“Rurik broke it.”
“Does he know?”
“He suspects.”
Levka ran a hand through his hair. If they left now, how far could they get? “Has he hurt you?”
“Just the normal amount,” she whispered with a shrug.
“Look at me.”
Her eyes kept on the floor, and she avoided him even as he stepped closer. Luerna couldn’t take his love right now. It would only waste its way back inside her, and she couldn’t let it. Rurik was more powerful. He had dominion over her and her children. There was no escape. Levka gripped her chin, but she pulled his hand away, feeling the tears already surfacing.
“Luerna, what?”
Swallowing harshly, she folded her arms over her chest, and with a heavy, tight breath, Luerna told him blankly, “He wants another baby.”
Levka’s expression nearly broke her, and she bowed her head. He clenched his teeth, a fist tapping against the wall. “He’s…” The idea of Rurik raping her smacked into him like a semi, and he almost lost his balance. The wave of nausea drowned him, and for several moments, he couldn’t speak, trying to keep the illness at bay. This was worse than ever before. This wasn’t bearable. And he couldn’t let her go through it again. They would have to leave.
Now.
Today.
He nodded, finding that conclusion the only viable outcome.
Until she said, “This is over. I can’t do this anymore.” Luerna stepped around him, but Levka stood in her path.
“Let’s go right now.”
She scoffed with a bitter laugh. “You’re insane. He’ll kill you.”
“He won’t do shit in the middle of church. You can take all your kids–”
“That kind of embarrassment–”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“This isn’t just my life, Levka. My children don’t deserve to be put in that kind of situation. How far would we get, huh? He has police on his side. He’ll find us. And if not him, then my father. This was a stupid game we were playing. And we’ve lost.”
Levka knit his brows. “It’s not a game to me. I’m in love with you, Luerna. You don’t know what I can do. Let me-”
“No!” She backed away, pissed at him. “You’re so naive. Rurik will destroy us.”
“Would you stop?” Levka snapped. “You are constantly full of excuses. You either want to be with me, or you don’t.”
“I do–”
“Then fight for me!”
“I’m trying. But Rurik–”
“I’ll protect you.”
“You can’t–”
Levka pounded his fist on the door. “Don’t you fucking dare think I can’t protect you. Yes, it’s going to be dangerous. Yes, it’s going to be scary. But hell, Luerna, I can’t keep going on like this. I have spent so much time thinking of what that fuck does to you that it is consuming me. I’m done sitting back. You will leave him, Luerna. You will fucking leave him.” Levka went for the door.
“Or what?”
