Free Compliance by Maureen McGowan Page A

His voice is strange.
    “Why would I know?”
    He frowns. “You actually thought Clay would be here?”
    “Of course I did. Clay’s my Extractor.”
    “Not anymore.”
    “That’s not fair.” I fight to calm my rising anger, to slow my thudding heart. “I’ve done a great job and I’m careful. Rolph can’t cut me off like this.” My voice holds a desperate tinge. “I need to save more Deviants.”
    “You
need
to?” He smirks. “This isn’t about you.”
    “I know.” I look down at the dusty floor and another possibility rises. Is Burn my new Extractor? When I first agreed to work for the FA, I hoped I’d work with Burn, and Itry to imagine what it will be like to work with him now, to see him a few times every week.
    Merely being in the same room, I remember how it felt to be engulfed in his strong arms, captured by his lips. But I know it’s not possible. When we act on our attraction, our Deviant abilities are too dangerous. If it happens again, one of us will end up dead.
    “Why are you here?” I step forward. “It’s dangerous for you inside Haven. You’re wanted for my kidnapping.”
    He grunts.
    I look down. “It’s good to see you.”
    He crosses his arms over his very broad chest. “What?”
    His tone is like a punch. Maybe he’s seen me with Cal. But where and when? At least my desire to kiss him is waning. “Why are you acting so cold?”
    “Cold?” he asks.
    “Like you barely know me.”
    “I
do
barely know you.” He shakes his head, the disgust in his voice unmistakable. “And it’s already more than I want to.” Each word’s like another stab. Looking at him now, I feel as if every connection between us has been severed, like there’s a wall, or a force, keeping us apart, and I’m not sure whether it stems from him or from me.
    I lift my chin, trying to keep my body from shaking. “Burn, stop pretending that I mean nothing to you, or never did. Stop pretending that we didn’t spend hours together out in the dust, that we weren’t attacked by Shredders, captured by sadistic military freaks. Stop pretending we never…” I can’t voice the last part. My cheeks flare.
    “Oh. That.” An ugly smile snakes onto his face. “I get it. You
like
me.”
    I remain still, shifting my jaw, but my head feels like it might explode. I need to ignore his taunts. Who cares why he’s acting this way as long as he gives me a new list of targets, as long as he works with me to save fellow Deviants.
    “Admit it. You’re into me.” He flares his coat and strikes a strong pose. “I can smell the teenage lust from here.”
    Hurt roils into anger. “Shut up.” I stomp my foot. “You’re being such a jerk.”
    “Sorry, little girl,” he says. “I’m done with you. I’ve moved on. Found a real woman.”
    “Don’t call me a little girl.” My words come out through gritted teeth, especially since that’s exactly how he’s made me feel.
    “But that’s what you are.” One side of his mouth crooks up and he struts around me, his face in a half-sneer. “A little girl, not qualified for this assignment. Not qualified or properly trained for the FA. I told the Commander he shouldn’t risk the lives of qualified soldiers—of anyone—on you.”
    My hands form fists and it’s all I can do not to use them. “Rolph
chose
me for this undercover mission. He
asked
me to do this.” Burn recommended me to him, but if I remind him, he’ll likely twist it some way to salt the emotional wounds he’s already slashed open. “This is my job. I’m good at it.”
    “Rolph was clearly desperate when he asked you,” he says. “Speaking of desperate—so was I.”
    “What?” My insides collapse. I can’t breathe. My mind flashes to the last moment I saw Burn, to his huge armswrapped around my body, holding me as if I were the most precious thing in the world.
    And now he says this?
    Clearly
I
was the one who was desperate. My throat’s nearly closed with regret and anger. When I