I scoffed.
The sound was sharp. Bitter.
It echoed off the concrete walls of the bunker like a dismissal.
“You?” I tilted my head slowly.
Disbelief dripped from every syllable.
“You take pleasure in hurting me.”
My gaze locked onto his. “You built a career around it.”
His jaw tightened — muscles flexing under the faint bruising still visible along his skin.
“What do you meanyou won’t let anyone harm me?”
I stepped closer.
“Stop pretending you have even an ounce of humanity left. It doesn’t suit you. It never did.”
My voice lowered — colder now.
“If I agree to be part of this operation, it’s because I want to see my sister again.”
Not him. Not power.
Not revenge for what my father did to my mother and brother.
“My father murdered his wife and son. He abandoned me at fifteen. He let his lawyer throw me out like I was disposable trash.”
Each memory hit like a strike. “But I am not standing here because I want revenge.”
I pointed at him.
“And I am definitely not here because I trust you.”
My lips curved — not in amusement, but in certainty.
“I will never trust you.”
The words landed.
Final.
Ruslan’s jaw flexed once.
I saw something flicker in his eyes — frustration maybe.
Or pain.
“The hatred in your eyes, Elena...”
His gaze studied me carefully — like I was something broken he couldn’t stop analyzing.
“The need for revenge. The wish to see me buried six feet under...”
His voice softened — almost reflective.
