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I hear laughter that I suspect is Donovan.
“Open up!” I yell out.
"Enough!" Niko’s voice thunders, his displeasure laced with a threat.
Like an idiot, I don’t heed it. "Open this door, Niko!"
There’s a moment's hesitation before the door swings inward, revealing his form. His menacing stare tells me I’m walking on a fine edge.
“This had better be a matter of life and death.”
“Yes, it is. Kate’s life. You promised me?—”
“Stop. I don’t have time for this now.” His words are a dismissal, but I don’t accept it.
I push my way in. "Too bad. I'm not leaving until you hear what I have to say."
His men watch, and only then do I recognize that my actions are even more dangerous than I anticipated. I am disrespecting him in front of his men.
I turn to him, wondering if he’s about to order Donovan to get rid of me. His expression is dark and yet also, there’s a sense of surprise.
I decide to take advantage of the moment by pleading my case. “We made a deal. You promised to keep Lucia and Kate safe, and you've failed."
“Maybe I was wrong about her. She’s got more spitfire?—”
“Quiet,” Niko cuts off Donovan.
“You’re the Soldier of Death and yet you let someone slip by you and take Kate. Are you a liar or just inept?"
Donovan and the other man exchange a look of shock, their bodies rigid with discomfort. Niko's eyes narrow to a dangerous glint targeting me with fury.
"Are you done throwing your tantrum?" Niko's voice is deceptively calm, but I know better. I’m about to die.
My voice softens as I try to show more reverence. "I asked for one thing, Niko. I know you don’t care about me, but at least I held up my part?—”
“You don’t know shit.” He turns away, running his hands through his hair. When he turns back, he notices Donovan and the other man. “Leave us.”
It seems to me the men practically run from the room in relief.
When the door closes, Niko’s voice is low and calm, but the tension radiating off him is lethal. “As far as your friend, Liam is looking for her. He’s FBI and working with her father.”
Niko has a federal agent in his family?
“Second, I never promised I’d protect them.”
“You did.”
He shakes his head. “You asked me not to hurt them, and I haven’t.”
Was that right? I knew my first request was for him to not hurt them, but I thought I’d asked him to look out for them too.
“If you want to blame someone, blame your father. Or maybe it’s the Abates. They’re using your friend to bring you out of hiding,cara mia.”
“I’m not hiding,” I say, hating how he’s trying to use his pet name for me. It makes me think of what Lucia said. I’m a pet to him. “I’m a prisoner.”
He flinches as if I slapped him. Then he sneers. “Do you know the real reason you were to marry Romeo? You’re payment for a debt. There’s no business agreement. Your father handed you over to save his own skin. Better you to be tortured and killed than him.”
This time, I’m the one who flinches. But then it occurs to me that there’s no difference really between my being a deal in a partnership or a debt repayment.
