Page 55 of Jude

“I wanted to oversee your transformation for myself. See just how effective our procedure will be on someone with... limitations.”

Octavia squinted up at him. His gaze ran over her body before his eyes landed on the port screen.

He shook his head as he tutted and moved it out of her reach. “I admire your spirit. It shows you are a worthy adversary. I have made the correct choice in keeping you alive. I will be fascinated to see how well you work against the resistance fighters when we are together.”

“We will never be together,” growled Octavia.

“It’s possible we will,” said the commander. “I have been looking for a pet. Despite your disfigurement, I have a feeling you will do.” His fingers traced up her arm. “Will you behave if I let you loose, little pet? You can show me how grateful you are for my gracious intervention. I have saved your life, given you a second chance. Few people get that opportunity.”

He had to be kidding? The second she was free of these restraints, she’d rip his eyes out. Octavia pulled her face into as calm an expression as possible, and slowly nodded.

“You have lost your beautiful hair,” said Commander West as he eased open a wrist restraint. “It is no matter. I can dress you how I desire. It will be amusing having you as a brunette one night and a redhead the next. Do you have a preference as to what color you are?”

She felt the restraint ease around her wrist. “I’ll let you decide.”

His eyes widened a fraction. “Yes. We will get along. Obey me and everything will be fine.” His hand tracked across her chest, lingering on her breasts, before moving to the second wrist restraint.

Octavia forced herself not to react, letting him think she was too scared to move, that she would obey his commands and become his pet.

“I need you for another reason,” said Commander West.

“What do you need me for?”

“A bargaining tool. You know things about the Ember brothers. You can access their servers, and get into their secure systems.”

She gritted her teeth. “I can’t.”

“There’s no use lying. I know your full history. You are more than capable of doing that.”

“I won’t do it.”

“You will,” said Commander West. “They want you back. They definitely don’t want you in my hands, in case you give away their secrets.”

“They told me nothing.” There was no way in hell she’d tell this creep anything.

“We’ll see how important you are to them,” said Commander West. “I will suggest a trade.”

“They won’t trade me for anything. I’m not valuable to them.”

“I think you are.” His hand snaked up her arm.

Octavia yanked her wrist out of the restraint and slammed her fist into the commander’s face. She pulled her hand back and punched him again. Her fingers went to the other wrist restraint. She fumbled with the clasp, desperate to get away from him.

“You treacherous bitch.” Commander West slammed his fist into the side of her face.

Octavia gasped in pain. Her other hand came free. Ignoring the sharp pain in her cheekbone, she pushed herself up and attempted to hit him again.

He grabbed her arm and twisted it hard. “You will have less fight in you when your mind has been fixed.” He shoved her back on the table and slapped her.

Octavia resisted, forcing her weight against him. He was too strong. She couldn’t stop him.

“I will break you,” said Commander West. “And you will enjoy every second of being broken.”

His fist slammed into Octavia’s face again, and she blacked out.