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I grip his wrist andtrap”

“Mr Volkov,” he says carefully, holding aze “You have to consider the fact that she may already be dead”

Before he can blink, I grab hiainst the wall “She’s alive and well” I need to believe that

“For now, maybe,” he says, unfazed by the violence “Once Stefanov has you, he won’t need her any longer If we launch an attack on his house, what guarantee do you have that Stefanov won’t slit her throat? He’s not going to wave a white flag and si to lose, he’d rather take her with hiive her back to you”

That’s not what I have infor the best

Leonid oes slack

“You’re going to suggest a trade,” he says, sounding flabbergasted “Your life for Kate’s”

“What else?” I growl, letting hio with a shove

“Think about it,” he says, co after me as I make my way down the hallway “That’s what Stefanov expects you to do That’s what he wants”

“Then that’s what he’ll get”

I send a texthi two hundred of the him up to scratch and to inform him that our rendezvous point is Stefanov’s house

Outside, Yuri leans against the hood of un is loaded and get into the car

“Mr Volkov,” Leonid says

I sla off further conversation

Pounding a hand against his forehead, Leonid paces next to the car

I wind down the“Are you co or what?”

He drops his hand on his hip, regarding me with a defeated look “I work for you because I respect you We all do—Igor, Diuard in your employ”

“Are you getting sentimental on me?” I ask with a cold smile

“None of us is the leader you are That’s why you’re the boss That’s e follow your orders If you die, everything you’ve built will be wasted”

It’ll go to Katerina I’ve already set it up withit easy for Stefanov “I’ood to know you, my friend”

With a curse, he gets into the front passenger seat

Yuri starts the engine We don’t speak during the ride I stare through theat the fa

On the way, I get the satellite feed from Nelsky on my phone I watch the accident happen with balled hands, from the point when the fucker hits their car to where he carries an unconscious Katerina to a truck parked half a block down the road Froht to Stefanov’s house

“Svoloch,” Ithe phone so hard the plastic casing cracks down the middle

“We’re here,” Leonid says, pullingon my phone