My choice.
When was the last time anyone gave me a choice?
“This is a bad idea, Thea,” Liza says. “That room will be the most dangerous place for you to be in this entire city. There’s a good chance you won’t walk out of it.”
“There’s no way we’re getting through this without risk,” Gabriel admits. “But I will be with you to make sure that nothing happens.”
“No,” Liza says. “Once you reveal her identity, you’ll be putting a massive bull’s-eye on her. You’ll be signing her goddamn death warrant.”
Gabriel says nothing. Silence hangs in the air.
My choice.
“Liza, I’m going. And I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
“Thea,” she says, “you can’t be serious.”
“I am. And that’s the end of it.”
There’s a long pause, then she says, “Fine. Do whatever you want. It’s your life. I put in my time.”
She stomps out of the room, her angry footsteps fading into the distance.A beat of silence passes as I collect my thoughts.
I turn back to Gabriel. "How dangerous is it?"
"I won't lie. It does carry risk. But you'll be with me. My men will surround the building. And Kolya won't be expecting you."
"That's an advantage?"
“It is. His lack of knowledge about you being there means he won’t have a plan to prevent it. He’ll be too shocked to marshal a defense. And most importantly, the council is neutral ground—bloodshed is taboo.”
“And what if something goes wrong?”
“In that event, I’ll get you out of there as quickly as possible, I swear.”
My mother’s voice from the dream plays in my mind. You are loved. You are wanted. You are mine.
Kolya took everything from her. From me.
And I've been hiding long enough.
"Okay," I say.
"Okay?"
“Yes, tonight they will meet Teodora Fetisova.”
Pride flashes in his eyes. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
For the first time since this whole nightmare began, I don't feel like a victim.
I feel like the last surviving daughter of Lev Fetisov.
And God help the man who underestimates me.
CHAPTER 24
GABRIEL
