“I can’t.”
Her lips parted, confusion tripping through her expression.
I swallowed hard.
“You fought a man twice your size.You slit his throat.You stood there drenched in blood and you didn’t blink.”My voice dropped lower.“Something made you into that.”
There was only silence all around us.
“And whatever did,” I continued, “didn’t break you.It made you stronger.”
She shook her head.“Don’t pretend like you know me.”
“Too late.”
She froze.I leaned in.
“You’re not just a loose end for me anymore, Neve.You’re mine to handle.Mine to protect.Mine to deal with.”There was a long beat.“I decide how your story ends.Not the Russians.Not the trafficking ring they were trying to sell you into.Not fate.”
Her breath trembled.
“Why me?”she whispered.
I didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Because I’ve been obsessed with ending you for fifteen years.”Then, lower: “And now that I’ve seen what you’ve become… I believe I’m obsessed with keeping you alive.”
Her eyes widened.She tried to move away.I caught her chin lightly, barely a touch, but she shuddered in disgust.
“You’re staying here,” I whispered.“And this time, no one gets near you.”
She swallowed hard.
“And if I don’t want that?”she asked.
My answer was simple.Final.
“You don’t get a vote.”
Her final whisper was pure, shaking fury.
“You’re a monster.”
I nodded once.
“So are you.”
32
Neve
Ididn’t care what he said.I didn’t care what he decided.I was leaving.
I shoved past him, legs shaking, head spinning.I made it three steps before I hit the door.I fumbled with the latch, breath tight, vision dark with panic and rage.
His kill-me stare burned into my back.
“Don’t,” he barked.