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I take a final pull from my cigarette before extinguishing it in the ashtray. I need to choose my next words carefully if I ever want to see Willow again.
She’s waiting for me to come home, and when I do, I’ll never give anyone the power to take her from me again.
“Look, Hans, you and I want the same thing: for Andarusia to prosper. I want fair elections. I want the working class to afford food and shelter and break the cycle of poverty because this violence must stop. No one in our country should live in fear anymore.”
“I agree,” Hans answers. “But sometimes, violence is necessary to get results. There’s no such thing as a bloodless revolution.”
“No, I suppose there’s not. But what’s next? You’ve killed the president, and you have his successor in your custody. Surely you have a plan?”
“We do. And it starts with installing a fair and just leader.”
I shake my head. “You’re going to have pushback from the wealthy. You and I both understand their power and influence and going against them is an uphill battle when Russia is funneling endless money to support their agenda.”
Hans has a good poker face, so his expression is unreadable. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m saying you need someone from the social elite to convince the others to jump on board with your strategy. Ideally, someone well-known.”
“Someone like you?”
“Perhaps.”
“Hmm. You would be the perfect candidate.” Hans speaks slowly, planning his new strategy in real-time while I sit here. I’ve dangled the carrot. All he has to do is take it.
I stay alive by making myself invaluable to him.
“You’re the next in line to ascend to the presidency,” Hans says. “Having you turn down the job and speak out against Russian corruption? It’s compelling. In the eyes of Andarusia, you have the most to lose by giving up your family’s position of power.”
“Yes. Use me as your puppet. I will push your agenda in the media but on one condition.”
“And that is?”
“You guarantee the safety of me, my mother and sister, and my girlfriend from your overzealous Labor Party.”
“Who’s your girlfriend?”
I don’t want to give up her name, but he can’t promise her safety if he doesn’t know her identity. It could be a trap, but he’s bound to find out one way or another.
“Willow Baker,” I say. “The daughter of the U.S. Ambassador.”
Hans furrows his eyebrows in confusion, and after a few moments, he laughs. “An American? Did you do it to cross your father?”
“No. Now, do we have a deal?”
He gives me a cunning grin. “I’ll agree to your terms. But if you turn on me, you die. And this time, my men won’t miss.”
This plan is certain to earn me more enemies, but to get out from under Russia’s influence, I have to crawl into bed with these Labor Party fighters.
My choice is clear. And the sooner I give them what they want, the sooner I can go home to Willow.
I reach my hand across the table for a handshake. “Then we have a deal.
Chapter 31
Willow
It was a restless night. I don’t know if Alek is dead or alive, and that question kept me up, torturing me.
Ivan recommends we don’t leave the house until the riots die down. And yet, every fiber of my being is itching to steal the town car and go looking for Alek myself.
