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"You raspheat filled me once more It was just the liquor at work, I assuredup with me Or my unsuccessful bath time

"You know my intent isn’t to harm you," he murmured "Otherwise, I could have led you fro you somewhere for us to be alone" My breaths went shallow at that "Would you not have left with me?"

In--a--heartbeat

He leaned down to say at ht, Natalya You would have follohere I led"

"U from the sound of my name in his raspy accent when I felt his warhosted overcontact s weak

He drew back, expression inscrutable "So why don’t you stop acting like you haven’t already made up your mind to come with me"

"P-pardon?"

"You were decided as soon as you heard the words Russia, father, and go" His fir that razor-slice scar whiten

"That’s not necessarily true--"

"Time’s up, pet" He bent down to loop an ar me over his shoulder

Chapter 3

"PUT ME DOWN!" I screeched, wriggling over the Neanderthal’s shoulder as he strode out the front door Cold air swept uphtened his grip onit" His tone was casual; he wasn’t even out of breath

Another futile round of squiro back inside"--I’ll run away--"and then I can pack, just like you said"

Three passersby auys in letterawked

Hanging upside down, blood rushing to my head, I opened my mouth to scream for their help--then hesitated Did I believe what Sevastyan had told uard--or being abducted? If I screamed, the jocks would kick Sevastyan’s ass, which wouldn’t help et to Russia--

This decision, just like the previous one, was yanked out ofhis head Whatever look he gave them made three massive football players hotfoot the other way