An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

At Sadie’s signal, two soldiers stepped forward to carry out her orders.

“W-Wait…” Lauren stammered. She quickly raised her hands and put on a placating smile. “Let’s talk this through like civilized people. No need to get physical.”

“What? Now you want to talk?” Sadie scoffed. “Done with your pretense?”

“I was just messing around earlier. Don’t take it personally. Ask me anything, and I’ll tell you everything I know.” Lauren immediately chose to give in.

“Don’t even think about playing games with me,” Sadie warned. “If you lie to me, I swear you’ll regret it.”

“Relax. I won’t lie,” Lauren said with an ingratiating smile. “I’m as straight as an arrow.”

Sadie frowned slightly but didn’t press further. Something about Lauren’s behavior didn’t sit right with her. One moment she was acting clueless, the next she was oddly cooperative. It was hard to tell what she was up to.

“Alright then. Tell me. Do you know Callan Banks?” Grace asked coolly.

“Do I know him? Of course, I do.” Lauren nodded eagerly. “We met online and hung out just a few days ago. Why?”

“He contracted the plague and nearly died, “Grace said flatly. “He claims you were the one who infected him. Care to explain?”

with the plague?”

quickly denied it, “Don’t listen to his nonsense! Why would I do something like that? I don’t

Even now, you still won’t tell the truth?

is the truth,” Lauren said earnestly. “Don’t let Callan fool you.

person, I knew something was off about him, so I tried to break things off clean. But the creep kept pestering me and refused to leave me alone.

expect us to believe a woman like you could take down a

even take on several men his size without breaking a

could beat Callan in a fight, but your

got infected. You were the only person he

meeting you. And you’re telling

with them. Everywhere you’ve been, an outbreak followed. Don’t try to tell me that’s just

you’ve been so calm since we brought you in. You don’t look panicked, as if you’ve already come to terms

I don’t like threatening other women, but innocent lives are on the line. If that means I have to be the bad guy, then so be

raise her voice, but the calm in her tone

spreading this plague, then why am I perfectly fine while everyone else

bothers me,” Grace said. “Either you have the antidote, or you’ve developed immunity to whatever

need evidence. You can’t just throw around