Dmitri went completely still. That was more terrifying than if he’d lashed out with anger. He was like a panther that could pounce at any moment, and then slowly gnaw on your bones.
“What did you say?” His expression was controlled, devoid of any hints of what he was thinking.
“Nothing he could use against you.”
“What did you tell him?” Dmitri’s voice was unreadable, but the demand was clear.
“Both times-”
“You met him more than once.” Anger seeped into his voice, and my heart thudded. “And you didn’ttell me.”
“I thought I had it under control! I was careful to only reveal things that couldn’t hurt you.”
Dmitri swiped his hand across his face. It was like a panther violently slashing with his paw. “You’ve been staying in myhouse, spying on me for God knows how long, and you didn’t think to tell me becauseyou had it under control.”
“I protected you!” I said, jumping to my feet. “I could’ve told the Pakhan a million little things he could’ve used against you, and I didn’t! He was pissed when he left. The Pakhan told me if I’m unable to help him, he’d find someone else who will.”
My voice rose, fear slamming against my insides. “You think it’s a coincidence he says that, and then a half hour later Natalya’s coming to kill me? I could’ve died protecting you. Don’t you dare accuse me of betraying you!”
“You should’ve come to me,” Dmitri said through gritted teeth.
I threw my hands up. “Why? So you could throw me out, because you think I’m spying on you.”
A dark laugh rumbled out of him, surprising me.
“You think I’m throwing you out?” A humorless smile appeared on his lips. “You have no idea what I have planned for you.”
Confusion swirled in my mind, but light filtered in through the haze. Warmth softly spread through my veins at the hope that I didn’t have to leave.
“What do you mean?”
Dmitri stood up, and grasped my jaw firmly.
“Alisa, you should’ve come to me. You’re playing a game you don’t understand the rules of, and if you misstep again, I might not be able to save you.”
“You don’t think I know the rules? I just have to keep following the Pakhan’s orders in this never-ending competition.”
“It’sending.”
The breath rushed out of me. The competition was ending? Was I finally going to be free of this nightmare?
My building excitement tapered off when I noticed the grim expression on Dmitri’s face.
“That’s a good thing, right?” I said, frowning at the dark look in his eyes.
“No, Alisa. Everything is about to get more dangerous.”
Chapter fifty
Alisa
More dangerous?
The competition was ending?
Dmitri picked up his vibrating phone as I tried to swallow his words. A low curse sprang from his lips, and my heart rate started pounding.
“What is it?” I said, disentangling from my whipping thoughts about the competition.
