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“Notyor…” she repeated.

“Not your fucking business.”

She blanched and Takeshi shifted like he was about to jam his stone bowl through the man’s eye socket.

“Apologize.”

She pulled back in surprise when Jack spoke.

“You want me to apologize?” The spikey-haired man whirled to Jack in disbelief. “For what?”

Jack simply lowered his head, fixing him with a look that could break glass. The other man’s forearms bulged, veins snaking across his black tattoos.

His jaw clenched, as if it pained him, but he turned to Khalani and grumbled, “Sorry.”

Khalani blinked, stunned that Jack had commanded an apology out of him with nothing but a stare.

How much influence did he wield?

“Now that’s out of the way,” Jack steepled his hands together, shifting his attention to her, “tell me what you know of the Black Heart.”

Taking a deep breath, she quickly explained who theywere and their full interaction with Spade and the other gang members in Hermes. Surprisingly, when she mentioned their first conversation with Spade in Apollo, Jack didn’t look surprised. He nodded, motioning for her to continue. But behind his calculating eyes, she could practically see his brain racing.

When she spoke of Raziel, the other man lifted his head in surprise, increasingly invested in her story. By the time she finished detailing the tracking chip and the plan to break them out in six days, Jack’s brows drew tight in consternation.

“Six days,” Jack repeated.

“Yes.”

The spikey-haired men frowned, whispering to Jack, “What makes you think we can trust them?”

“You and your brother know everyone. Have you seen them around Hermes?” Jack asked, keeping his sharp gaze on her.

The other man’s lips pursed, his dissatisfaction growing. “Doesn’t mean they’re from Apollo. How couldshecross the Death Zone and survive?”

“Careful,” Takeshi’s calm voice was laced with menace. “Shehas more courage in her pinky then you do in your entire body.”

“What did you say to me?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Takeshi asked. “Or should I add stupid and inept to your description, as well?”

“Okay, okay. Let’s get back to the plan,” she interjected, but the spiky haired guy leaned closer to Takeshi.

“If you’re not from here, let meexplainhow things work in Hermes,” he hissed. “Insults aren’t settled with words. They’re paid with blood. I’ll teach you that lesson in the ring tonight.”

Takeshi didn’t move a muscle, a dangerous glimmer flaring in his eyes.

Like he would love nothing more.

“Enough, Ryder,” Jack cut in abruptly. “We don’t have time for your posturing. They are who they say they are.”

“You believe us?” Khalani turned to him in disbelief.

Jack nodded, his expression grave. “I was with Spade the night you first made contact. We were the only ones who knew of Brock’s imprisonment and the plan to lead you to Hermes.”

“Why?”

“Because information in the wrong hands can be deadly. When there’s a stray chip, people get killed. Or captured,” Jack clipped, a flicker of infernal rage reflecting in his tight features.