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He chuckles, cringing at the pain that shoots through him when he does.
“I guess I can’t blame you there.”
“Think of this as my way of wiping the slate clean. I owed you after what happened on the dock that night. I know it put you in a bad spot and I’m sorry for that.”
“You can’t apologize for trying to escape. Fuck, if I were you I would have died trying.”
“Had it not been for you and Mateo showing up when you did, I might have.” I blow out a slow breath. “Look, I know my blood puts us on opposite sides, but that doesn’t mean we have to be enemies. I may have Herrera blood in my veins, but I have no connection to the man who gave it to me. He’s more of a stranger to me than you are. I have no loyalty to him. I have no loyalty to anyone but myself, and I will do whatever it takes to survive, even if that means betraying my own father.”
“Mateo was right about you.” He studies me for a long moment. “You really are a different kind of woman.”
“Mateo said that?” I ask, wondering if he meant it as a compliment or an insult.
“Between you and me, I think he regrets involving you in this.” He’s already told me as much but I don’t say so, opting to let Niko continue. “He’s not as bad as you think he is. Don’t get me wrong, none of us are saints, but Mateo... He’s someone I would step in front of a bullet for a hundred times over. And not because I took an oath, but because he’s worth saving. I’ve seen a lot of bad shit in my life, done a lot of bad shit too, but by some grace of god I’ve still managed to hold on to some of my humanity. I owe that to him. Things aren’t always as they appear.”
“I’m starting to figure that out,” I admit softly. “So, um, you and I, we’re good?” I ask, feeling like I need the confirmation.
“Yeah, we’re good.” He smiles and this time the action reaches his eyes.
“Good.” I smile in return.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m feeling pretty fucking drained.”
“Oh, yeah, of course.” I quickly stand. “Is there anything I can get you before I go?”
“No, I’m good. But can you do me a favor and take this nasty shit? I don’t know what Norma is trying to do to me.”
I lean over, retrieving the mug from his hands. I thought it was coffee, but as I look down at the thick, white liquid, I honestly have no clue what it is.
“What is this?”
“Fuck if I know,” he grumbles, his eyes fluttering closed.
Without another word I turn, quietly exiting the room.
Dimitri is standing in the hallway, his eyebrow raised in question when he sees the cup in my hand.
“What’cha got there?”
“No idea. Niko asked me to get rid of it. Something Norma gave him.”
“Here. I’ll take it down to the kitchen after I walk you back to your room.” I nod, allowing him to take the cup before following him down the hallway. “You want me to grab you something to eat while I’m down there?”
I wish I could go down and get myself something, maybe help Norma in the kitchen to give myself something to do, but wanting to respect Mateo’s request, I know I can’t.
“Maybe a muffin or something. And I’d love a coffee.”
“I can make that happen.” He pushes open my bedroom door and I follow him inside. “Anything else you need?” He steps to the side and lets me pass.
“This is probably a long shot, but do you have any books or anything around here?”
“Actually, Mateo has a pretty substantial selection in his study.”
“He does?”
“He didn’t tell you that he likes to read?”
“No.” I shake my head slowly, finding it curious that Dimitri would assume Mateo would tell me something like that. It clearly goes to show that he most definitely knows there’s something going on.
