“You hurt people.”Her voice flattened.
“Yes.”No hiding it.
“You expect me to trust you?”Her hands shook.
“Just hear me out, Keisha.”He glanced at the teenager huddled against Keisha’s back.“They’re targeting you and Tiana tonight.Hate me later, but you need what I know.”
“Tell me,” she said, low.
“I joined at seventeen, after my parents died.”His tongue thickened.“For security when I...we...didn’t have any.Svetlana, my sister, was only fourteen.”
Her eyes searched for lies.
“I rose fast in the ranks.Did their bidding.Didn’t question.”Regret filled him.“Till they targeted a politician’s kid, thirteen.I refused.Tried to leave.”
Her jaw tightened.
“They don’t let you go.”His voice dropped.“They took Svetlana to teach me loyalty.”
“What happened?”she asked, knowing.
“I was too late.”He glanced at her as they moved.“She died because I thought I could keep her safe alone.”
Her breath quickened.“So you’re what...redeemed?Helping me for absolution?”
“I’m keeping you from my mistakes.”He met her gaze.“You can’t protect Tiana by staying separate.They’ll use her to break you.”
“Jesus.”She pressed her temple, tremor spreading.“You’re not trapping me?”
He rolled up his sleeve, showing scarred tattoos.“Deserters get marked.They made sure everyone knew.”
Her eyes traced the scars.“These men are they really after you?”
“No.They are after Tiana, and now you, because you got in the way.”He rolled his sleeve down.“They’ll try to take me out because I’m helping both of you.”
“I can’t do this.”Her voice cracked.
“You have to if you want to live.”
“You want me to run with you?Trust you with Tiana?”How many lives did you ruin?”
“Enough.”The question cut deep.“I’ll never wash all the blood I’ve spilled off my hands.”
“Take me and Tiana somewhere safe, then leave us.”
“Keisha—”
“No.”Her hands tightened on the strap of Tiana’s backpack.“You don’t get to drop this and expect...forgiveness?Partnership?I protect kids from people like you.”
Her words cut deep.
“I just want you safe.”
“I want that too.”Her eyes glistened.“That’s why we can’t be near you.”
Sergei froze before quickly pulling Keisha and Tiana into an alley between buildings.
“What—”
