that to Cole?
It took everything Jacob had taught him to remain outwardly unaffected. “Ask your fucking questions and let’s get this done with. I’m sure there’s a lovely punishment waiting for me that I’d like to get out of the way.”
Paul laughed, the sound sudden and loud in the otherwise quiet room. “You have no idea.” Before Logan could reply, he stood abruptly and began to pace. “Start from the beginning. From the first time you met at the testing centre, and take me through your encounters, step by step.”
