I lost my cool, and I scared them off. That’s something I would never do before…before Alina.
Maximo and Enzo walk out of the room, and I just stare at the empty table.
“I’ll try to change their minds,” Matvei tells me before hurrying after them.
It’s no use, but I can’t find my voice to tell him. We need the Italians to replace what we lost and strengthen attacks with more men and equipment, and I just detonated that deal.
I scrub my palms over my face, anger rattling through my body as Alina and Dominik flash through my mind. They’re two stories below me, and I still couldn’t get them out of my head enough to focus on the meeting.
Bringing Alina into my house was a mistake. She’s poison to my mind.
I keep choosing her anyway because I don’t think I can bring myself to send her away.
And that might be what finally destroys me.
28
Alina
Dominik continuedto hold me despite my betrayal, but his grip wasn’t the same. It was still tight, protective… just not as gentle.
Saying goodbye to him was getting harder every time. I never know how long it’s going to be until I can see him again.
And I hate that Gavriil decides when I get that mercy.
It’s probably not even mercy, though. It’s a plan that I can’t see.
“Be careful,” Dominik whispers in my ear as we embrace one final time. “He’s more dangerous when he doesn’t have control.”
And we want him out of control. Dominik is depending on me making Gavriil break.
I nod my agreement as I brush my fingers through his hair, my eyes closing to hold the moment in my heart for as long as possible. Our freedom may be limited in this cell, but the closer I get to Gavriil, the more dangerous things become. And the less I trust myself. But that’s exactly where Dom wants me to be.
“I’ll see you soon,” I tell him with hope in my voice.
We were together for almost twelve hours this time, and I’m glad that we had more time to talk and reconnect. So much weight dropped from my shoulders when he forgave me, and I don’t want to do anything else to jeopardize our relationship.
“Soon.”
“Come on,” Valentin says impatiently from the doorway of the cell.
Flipping him off crosses my mind, and I could probably get away with it, but the last thing that I need to do right now is draw attention to myself. Silence and subtlety are my best weapons if I want to outsmart Gavriil from here on out.
Regardless of his sacrifice for Dominik years ago, he’s still an asshole.
“I love you,” I tell Dominik as we break away from each other, our fingers grazing.
Dominik’s smile wavers as we lose contact with each other. “I love you.”
Without a fight, I walk out of the cell and up the stairs, hearing Valentin follow me closely. I guess I’ve behaved well enough for Gavriil and his guards to drop their guard a little. No more handcuffs.
My eyes sweep around the interior of the large house as I take the stairs that wind their way up to the second floor. A few guards stride across the foyer toward the front door like they have somewhere important to be, sheathed knives and handguns fastened to their belts. They speak to each other quickly in Russian. I may not be able to understand the words they’re saying, but I have a feeling that they’re stressed about something.
I suppose I’ll find out during the next meeting that Gavriil allows me to sit in.
Once I reach the bedroom, I expect to be put in the cage, but Valentin shuts the bedroom door behind me instead. My eyesnarrow in confusion as I start to turn around to try the handle, but a shadow catches my attention out of the corner of my eye.
“Enjoy your extended visit?”
