Chapter 330 Back Off  

~ SASHA ~

Nick had yanked her to a halt, the line of Chimera slowly winding away ahead of them, up the hill. But Sasha stared Nick down, confident if she made any noise or request, the females would come to help her.

"Seriously, Sasha?" Nick exclaimed. "You think I just want to own Zev? He's a person, not a lawn ornament. You think my ownership of him is why I got him connected back with you—and helped you both escape? You think that's why I let him stay longer in the high school five years ago when you two were still sniffing around each other? You think that's all about me and my ownership? Bullshit! If that was all I cared about, I would have just taken a team and shown up in Thana with a gun and leash."

Sasha wondered to herself if that's exactly what Nathan thinks they did. But she yanked her arm out of Nick's grip and put a finger in his face, praying he could see her eyes in the dim light enough to know how completely fucking serious she was.

"First of all," she said through her teeth, "Don't ever lay a hand on me again. And you especially won't touch me in front of Zev. If you really do want to protect him, you'll protect me. Because he'll eat you alive if he sees you touch me like that," she snapped. "Now shut your face with this ridiculous noble plan you want to say you have. If you're here to help Zev, then stop talking about it and prove it."

Nick opened his mouth, but Sasha shook her head and strode forward quickly to catch the back of the line of females. If she didn't miss her guess, they were getting close to the Gateway and she would be needed to center everybody before they stepped in.

Nick trotted to catch up with her, muttering a curse, but he didn't touch her again.

"If you want me to protect Zev, you'll have to protect me."

Sasha snorted and walked on.

Nick shook his head. "If you're serious about getting the other females back, you'll need to do all the stuff I tell you, and you'll need to protect me—from the creatures, from Zev. He can't interfere. I have to keep Patty and the team back here convinced that I'm in control."

"You are so not in control when we get into Thana, Nick."

"I know that! That's my point!" he hissed. She glanced up at him and realized he was beginning to sweat again, his forehead shining and eyes looking sunken in the dark. "I have to give all the right reports, and know the right things to keep them believing. If you guys interfere, or if the Chimera keep me… on the sideline, the others will learn about it and they'll come through and that's your chance over, Sasha. You know that. Nathan's not playing with this. It's a huge risk. One wrong step and… you'll all be finished."

"So the answer to me getting what I want is giving you what you want, is that what you're saying, Nick? What a surprise."

"Not everything, just enough. But I have to be safe. If I'm hurt, they'll know. And if you let Ernie… I mean, if I'm out of my mind they're going to figure it out."

"Ernie chooses his own path. They all do."

"Bullshit, I saw them submit to you—and I'm guessing they do to Zev as well."

She glanced at him, but didn't confirm the thought.

"So, tell them to leave me alone," Nick pressed. "Let me do what I have to do, and I'll leave you alone the rest of the time. We can protect Zev together this way!"

"Of course," Sasha said sarcastically, "This is all about keeping Zev safe. Not keeping your sorry ass out of Ernie's hands. Look, Nick, you volunteered. You're coming into Thana. This is their world. The Chimera's rules. You need to be submissive and hope they'll ignore you. Because if they don't, I don't like your chances. Even Zev doesn't trust you—and he's told everyone."

"All I'm asking you to do is keep me alive and don't put me in a cage. I can do the rest myself."

Sasha eyed him from the side. "I don't know, Nick. I guess we'll see how it all pans out when we get over there. If we actually get there."

Nick gaped at her. "You think we're walking out here in the middle of the night for shits and giggles?"

"I think you're the most manipulative person I've ever met, Nick, and I don't believe anything that comes out of your mouth until I see it happen with my own eyes."

"So let me show you! You keep me safe, I keep Zev safe, everyone's happy. I'm rooting for you, Sasha. Can't you see that?"

"No, frankly. I can't. If you wanted to support me, you'd support me. If you wanted Zev safe, you'd just do it. You wouldn't be using leverage and trying to pin me into negotiations."

"Leverage is the only language I know," Nick seethed. "Quid pro quo. That's how these people work. There is no other language in my world."

"Well, isn't it lucky that we're going into another world then, Nick?" Sasha said, falsely bright.

"You can't expect me to change everything I've learned and who I am, just to fit in your… whatever it is you're building here," Nick said, exasperated.

"But that's what you don't get, Nick. I don't expect you to change. That's my whole point. I'm glad you brought it up, since that should make you understand why Zev will never, ever, trust you again."

Nick looked like he would respond, but the line in front of them slowed, then came to a halt as the land under their feet leveled out.

They'd reached the Gateway and Sasha's heart suddenly raced, galloping in her chest.

They were really here. This was really happening.

Holy fucking shit.