[ her brow furrows slightly, at his response. an improvement, obviously, over what he had been saying over the last two days. the mention of her family causes what feels like cold fingers to curl around her heart; her father and mother, who probably think she is long since dead. or worse.

but he is still hiding something. inej is fairly certain she knows what it is, the unbelievable emotionally inept moron not wanting to string the two obvious points together, for what? fear? his stupid image falling apart? ]

'Per Haskell runs the Dregs.'

[ it's said quietly, but there is still a cold edge to her tone, as she stares at him, an arm still looped around her middle, her other hand finding the bed so she can have an additional point of stability to hold herself up. ]

Do you know how often I held my breath, whenever some vile monster rented me for the evening, wishing they would just not speak? I had a plan to jump off the roof, rather than be taken and bound to some disgusting man who couldn't keep his hands to himself.

[ saints, she feels tired. but for once, she wants to keep talking, because if kaz brekker was going to deny her honesty, then she certainly wasn't going to deny herself the same. ]

And then you showed up. And you said it. And I thought that maybe I would have the ounce of kindness that I was owed. And I have said nothing because if someone was going to love me, they were going to do so free of obligation. And you told me I was nothing more than an investment.

[ the word catches in her throat, and she draws in a shuddered breath before sinking down to sit on the floor, to rest her back against the bed, closing her eyes to focus on taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

now her side and her head hurt. ]

Just go.

[ she murmurs, aggravated as she tugs her shirt up a bit to look at her bandages, to ensure they haven't bled through. ]

I have been humiliated enough by Oomen to suffer through it twice with you.