His forehead creased, and a slight irritation crossed his face. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
“My father,” I said. “Don’t play your games with me, Viktor. Do you really expect me to believe you had nothing to do with it? Tell me the truth.”
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “If I wanted your father dead, Emilia, he would be dead. My goodness, if I wanted anyone dead, they'd be dead.”
His response made me clench my hands into a fist until I pricked my palms. “You’re lying. You control everything here. You make a decree, and thousands of your men obey. Don’t tell me he vanished without your hand in it.”
His eyes narrowed. “Sometimes I wonder what you think of Emilia. With all the debt your father owes me, do you really think that I'd murder him? Why would you think I orchestrated this?”
“Why won't I? That's how you got me into this mess in the first place.”
He sighed.
“You might not trust me, but I swear I didn't do it.”
“If you didn't do it, who did?”
“Emilia, if I wanted him dead, he’d be dead by now.”
I stifled a laugh, and he looked at me calmly. “Do you still expect me to believe this bullshit?”
Silence ensued, and Viktor didn’t flinch or look away. Goodness me, I hate him. I hated him so much I felt like choking him, but that would only make matters worse.
“I don’t belong here,” I said finally. “I never did. And now you’ve taken captive the only man alive that I can call my family.”
Viktor stood from his chair and walked towards me, stopping in front of me.
“You think too small,” he said in a low tone. “I didn’t take your father. But I won’t deny his disappearance benefits me in many ways you can't fathom. You can call me the black sheep, you can paint me as the villain, but I'm not going to accept an evil I have no hand in.”
“So you admit it,” I said. “You profit from his suffering when you know that this affects me. I thought you cared about me?”
“Yes, Emilia. I admit that I care about you, and I also admit that your grief binds you closer to me, even as you fight it. But don’t confuse that with guilt. I didn’t order his abduction. Believe me. I can't waste my precious time proving a crime I didn't commit."
I felt the trickle of tears pass the sides of my cheeks. “You’re a monster,” I said, although I didn't know when I said it.
“And yet you’re still here,” he said.
“Tell your men to let me go, and I'll walk out without any trace of regret. Unless I'm nothing more than a prisoner to you.”
His jaw tightened. “Don’t lie to me, Emilia. You don’t want to admit it, but you know the truth. You despise me, and still you come to me for answers. Still, you let me hold you and touch you, and do what I want to you. It's because you like it.”
It was true, but I knew he couldn't take the win. “Why did you kidnap my father?”
“I didn't do it.”
“Then find him,” I said. “If you didn't do it, I dare you to find him and bring him back alive.”
Viktor breathed out in what seemed to be defeat. “I’m afraid that you might not like the outcome.”
“Why?”
“Because we don't know who we're up against.” His face relaxed while he lifted his hand to touch my face.
“You think I don’t understand?” he murmured. “You think I’ve never had to bear with loss? I know what you feel, Emilia. More than you realize.”
I stared at him, and at an instant, I imagined how I'd fall into his arms. “Then why won’t you help me?”
“I am helping you out, Emilia. So far, I've prioritised keeping you alive and hidden. I'm going to do my best, and if they can’t trade you for him, he has more time.”
