I slapped Aimes. Hard. Hard enough to whip his head to the side. But not nearly as hard as I wanted to.

What on earth had he gotten me involved with?

Everyone in the room was now staring at me.

"Please go up there," Aimes said as he turned his head back to me, seeming unfazed by my hit. "For me."

"I don't owe you shit."

"Please," he whispered. "It will be so much worse for you if you don't."

"Wow, okay," I hissed. "So you're threatening me ...