Viktor huffed out a laugh, the sound cutting through the tension. “You don’t flinch, do you?”
“Not for free,” I quipped.
That did it. For the first time, his laughter was unexpectedly genuine. “I like you,” he said finally, flicking his cigarette intothe sand. “Fine. Let’s give the man his proof of life before we all die of boredom.”
He turned, raising his hand in a casual gesture. “Grigor, fetch our guests. And be polite this time, yeah?”
Grigor and a few of his men peeled away into the maze of containers, leaving Viktor standing in the open between me and Katya, grin returning like it had never left.
“Happy now, Markov?” he asked.
“Not even close,” I said.
“Perfect,” he murmured, lighting another cigarette.
CHAPTER 19
Kara
This was fucking stupid.
I was still only wearing the swimsuit I’d grabbed from the yacht. Somewhere in the swim, I’d lost the thin silk robe I’d been wearing when I’d jumped in the water. It made my skin crawl to be so exposed to the men holding us. The rope binding my wrists and my ankles had rubbed my skin raw. Every time I moved, it bit deeper.
I’d barely escaped ARCHEON’s chokehold, a decision that had felt, in that all-too-brief moment, like freedom. I’d chosen the Markovs, chosen to follow instinct instead of orders for once in my life. I’d thought it was the smart play, or maybe just the right one, but apparently, the universe didn’t reward sentimentality. A few hours later, here I was, tied to a chair, held captive by a different set of criminals.
My luck sucked.
Dmitri sat across from me, his posture somehow still perfect, even with his hands tied behind the chair. His expression hadn’t changed since they’d dragged us in here. Somehow, he looked like he was still calmly assessing the situation. Typical.
“Stop thinking,” I muttered. My voice came out a bit more roughly than I had intended.
He looked up, one eyebrow barely lifting. “I wasn’t aware you could read my thoughts.”
“I can,” I said. “They’re loud.”
That earned me the faintest ghost of a smile. “Then you know I’m working on it.”
“Working on what?”
He nodded toward his wrists. “This knot. They tied it fast and tight, but lazy.”
I shifted in my chair, trying to ignore the way the ropes scratched at my wrists. “You think you can get free?”
“I’ve certainly done more challenging things than untying a knot.” His tone indicated his confidence.
The only light came from the narrow window above and behind him. Outside, I could see the faint outline of a crane and the shimmering lights of the city beyond. The sight should have been comforting, but it wasn’t. The world looked close enough to touch and completely unreachable at the same time.
“They’ll be back soon,” I said. “You’re wasting time.”
“I don’t waste anything.” His hands flexed behind the chair again, the soft scrape of rope on rope letting me know he was hard at it. “Keep talking.”
“About what?”
“Anything. Distraction helps.”
I exhaled, my nerves too frayed for conversation, but the silence was worse. “You shouldn’t have come after me,” I said.
“Maybe not.” He glanced up, his expression unreadable. “But it’s what I do.”
