Page 244 of Seasons of War
“If that’s true, which I can’t imagine it is, then why start a relationship now?”
She looked at Lance. He strained against the stud even though he didn’t have the leverage to break free. His eyes were desperate.
“I’ll tell you if you let him go,” she said.
The captain chortled and hung his head, hands on his sides. “The Phaedra as my witness, you’re tempting me, woman.”
“You don't have all the information. The United will find me. You don’t have long if you want to make it to Ciondo.”
“I wear the Phaedra’s seal. I fear no one, especially not the United. No one cares to save you. Your own people gave you to me.”
“If you don’t listen to me, you’re going to regret it, Christopher. Let Lance go.”
“You miserable cunt.” He ripped her to him, dragging her onto the tips of her toes. “Throwing that little bitch in my face!” He shook Miya hard. “Tell me what I want to know now, or I will break his legs.”
She swallowed down a sob that had lodged in her throat. “I won’t talk until he’s safe.”
The captain shoved her. She fell back, catching herself on his lieutenant’s arm.
“You’re the one who made this personal. You. Remember that.” He ripped his revolver from his side. Expressionless, he lifted his gun level with Lance’s head.
Shot.
A gasp raked its way down her throat, terror stripping her mind of all thoughts.
Drywall splintered to the side of Lance’s temple.
His unblinking eyes stared into Miya’s. Wide. Red.
Her knees buckled. and she collapsed, ears ringing. Tears splattered onto her knuckles. She bowed her head as she sobbed.
All the feelings hiding away inside of her rushed through her now, and she wept bitterly.
She’d thought for sure she was watching him die.
The captain knelt before her and lifted her chin with the tip of his gun. He spoke with measured words. “You claw your way inside people. You don’t stop until you find something to rip to shreds.”
She struggled to breathe, trembling.
“I don’t need you,” he said. “Especially not now that you’ve caused problems for me. Do you understand the humiliation you caused me? What you cost the Phaedra?”
Miya squeezed her eyes shut, too afraid of what came next.
“What did I say I’d do if you crossed me?” the captain asked.
“You’d kill me.” Miya bent.
“And what did I say I’d do if you put another man above me?”
She shook her head. This pig thought any of this had to do with sex?
“I didn’t say.” Spittle flew from the captain's mouth. “I didn’t think I’d have to. You were supposed to be smart enough to know better than to ever make that mistake.”
“I didn’t do this for him.”
“We’re past you crossing me. For that, I’ll kill you. It’s already been promised. But for humiliating me? I don’t share.”
“We didn’t—”
