“Who have you told?” Torran asked, a dangerous edge in his tone.

I threw my hands up. “I haven’t told anyone, you asshole! We’re working for you. We’re trying to help you. The only one here who isn’t helping is you.” I jabbed my finger at him again, too angry to remain still. “Don’t you care about your nephew?”

Torran loomed over me. “Listen to me and listen well. If this information gets out, your lives are forfeit. The empress is looking for a target, and I won’t be able to protect you. So you had better make sure your team understands exactly what is at stake should they open their mouths.”

Kee was monitoring this conversation, so she would relay the information to the others, not that we made a habit of blabbing about our jobs anyway.

“I don’t care about the fucking empress; I care about the kid.” I sighed as the anger drained away, leaving me feeling fragile and tired. “Why didn’t you just tell me? A kidnapping is completely different than a theft. We would’ve made a different plan and worked faster. That poor kid has been held for over two weeks. He must be terrified.”

Torran ran a hand down his face. “I told you what I could,” he said quietly. “I hoped that it would be enough.”

“Have the kidnappers been in contact? Have they demanded a ransom?”

Torran gestured and the nearby door slid open, revealing his office. At least he hadn’t been lying about that part. “Go have a seat. I’ll get dressed and join you.”

At the reminder, my eyes drifted over Torran’s exposed chest. No wonder he’d been able to pull himself up onto the perimeter wall earlier—he had plenty of muscles for it. A low-slung pair of loose pants hung from his hips. I was still furious at him for keeping his nephew a secret, but I could admire and fume at the same time. I was good at multitasking.

I spun without a word and entered his office.

“So . . . are we staying?” Kee asked over the comm.

“Yes. It’s not the kid’s fault. We need to work fast and bring him home safely. Keep digging. Find everything you can, including why Torran picked us out of all the available bounty hunters. Something is off.”

“I’m on it. I’ll also keep an ear on you. Shout if you need help.”

I nodded, though she couldn’t see me. Or maybe she could. I wouldn’t bet against Kee now that she’d breached the security system.