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“You are here to surrender.”
My fingers dig into my palms as I realize that this asshole will try to milk Sophia for all that she’s worth.
He must know that she’s more than a captive to me. Otherwise, why would he even consider asking me to surrender in order to save her life?
“Fat chance,” I spit.
Flicking off his flashlight, the Greek fucker slips it into his pocket, then pulls a radio out of his belt. Immediately, I see the holster next to it. He’s packing heat.
“What happened to no weapons?”
“That was a rule for you, not for me or anyone else. We need to be able to protect ourselves against such a fearsome assassin.”
“If you know how fearsome I am, then you know that I would never surrender.”
“Not even for Sophia Xiphias?”
A twisted smirk curves his thin lips as he steps closer to me. I don’t budge, but every muscle in my body wants to reach out and pound the man into oblivion. How dare he talk so callously about my girl?
How dare he even know that she’s my girl.
… Or is he bluffing?
“The Greeks are my enemy,” I say. Staring through the darkness, I try to judge the stranger’s reaction to my words.
What do you know?
“… But she isn’t… no… we’ve been watching you, Leonid. We know how things have… evolved.”
He’s lying. I can just tell. But that doesn’t stop an explosion of fury from lifting my fist. Somehow, I’m able to hold myself back. But just barely.
“Bullshit,” I growl.
“She’s listening,” he says, his twisted smirk getting bigger and even more mangled. It’s only now that I realize a long, pale scar cuts across the left side of his face, over his eye and up into his skull, where it’s only covered by a thin layer of hay-coloured hair.
“Who is?” I ask, just trying to buy some time. Ray and Maksim should be scanning the area for any hidden caches of enemy troops. I shouldn’t make a move until I hear where those fuckers are hiding.
But my earpiece is silent.
“Your spurned lover, turned real lover,” the man says. “I’m wearing a wire. Sophia is being forced to listen intently. She’ll hear every word you say. So, tell me, Leonid Barinov. Do you care if the princess dies?”
Every instinct in me is shouting the same thing. Lie. Why tell the truth to this asshole, when it’s clear that he’s lying right to my face? This should be simple… but my heart is kicking and screaming, warning me not to say anything I can’t take back.
Sophia should know that nothing I say in this situation is real. This is a standoff, I need to come out on top, no matter the cost.
… Then, why can’t I say that I don’t care if she dies?
Fuck, even the thought sends a sharp pain careening through my chest.
I haven’t even told her how I truly feel yet.
She doesn’t know that I love her.
… Or does she?
Sure, I haven’t had the guts to say it to her face, but I’ve shown her.
But I know that’s not enough, and that’s why I can’t play the monster right now.
