“Yes.”
Katia faces me again, and there’s a furrow between her brows. “No one should willingly choose this life, Princess. Maybe you’re not as smart as I thought.”
I study the assassin before me, and with a start, I realize what she’s trying to tell me.
Katia isn’t jealous of me because I’m with Mason, or at least that’s not the only reason.
She’s annoyed because I can walk away from all this, and I’m choosing to stay.
Suddenly, I find myself wondering about the deadly woman in front of me and the kind of life she’s had thrust upon her.
“No one ever asked you if you wanted this life, did they?”
Katia’s expression darkens. “A Patrova is meant to serve. Our opinions don’t matter.”
“They should.” A surge of pity rises within me. “You deserve to have a say in your life.”
Katia’s eyes narrow. “And yet, it seems that even with options, some people continue to make the wrong decisions by falling for the wrong people.”
“Katia—”
The door to the basement flies open, and Katia jumps to attention between me and the threat. I glance over her shoulder at the dark-haired man with bright eyes and a frown.
“It’s good to see you, Katia.”
She stiffens. “I can’t say the same for you.”
The man’s gaze moves to me, lingering a bit too long for my comfort. “You must be the famous London I’ve heard so much about.”
“Who are you?”
“I can see Mason hasn’t bothered with the family tree. I’m Oliver Payne.”
Fuck.
If Mason’s younger brother is here, things have gotten much, much worse.
Chapter Eleven
Mason
I slam my hands against the desk hard enough to make it rattle. “We’re not done discussing this.”
Jack glances up from his chair by the fireplace and eyes me over the rim of the glass. “Throwing a tantrum is beneath a Payne. Surely, you have better things to do.”
I curl my hands into fists and step out from behind the desk. “We had a deal. Olivia and Oliver were supposed to stay out of this.”
And with everything else happening, I don’t have time or patience to wonder about what new game my father is playing.
I have no idea what the Fitzpatricks and Everetts hoped to gain with their little demonstration at the club last night, but I do know that it’s pissed me off.
Even more so because we can’t seem to find out who fired the shot.
At least no one is dead. A few injured employees is nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Having to spend all morning in my study, pouring over the evidence has left me in a bad mood.
I should be out there looking for the little shit myself.
