He nodded, absorbing.“Should’ve told me.”
“Would you have inked me?”Her voice sharpened.
“Not about that.”His jaw twitched.“People hide what they think’ll change things.”
Her foster sister had, pulling away after a seizure.“They do,” Keisha said, bottle crinkling in her grip.“Everyone who knows watches, waiting for me to break.”
Sergei stayed silent, eyes unflinching.“Do you take medication?”
“Yes.I always keep an emergency dose in my bag.”She patted it.
“Good.”He cleaned the needle, methodical.“Anything else?”
The simplicity undid her.“No.That’s it.”
Silence settled, heavy but not strained.His acceptance, no pity, no distance shook her.Tiana’s photo in the mirror—younger, smiling—challenged her.Trust Sergei, save her.
“You don’t ask much,” she said.
“I’m not most people.”His eyes held hers, serious.
No, he wasn’t.From that first moment—tattooed arms, shielding her—she’d known.“Will it mess up finishing?”she asked, nodding at her arm.
“Depends.”He set down the parts.“If you’re stable.If you trust me to stop when you’re not.”
“I told you because I do,” she admitted, heat lingering.
His eyes flickered, full of respect.“We’ll finish when you’re ready.”
Her tremor eased, relief or trust.“Thanks,” she murmured.“For not making it a thing.”
“Scars are scars, Keisha.”His mouth quirked.“Some just show.”
He finished the rest of the tattoo in silence.She watched as he cleaned the tattoo before placing a protective covering on it.
Then his phone buzzed on the table.Sergei grabbed it, jaw clenching.“Tiana,” he said, reading.“Kryvaya Stal enforcers took her from the community center.Hour ago.”
Her heartbeat increased.Tiana’s socks flashed, defiant.“No.She was safe.Jalisa—”
“Jalisa’s in the hospital.Concussion.Tried to stop them.”Sergei typed, thumbs quick.“My contact ateo saw Mikalai’s car, Calle Ocho warehouse.”
Jalisa—Mrs.Rossi, Coastal’s broker, caught in her scam.Keisha’s mind flicked to Amara—another insider?“We go now.”
“You’re shaking.”Sergei nodded at her hand.“Sit, Keisha.”
“I’m fine, Sergei.We can’t wait.”
There are four enforcers inside,” he said.“We need a plan.”
“Tiana’s my responsibility.”
“Mine too.”He stepped closer.“We do this smart, or she’ll pay the price.”
“Your plan,” she said, pride stinging.“How do we get her?”
“Mateo’s tracking her.”Sergei typed.“Nadia’s bringing weapons.We need one hour.”
“That’s too long.”Keisha grabbed her bag, fingers clumsy.“They sell kids like her.”
