“No. I believe you’ve covered everything my family wanted.”

“Good.” Ahiga’s gaze narrowed as he looked at me, but he turned to the lawyer. “I will shut down audio, but video will remain. Regardless of her answers, she attacked one of the most senior officers in SpaceTech. She is under strict 24-7 surveillance. You have ten minutes.” Ahiga strode to the door, opened it, and waited for Declan to exit the room.

Declan didn’t say anything to me. He’d barely said a word, but even if he hadn’t spoken up for me, he’d been there. He’d helped calm me. Helped keep me breathing so that I could answer the questions.

He stopped beside me and reached for my wrist. “I’ll take care of this.” He quickly ripped off the piece of mechanical tape, and I hissed. An angry red welt rose on my skin. He gently ran his thumb over it.

He wasn’t saying anything, and I hadn’t known him long, but I knew the caress was the only apology he could give me. He was going to take care of this. I hoped that meant what I thought it did. That he was going to somehow get me out of here. But if he could’ve gotten me out, wouldn’t he have done it already?

My heart hammered at the apology on his face as he dropped my hand and exited the tiny room in a few quick strides, slamming the door behind him.

I stared at the door for a second, wondering what I was going to do. What was happening? How I could get out of this mess I was in?

“All right. Let’s get started.” Jim’s voice startled me. I’d almost forgotten he was here.

I glanced at him but felt completely lost. I didn’t know what to say.

He looked quickly to the cameras and then back to me. “They might’ve turned off the audio, but I wouldn’t doubt that they’re reading our lips, so the whole not listening to us thing is out the window.”

I pressed my fist against my stomach, trying to calm my nerves bubbling and brewing inside me. “I figured as much.”

“So I’m not going to say much other than that you’re screwed.”

I almost laughed. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“I wish I could, but…” He pointed to the cameras again. “Here’s where a lot of trust is going to come into play.”

“I don’t trust a lot of people.” And I hadn’t gotten that click with this guy. I didn’t know him, and I wasn’t sure I could put my life in his hands.

“I can understand that, but those you do trust sent me. I’m very good at my job, but there’s not much I’m going to be able to do to help you.”