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“What now?” Igor asks

“For noait,” I say, repeating Dimitri’s words from yesterday

10

Kate

So I know it

Kicking off the high-heeled shoes that pinch my toes, I pace the floor of the library The fire has burned out It’s close to ht

Where is Alex? What’s taking so long?

Whatever that tattoo means, it’s important, or else he wouldn’t have run out of here like his life depended on it He clearly expected trouble because he left with enough men to fill four cars while I helplessly watched their exodus through the

I consider calling him for the tenth time, but I don’t pick up the phone on the desk If he’s in theI want is to distract hi the s I’ve opened all the curtains so I can keep an eye on the driveway

Being shut in the house and not knohat’s going on is driving me crazy My stomach is tied in knots

Moveateposts and stand at attention, one of thehts appear They shine through the bars as the car co to the , I grip the sill and craneopen, and a convoy of cars enters

Not bothering to pull on uard stands in front of the door It’s another ree chafes like a rough rope that’s been ripped from soft palms Whereas he betrayed my trust, I don’t deserve his circuh to run and put ht not trust hier, but I do trust him with h to protect me, it’s Alex Volkov But he is human, a man of flesh and bone, and very much vulnerable to bullets and blades

My nerves are wreaking havoc on my emotions I need to make sure Alex is okay

“Please open the door,” I say to the guard

He stares straight ahead

“Open the door,” I demand in a firmer voice

Just as I’s inward, letting in a dusting of snowflakes with a flurry of wind The guard steps aside When Alex enters,My relief is so great I sag in a spell of weakness, feeling much like I do after an adrenaline crash