“Without me here, you have a chance at winning him back. All you have to do is look the other way while I sneak out.”
Katia’s eyebrows draw together. “He gave you a chance to leave, and you didn’t, and now that he’s stuck out his neck and risked everything else he’s worked hard for you want to leave?”
“I just want to check on my family.”
Katia’s expression is hard and resolute. “That’s not an option.”
“I’m not asking,” I tell her through gritted teeth. “You can either get out of my way or tackle me. Either way, I’m going.”
Katia makes a sweeping hand gesture.
My heart is in my throat as I take one step forward and then another. When I’m far enough away to breathe a sigh of relief, I tell myself that I’m doing the right thing. Although the last thing I want is to cause more trouble for Mason, I can’t sit around and let the guilt eat away at me.
I have to see my dad.
I need to do something.
I round the corner to find Katia by my side. Wordlessly, she stands in front of me, an intimidating figure in her dark ensemble. I give her an incredulous look and try to sidestep her, but she throws out an arm. Frowning, I shove it away, but it comes right back, and she pushes me backward.
I stumble and scowl. “What the hell? I thought we had an agreement.”
“I am not going to betray Mason.” Katia lifts her chin. “I owe him so much more than my life. He asked me to keep you safe, and if I have to do it against your will, I won’t hesitate.”
“I can sneak back in before anyone knows I’m gone.”
Katia snorts and doesn’t release her grip on my arm.
I try to pry off her fingers, but she’s got a vise-like grip.
I struggle in earnest. Katia doesn’t break a sweat when I throw both arms around her and try to pull her to the ground. Then, she abruptly releases me, and I fall onto my back, staring up at her in a daze. A moment later, I push myself up to my feet, but Katia has me flat on my back again, and spots break out in my vision.
“I thought you were supposed to keep me safe.” I pant and give her a withering look. “Let me go, Katia. I have to check on my family. It’s not like you care. You’d be doing yourself a favor.”
“Your family is fine,” Katia says. “You, on the other hand, have a habit of getting yourself in trouble, and if the look on your face is anything to go by, you’ll thank me later.”
“I doubt that.” I gingerly get back to my feet.
After Katia knocks me down a third time, I use the back of my hand to wipe the sweat from my face and launch myself at her middle. Her mouth forms a surprised O, and her slow blink gives me a surge of satisfaction as we fall to the floor with a thud.
Adrenaline rushes through me as we roll on the carpet until I get the upper hand.
Katia shifts, and my punch lands on her side, sending a sharp pain up my arm.
Red-hot anger pumps through me as she throws me off, and I stumble to my feet.
Without warning, she kicks my feet out from under me and climbs on top of me. Then, she pins my arms behind my back, so I’m left staring at the wall and breathing through my mouth.
“Stop fighting me.” Katia’s voice is laced with a warning. “I told Mason I’d keep you safe, but even I have my limits.”
I stop struggling. “Go ahead, then. Give it your best shot.”
Katia releases me and dusts herself off. “I don’t think so.”
My eyes widen in disbelief as I watch her turn her back on me and leave. Several moments pass before I storm back to the room in defeat. A short while later, there’s a knock, and I wrench the door open, an angry retort on my lips, only to find a silver tray of food. After a quick glance around the hallway, I take it in and leave it on the table in the middle of the room. Then I wander over to the window and peek through the curtains at the smattering of clouds gathering on the horizon.
What have I gotten myself into?
I’m still turning the idea over in my head when the door opens, and Mason is there, wearing a button-down shirt and a pressed pair of pants, with his hair disheveled. He glances from the uneaten plate of food to me and back again before strolling into the room.
