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With his ankle resting on his knee and his thumb playing over his lips, Yan studies me quietly. The seconds tick on. What is going on in his mind? Why is he acting like this? Did whatever it was that distracted him earlier upset him? Maybe it’s work. Or has he spotted Gergo? I’m holding my breath, praying the morning won’t go down in bloodshed while clinging desperately to my poker face, but as always, he sees right through me.
Even as he speaks with a soft voice, his eyes are like hard, polished jade stone. “What’s wrong?”
I laugh with forced casualness. “Nothing.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me.”
“I’m not.”
He stands so abruptly I give a start.
In two strides, he’s in front of me. Gripping my hip, he brushes his thumb over my hipbone. The caress is gentle but intense. Possessive.
“I asked you a question, Mina.”
It’s impossible to hide my fear from him. He sees everything he wants to see. He sees the truth. Giving in to the apprehension, I sag in his hold. “You’re acting weird.”
He considers my answer for a moment, his gaze drilling into mine. “Do I scare you?”
“Sometimes,” I whisper.
He nods, his expression softening. “I’m not going to hurt you, not unless you give me a reason.”
“A reason?” I swallow. “What would be a reason?”
“Running from me again.”
“I’m not going to run again.”
“I know it’s unpleasant for you, so I won’t remind you of the consequences of running.”
He’s right. I can’t bear to think of Hanna getting hurt because of me.
Suddenly, his face goes blank. It’s as if a switch flips. Putting a step between us, he drops his hand. “Go change.”
I nearly trip in my hurry to get away. Before skirting the rail that still blocks the passage, I glance back, but he’s already sitting again, his head bent over his phone.
I slip into the cubicle to find Gergo poised on the bench, his knees pulled up so anyone walking past wouldn’t spot his shoes from under the door.
He pulls me deeper inside and turns the lock. “Talk.”
Another argument will only waste time. He won’t let it go. I hesitate, but then make up my mind. I trust Gergo with my life. Taking a deep breath, I say, “For some reason, Yan has taken an interest in me.”
He turns me around to help with the zipper. His tone is clipped, his voice angry. “He’s keeping you against your will.”
I glance at him from over my shoulder. “He planted a tracker in my neck.”
His gaze flits to my nape. “That son of a bitch. I can cut it out. I’ll get you out of the country.”
“I would’ve done it myself if I didn’t need this job with him.”
“Why do you need it so badly?”
“I need the money for Hanna. Her care is expensive.” I wiggle out of the dress and pull on my jeans and T-shirt. Gergo and I are used to being around each other in our underwear. It comes with the job. We often completed missions in cramped spaces.
“I can get you another job or give you a loan.”
There won’t be enough time. It’s running out too fast. “What’s the difference? A job is a job.”
“When is this job supposed to be done?”
“In three weeks.”
“Three weeks? Yan Ivanov is a dangerous man. I don’t trust him with your life for a day, never mind three weeks.”
“I know what I’m doing,” I say, tying my sneakers.
“Goddamn, Mink. Do you know how risky this is?”
“Yes.”
“Are you willing to put your life on the line?”
I don’t tell him it’s already over for me. If he knew the cancer is back, he’d never let me walk away. I pick up the dress. “I’ve got to go.”
“I’ll get you out after your three weeks are up.”
I smile at that. “You’d do that for me?”
“I’ll organize a private plane. You can assume a new identity and fly to Tahiti. They’ll never find you.”
“I’m sorry.” I squeeze his hand. “I can’t do that.”
He narrows his eyes. “What is he holding over your head?”
“Hanna.”
“That piece of shit. You should let me take him out now and get it over with.”
“No,” I say quickly. “There are others on his team. They’ll make good on his word if he’s dead.”
Scrutinizing me, Gergo says slowly, “You don’t want him to die, do you?”
I avert my eyes.
“Fuck, Mink. Do you have feelings for him?”
I want to deny it, but the lie sticks in my throat. “What I feel doesn’t matter. What matters is Hanna and therefore this job.”
“And after?”
“I’ll take it one day at a time.”
“You do understand if you stay with him, we won’t be able to see each other. You won’t be able to take referrals from me.”
I nod. “It’ll be safer for you if we don’t have contact.”
“You’re asking me to turn my back on you.”
“There’s no other way.”
