#Chapter 33: Pain in the Ass

Kayla I pulled the chair closer to the table and sat down across from Grace, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. She looked even more fragile up close, her hollow cheeks and sunken eyes making her seem far older than she probably was. Her wrists were still bound, resting limply on the table, and her hair hung in greasy clumps around her face. “Do you need anything to be more comfortable?” I asked softly. The last thing I wanted was to scare her off again. Grace’s eyes darted up to mine. For a moment, she said nothing, her lips pressed into a thin line as if trying to figure out my angle. Finally, she spoke, her voice hoarse. “Why do you care?” she muttered. I shrugged and leaned back slightly in my chair. “Because I don’t believe in making someone suffer unnecessarily. Even if you think I’m trying to butter you up… wouldn’t you take a hot meal and something warm to wear in exchange for a little information?” She flinched at the word “informati