“Just say it. I don’t have the bandwidth to try and interpret what you’re thinking right now.” I think I already know what’s floating around in his head. If our positions were reversed, it’d be what was on my mind.
He sighs. “It’s not exactly the right time. And I doubt that you want to hear what I have to say.”
“Tell me anyway.”
He hesitates, then with a sigh, he goes, “Do you really want us to rescue Ember as well? After what she’s done? It would be nothing to leave her to Sergei.”
I can’t explain the emotion that comes over me. Anger? Righteousness, perhaps? I don’t know. I don’t even know if I’m insulted at his query. He’s totally right to ask, after all.
When I don’t respond, he says, “Sorry, Brother. But I had to ask?—”
“No, no. It’s fine. After all, it’s not unreasonable to ask what to do if you do find Ember.”
“Might be a good idea to know ahead of time, yes.”
I think about those last moments we were together. I’d told her that I loved her. I hadn’t even done it to appease her. It was what I felt. What I have been feeling. And ultimately, it was the reason I wanted her to leave instead of having to dole out the punishment that I would normally give akrysa.
Maybe it was more than that. I’m no fool. Whether she was the mole or not, she could still go right back to the Feds and sell me out. She could do it out of pain or spite or just for the common fucking good. That’s why we don’t let them live. That’s why snitches always pay for running their mouths.
I let her go because I knew that I didn’t have it in me to kill her. I could never give that order. I’m as wrapped up in her as she was in me.
I also can’t stand the thought of someone else killing her.
“Just bring them back here,” is all I tell Ares. “Alive and unharmed. I’ll decide what to do with her then. Is that clear?”
“Crystal.”
My phone buzzes. I pull it out of my pocket and freeze. Unknown number.
“What is it?” Ares asks. I glance at him, then I answer the call.
“Hello?”
“Well. Hello, Roman. It’s been a long time.”
I don’t need anything at all to tell me who it is. Smug bastard.
“Sergei, I presume,” I say glancing at Ares. “We were just discussing you.”
“I knew my ears were burning. All good things, I hope.”
“No such luck. I was just discussing with my enforcer what parts of your body I wanted chopped off and fed to a pack of angry pigs.”
“Ooh, violent. I don’t know how wise it is for you to upset me given I’ve got a gun to your pretty little girl’s head.”
My stomach drops. I don’t even want to picture a gun to Sasha’s head. “If you hurt either of them, I will kill you.”
He scoffs. “Oh, don’t get so bent out of shape. They’re fine. For now, anyway.”
“What do you want?”
“You. Alone and unarmed. We can meet after dark and settle all this once and for all. Let’s say around your warehouse. We can settle our unfinished business there as well. Are you game?”
I’m grinding my teeth. Walking into his trap unarmed and alone is thelastthing I want to do. But, by God, if he hurts them…
“You got it,” I tell him.
“Don’t be late.”
