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I change into my outfit and slide my feet into the boots. Once my makeup is done and I pop dark-colored contacts into my eyes, Kat pulls out a long black trench coat and tosses it to me. “Put that on over everything.”
I scrunch up my nose. “It’s hot as hell here and you want me in a trench coat?”
“It’s for your safety. You can’t very well walk to the private entrance in your skivvies.”
I roll my eyes and slide it on over my outfit. “What do you think?”
“I think you bear absolutely no resemblance to Valentina Malikov.” Kat nods her head and peeks at the door behind me. “I did perfect work. And now it’s time to do what you came here to do.”
A shudder ripples through me. I have the sudden feeling that I’m being watched. I twist to look over my shoulder, finding Quinn lounged against the doorframe, his laser hot stare making my blood bubble.
Kat moves toward the door, sliding past him with a knowing smirk on her face.
Quinn steps into the room. “Do I wanna know what’s under that coat?”
I swallow hard past the lump in the back of my throat. “I don’t think so.”
“Don’t do this, Val.” He wraps his fingers around my sleeved arms and squeezes. “We’ll find another way.”
I draw in a breath, tearing my eyes away from his pained ones. “There isn’t another way.”
“Fuck that. I’m not gonna let any of those bastards get close to you and do things to you. You’re my wife.”
“Oh my God, just stop.” I pull out of his grip, a gaggle of tears knotting in my chest because I want to stay with him. I want to be with him. But Alek told me I’d need to make a choice and I am. Right now, as much as it kills me to do it and to speak these caustic words. “We both knew this bullshit marriage would have a shelf life of about a week. I’m not your wife. I never was and I never will be.”
My heart clenches at the stricken expression on his face. He stares at me like I just plunged a knife into his heart. And I know that’s exactly how I feel right now.
“If I don’t do this, more people will get hurt, or worse.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Just forget about me, Quinn. Otherwise, you might end up dead, too.”
Chapter28
Quinn
“Idon’t give a fuck about your gun or your goddamn utensils, Sev. You wanna threaten to slice me open with a fork, fine.” My temples throb, my face flushed with heat. “But none of it will stop me. I’m going after her.”
Alek and Boris exchange a look. Then Alek steps away from the door, no longer blocking it. “I know.”
My jaw drops. “What the hell was that whole show about her going in there alone? Why didn’t you just let us go together?”
“Maybe one day you’ll actually learn this, although I seriously doubt it.” With a frustrated sigh, Alek puts a massive hand on my shoulder, rooting my feet to the ground. “Know your goddamn audience, kid. Val is desperate to get to Branko, and she’s the only one who can. She needs this, not only for her family, for Charly, but for herself. She feels so guilty about what she thinks she’s let happen and she won’t rest until that bastard is vanquished from this Earth. If I told her you were going, too, she wouldn’t have gone in there clearheaded, which is exactly what she needs to be to finish him off.”
“You don’t think knowing she has backup will relax her?”
He presses a hand to his forehead and Kat lets out a snicker. “Mulligan, there’s nothing relaxing about what she has to do tonight, do you get that? Mercer’s guy will be there to keep an eye on things. She needs to be on her guard, thinking she’s completely on her own because that way, she knows she doesn’t have the luxury of slipping up.”
“She’s too pissed off to slip up. And you could’ve at least told me your stupid plan earlier.”
He shakes his head. “You wouldn’t have been convincing enough. She needed to make the choice to leave here alone. Singularly focused. That’s how she works best. And she is the best.”
“Um, excuse me?” Kat snaps.
Alek winks at her. “Learned from the best.”
“Thanks, cuz.”
Boris lifts an eyebrow. “The only reason why we’re letting you go is because you clearly care about her. You need to be observant. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of this mission. There will be things you will see and not like. She can’t be distracted by you at all. You hang around like a fly on the wall and wait for her to get the job done. Then you get her out of there.”
Alek’s jaw tightens. “She doesn’t need saving from you. She needs to be saved from the fucking guilt that’s been eating her alive since she was sixteen. Killing Branko will give her that salvation. Not you.”
