Lucian's gaze settled on Mallory's wrinkled yet still resolute face. He rose from the sofa, ignoring the agents around him as their muscles instantly tensed and their guns swung toward him.
He slowly extended his right hand to Mallory.
"Actually, I'm on your side."
Mallory stared at his outstretched hand, trying to discern even the slightest hint of falsehood in his face.
But she could see nothing.
His expression was as calm as a deep pool, as though he wasn't the one who had just sliced a squad in half with Heat Vision.
Shake hands with a Supe who possessed multiple terrifying abilities?
Decades of intelligence work set alarms blaring in Mallory's mind. Who knew what other bizarre tricks he had? That outstretched hand could be an olive branch, or it could be a deadly trap.
Lucian noticed her hesitation.
His face remained expressionless, but the fingers of his other hand, resting on Kenji's neck, casually tightened a fraction.
"Ugh..."
The unconscious Kenji let out a muffled groan of pain. His face rapidly flushed red, and his body began to twitch instinctively.
That tiny movement sent enormous waves through Mallory's heart.
Kenji was her most important card against Vought, a living witness who could testify that Vought had smuggled Compound V to terrorists overseas.
She couldn't gamble.
Or rather, she had no choice.
Mallory took a deep breath and finally made up her mind. She raised her hand and clasped Lucian's outstretched one.
The instant their skin touched, the corners of Lucian's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
"Have all your people leave."
Looking at Mallory, he issued his first verbal command.
"Boss!"
"We can't leave you here alone!"
Several trusted agents beside Mallory immediately objected, raising their guns again and aiming them squarely at Lucian.
"Everyone, shut up." Mallory abruptly turned