“I know.”
Katia releases my hand, and I let it fall to my side. “Seems like we’ve rubbed off on you after all.”
I shrug.
A muscle ticks in Katia’s jaw as she turns away from me. A heartbeat later, she whips a phone out of her jacket and presses it to her ear. A low pounding starts in my ears as I inch away from her and rub my wrist. She speaks in a guttural language I can’t place. I study her face and wait.
Have I overplayed my hand?
The next few minutes are agonizingly slow.
I almost want Katia to put me out of misery, and the longer she takes, the more convinced I become that she will drag me back upstairs. While I hate being locked away, I’m not ridiculous enough to think that convincing Katia will be easy.
Not when trouble has a habit of finding me.
How can she focus on helping Mason if she has to stop me?
You should just let her go. She’ll be more useful to Mason if she doesn’t have to worry about you.
Except I know she won’t be of any use to Noah.
And although a trickle of guilt is building inside of me, I know I need to be careful because Mason will never understand.
Regardless of how I act, there will be consequences.
But for the first time in months, I’m tired of sitting around and waiting for a better option to fall into my lap. Noah might no longer be in my life, but that doesn’t mean I can turn my back on all our history, laughter, tears, and all the times he’s been there for me.
You were going to build a future together, remember? You can’t just stand aside and do nothing.
Even when I know Mason will turn his wrath on me.
Just as I’m about to venture further into the secret exit and take my chances, Katia hangs up and swivels to face me. Wordlessly, she reaches out and binds my hands. My eyes widen as I look at the restraints. Katia steps in front of me and tugs me after her.
Fear and uncertainty rise within me.
Have I pushed her too far?
The passageway is barely lit, forcing Katia to stop every so often and glance at me. I focus on quieting my breathing and placing one foot in front of the other. The damp, moldy smell fills my nostrils, making me want to gag until I spot a beam of light ahead. I stumble, but Katia hoists me up before I fall. Myforehead is drenched in sweat as we stop in front of another door.
She pulls another lever, and the door creaks open.
Mason’s right-hand man is waiting for us on the other side, with a gun in his hand that he’s examining intently. Every inch of me grows cold as I stand there and wonder if our mission is over before it’s begun.
Has someone betrayed Katia?
“You know this is a bad idea.”
“I can handle whatever punishment he comes up with,” Katia replies tightly. “We both know that none of this is like him. He needs people out there who know better. Who are loyal to him.”
“You’re taking a big risk,” he says.
“So are you.”
He sheathes the gun. “I was never here. You, on the other hand, are walking right into trouble.”
Katia presses her mouth into a thin line.
“Taking her with you will only make things worse,” he adds. “Sure you want to do that?”
