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Her features contort, the bravetreated like a possession”

The hurt etched in her expression hits ht in the heart

I get it I’m not a foolish or insensitive man Katerina is independent Up until now, she’sher life and taking charge In her relationship with herresponsibility for her ailing parent, and as a nurse, she’s used todecisions thather up and taking away everything that gives her lifeisn’t ideal, but it’s not for forever It’s teood She’ll understand eventually She loves me She told ain I’ll do whatever it takes to get them

Except letting her go

I’ve never begged for anything inShe’s the first one to bring edly, “Let me touch you, kiska Please”

A sob catches in her throat She shakes her head, brushing our hair together “This isn’t me, Alex This isn’t who I am”

I clenchinto the table “Telldo”

“If you can’t givee of my arms “I need time and space”

When she ducks under my arm and slides from the table, I don’t stop her When she runs froo after her I don’t acknowledge how o in search of a bottle of vodka and give her the time and space she wants

7

California, the United States

Oleg Pavlov presses the phone to his ear and walks to the edge of the terrace where he’s out of earshot He druers on the rail as he waits for the call to connect, inconspicuously checking to see if his bodyguards are in place Assured that they’re in position, he takes a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes the sweat from his brow

What is taking the assassin so long? Acid burns in his sto to kill him

Finally, Bes picks up

Oleg cuts straight to the chase “What did you do?”