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I shake my head "Victor, he doesn’t talk to me anymore Not since Seraphina I’ve told you that,to ize," he says--Niklas’ eyes roll upward into his head "This isn’t about trust, Izabel I know you’re not lying to me about it But the fact remains, I still think he’d talk to you"

"No He won’t," I say icily, standing fir to Fredrik and he shut me down And it hurts "And besides, if he doesn’t answer for you, even when you’ve given hi you should be concerned about"

"I hate to say it," Niklas chiree with her"

"Like I said," Victor responds, "we’ll figure it out e come to it We may not even need Fredrik"

If we do, we’ll probably be screwed

Fredrik, although still very anization--one of the most vital members--is also the ly good at what he does--but e Seraphina, the only woman he’s ever loved and who understood hies, he’s not been the saeousthat he scares ined it before, never would’ve given it a second thought, but I feel like Fredrik could kill et me, or risk his place under Victor, but that if he had to kill me, or torture me for whatever reasons, he would do it without question or protest

The Fredrik I once knew is dead

Niklas leaves a short tioes to his room down the hall

"Izabel," Victor says from the table in front of the , "you need to be prepared for what et up from the end of the bed closest to the door and walk over to hi across from him in the empty chair He’s dressed in his dress pants and a white button-up shirt The veins running along his wrists co the tops of his strong hands as they rest against the table

I already knohat he’s going to say, but I listen anyway, and rows that ory," he says, "but we cannot, under any circuanization to whoever has taken her"

"No negotiating with terrorists," I say with sarcaset it But I won’t let Dina die, either"

"You may not have a choice," Victor says calmly

I clench my jaw

"Izabel," he says, "you knew this You’ve known this since the day you were officially recruited"

I sigh and lowerto hold back the tears

"I know," I say softly and with insurret I feel his hands collapse atopwe can to keep her safe," he says, "but if it coory and Dorian’s ex-wife and whoever else they anization and its o Are you prepared for this, Izabel?"