“That’s not it at all! Look, I’m not trying to blackmail you or anything. I just…ugh.” Wes scrubbed both hands through his hair. “Bloody hell, I don’t want a fight. I’m on your side, okay? Let me start from the beginning. Can I do that, without you blowing my head off?”

I shrugged. Maybe I was being paranoid, but again, hell of a week. “No promises,” I growled. “Get on with it.”

“Right,” Wes muttered, and took a deep breath. I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms, and waited.

“I’ve been in Talon nearly five years,” the human began, eyeing me warily. “Before that, I lived in London, with my folks. I didn’t have any siblings, and both my parents worked long shifts, so I was alone most of the time.”

“What does this have to do with Talon?”

“I’m getting there, mate.” Wes paused to gather his thoughts before continuing. “Like I said, my folks were absent most of the time. They didn’t know what I did. They weren’t aware that I was an…um…anonymous independent computer specialist.”

“You were a hacker,” I said.

“And a bloody good one, too. Still am.” Wes looked faintly smug, then his eyes darkened. “Of course, that’s what got me into this mess. I was home alone one day, minding my own business, when there was a knock at the door. I opened it, and two uniformed policemen were standing there on the stoop. Said I was under arrest, and that I already knew why they were taking me in. I was terrified. I was fourteen, alone and being dragged from my home in handcuffs.” He smiled grimly, completely without humor. “Of course, it wasn’t the police. It wasn’t anyone in law enforcement. But you already know that, don’t you?”

It was my turn to sigh. “Talon.”

“Bloody Talon,” Wes repeated. “Though I didn’t know that at the time. They took me to a room, sat me in front of a computer and said that if I didn’t do what they wanted, not only would they expose me, they would ruin my family, as well.” Wes shook his head. “I was a stupid bloody teenager. I believed them. So I did what I was told. For three years, I worked for Talon, wondering about my parents, wondering when the organization would let me go home. And you know what I finally realized?”

“They wouldn’t,” I muttered.

Wes nodded slowly. “When I was sixteen, I attended my first meeting with Adam Roth. They brought me into a secure room, no windows, no other humans around. And they showed me Talon’s secret. They showed me who I was working for.” Wes gave a short, bitter laugh. “A gift, they said. A reward for my brilliant service and talents. Bloody bastards. I realized then they would never let me go. I was in for life.”