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“What about Kate then?”
“Kate will live a long, happy, safe life. I know you’ll make sure of it.”
She shakes her head, not liking my answer, but it’s the only option. I can’t offer Kate anything except this life of danger. I won’t do it.
“You should at least let her see that she didn’t kill you and say goodbye.”
No. I can’t. Seeing her will make this all the more difficult. “Okay.” Fucking hell. I’m about to break my own heart.
13
KATE
It’s been two days since Robbie dropped me off with Lucy and Donovan. I can’t deny that the company is nicer, but I’ve been worried about Liam. Donovan has assured me that Liam is fine, but until I see him, how will I know?
An hour ago, I had my answer when Lucy showed up to my room.
“Liam is coming for a meeting.”
My heart leapt at the idea of seeing him, but then I chastised myself for feeling happy about it. It’s not like he was coming to see me. As far as I knew, he’d never asked about me.
I hear a commotion and walk across the hall to an upstairs library, looking out the window as Artyom and Liam step out of a dark SUV.
I can’t stop the pang of yearning in my heart. I want to reach out and push the stray dark hair off his forehead. I want to soothe the haunted expression in his face. He winces as he straightens, reminding me that I’d wounded him and he isn’t at full capacity. Would he carry on this war when he isn’t strong enough?
By now, I’ve been around organized crime families enough to know that I can’t run down and see him. Business comes first. Women are supposed to stand aside. Well, except for Lucy, who is as much in charge of the business as Donovan is. But she’s an exception.
So, I return to my room, waiting, hoping he'll come see me. That he’ll demand I have to go with him. The feminist in me is shocked by that, but my heart can’t stop believing that I’m supposed to be with him.
It seems like forever before there’s a knock on my door and it opens to show Liam. His expression is dark, and for a moment, I’m worried he’s angry at me for shooting him. For causing all the problems I’ve caused. For making him leave the FBI.
I close my eyes, half expecting him to shoot me like he’d killed the man who’d drugged me.
“Can’t stand the sight of me? I don’t blame you.” The darkness fades, replaced by weariness. He almost looks like that man I’d met and fallen for all those months ago.
“No. I just… I never know which Liam I’m going to encounter.”
He sighs as he shoves his hands into his pockets and walks to the window. “When I killed Peprov, I was forced to make a decision—go to prison or take over the Bratva. I choose the latter.”
I suppose I can’t blame him. Prison doesn’t sound like fun. Still, being a criminal… “Why?”
He doesn’t respond at first. “You’ve been targeted because of me. For that reason, you need to stay here with Lucy and Donovan. They won’t fuck with the Fioris or the Leones. And with me gone, the attraction to get to me through you will go away.”
Tears form in my eyes as his tone sounds so permanent. “For how long?”
“Shouldn’t be too long. You’ll be back living your own life. Lucy and Donovan will continue to protect you, but you’ll be able to live in the regular world.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to eliminate the danger and run the Bratva.”
“That’s not what I meant. When will I see you again?”
He sucks in a long breath. “You won’t.”
My heart stops. “Never?”
He finally turns to look at me. I swear to God, I see pain in his eyes, so why is he doing this? “Never.”
