Page 279 of Operation: Defiance

“She doesn’t stop.” The smile isn’t forced. It’s lopsided. Probably ugly. Don’t care. “S’all you need…to know.”

The door opens, and Jay lets go of my hair. Staying upright is a significant achievement. Phil gets to his feet, and the two step back.

Fuck. Voss.

“Mr. Locke, I have one question,” Voss says. His voice is different now. Rougher at the edges. “Was this her plan from the beginning? From the moment you took her from the facility?”

I don’t have to think about the answer. Don’t have to hide it either.

“Yes. It was.”

Voss doesn’t respond for so long, Phil and Jay shift on their feet. When he does, he’s close enough his cologne catches in my throat.

“She loves you. Once she sees your condition, she’ll come in. And then she’ll lose everything.”

It takes a moment to find my next words. But they’re the truest thing I’ve ever said.

“She won’t…come in, because…she loves me.” I pause, lift my head a fraction so he can see my eyes. “And she’s already won.”

No one moves. I find one last thing to say. It costs what little I have left. But it’s worth it.

“For the smartest man in the room”—my voice gives out. I force it to come back—“you really didn’t see her coming?”

Voss goes very still.

It’s worse than anything that’s happened since they took me. The shape of what’s coming lives in that stillness. And it’s bad.

He leans close to Jay and says something too quiet to catch. Then strides out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Phil turns his tablet face down on the table.

They’re done asking questions.