I lean back, closing my eyes, trying to push down the overwhelming emotions.
Not now. I can’t break now.
Dhimitër’s sharp inhale has me opening my eyes. “He wouldn’t hurt his own sister.” But he looks a little hesitant as he says it.
I don’t reply to that. “You know how I got this?” I ask instead. “Katie.”
“She went snooping around and found it,” he guesses correctly, then jumps to his feet. “You should have her thrown into thefrigorifer.Or better yet, the dungeon, for violating?—”
“She brought it tome,” I tell him firmly, reminding him that this was my plan all along. Move her into my house, turn her into my mole. Play the ultimate reverse card on the fucker who thought they could infiltrate my estate. But jokes on me,because she got so far under my fucking skin I can’t remember what life felt like before her.
Dhimitër’s eyes widen with sudden understanding. “She gave it to you willingly,” he repeats, sinking back into his chair. “You were right then. Torturing or threatening her might not have made her spill her secrets. But sex, making her feel important, valued...” He nods to himself, working through the logic. “Is she under your control now?”
Not precisely.
“Yes.” I tug at my collar, suddenly feeling like it’s choking me. My eyes wander to the door—and I freeze. It’s slightly ajar. And standing there, framed in the gap, is none other than Katie. My heart lurches into my throat at the paleness of her face. Did she hear?
“Katie,” I start, not even sure what I want to say.
Her eyes are as cold as glaciers as she steps inside. “You’re right, Dhimitër. Fabian wouldn’t hurt his own sister intentionally. The person he actually wanted dead was Afrim. But there was some sort of mistake and Hana got killed instead.”
She heard.
Fuck.
“What are you doing eavesdropping on private conversations?” Dhimitër demands, tossing a glance at me, but my whole attention is fixed on the woman who seems determined to ignore my existence. “You were told to leave.”
“I came back because I don’t want you guys making plans that involve me and my sister behind my back. I want in.”
“Katina…” I try.
She spares me the briefest glance. “It’s okay, Roan. You played the long game, won my trust. It worked out in the end, didn’t it? I don’t care as long as my sister is safe. And shewillbe, if we work together.”
My throat tightens painfully. I should be glad she’s only freezing me out emotionally and still willing to cooperate. Sowhy does breathing hurt so much? Why do my lungs burn and my heart ache as I look at her like this—closed off, distant?
“So, what’s the plan?” she asks, positioning herself next to Dhimitër’s chair.
“The plan?” he interjects before I can respond. “The plan is you get out of this office, go back to your room, and wait patiently like a good girl while we handle things. We don’t need you involved.”
She scoffs. “You don’t need me? That’s rich. You wouldn’t even have that ledger if not for me. Hell, if I’d decided to take it straight to Fabian along with the blueprint of this estate, he could have you all slaughtered in your sleep. So excuse me if I’m not willing to leave my fate—and my sister’s fate—in your incompetent hands.”
Dhimitër surges to his feet, his expression murderous. “You little bitch, you think?—”
“Enough!” I grit out, done with their petty bickering. My head is fucking pounding, pressure crushing my ribs, and I can’t think straight through the noise. I rub a hand over my tight chest as I look at Katie. “If you’re joining us, Katina, you’ll do everything I tell you to do.Everything.No exceptions.I say jump, you ask how high. Can you do that?”
“Roan, no. She’ll only complicate things.”
“As long as my sister can be safely extracted from your evil uncle’s grasp,” she replies, putting her own condition on her obedience. “And I want to personally say hi to Fabian. He owes me a few things.” Her expression turns vicious.
“Absolutely not. We’re doing this my way. You don’t interact with Fabian at all. You don’t even get within sight of him. That’s non-negotiable.” I keep my gaze locked on hers so she understands I mean it. She glares at me with pure fire, but she doesn't argue. Some of the tension finally bleeds out of my shoulders.
“You can’t seriously be considering working together withher, can you? Is this another trick?” Dhimitër asks in frustrated Albanian.
“Let it be, Dhimitër,” I reply in English, making sure Katie understands I’m not hiding anything from her now.
“So, the plan?” she repeats with strained patience as she perches on the last available armchair in the office.
I draw a breath and line my thoughts up. “Kayla is being held in an abbey on Long Island—one Fabian’s been funneling money into for years. He practically saved the place from going under, so chances are the monks and nuns there are quite loyal to him. Or at the very least, afraid to cross him. Which means they probably won’t release your sister unless Fabian gives the order himself.” I watch her closely as I continue. “So this is the plan. You’ll go to the abbey to get Kayla out. While you’re doing that, I’ll confront Fabian.”
