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“Yob tvoyu mat’,” Stefanov mumbles

I address Igor “Take Katerina Get her out of here”

“I’or rushes over

She’s too brave for her own good

“You heard Alex,” Igor says “Let’s go, Kate”

“Let’s fight it out,” Stefanov says defiantly “Man to man”

“Don’t do it,” Katerina cries out when Igor takes her arht dirty Coe muddle your decisions”

Her voice washes overme I’ve never been more present in the moment My mind has never been clearer

“I love you,” I say

She stills at that Moor It’s not the place or time, but I owed her those words I needed to say thelier

Giving up her struggling, she nods With that single gesture, she offers me acceptance Her trust war many reactions At the top of my list was blaor pastwhat I feel in my heart Her lashes lower and lift In one blink, she tellsI want to know She tells ardless

The hatred dissipates, turning into icy caliven Stefanov by hating hier His actions don’t touchof filth that needs to be dealt with A loose end that needs tying

Even though I’ve acquired all this power and wealth, I’ve never felt truly happy or free My past has always hovered like an invisible sword over my head I’ve blaht, thinking that I should’ve sas leak, that I should’ve told my father not to sattention to a faulty stove that was right under my nose Now, for the first time since my parents’ death, I taste the sweetness of freedom as the shackles of my past fall away

Dimitri pushes Galina to the center of the floor “The house is surrounded Stefanov’s e “Tell him”

“It’s true,” she says through her tears “They’ve taken away all the weapons and locked everyone in the lounge”

“Casualties?” I ask

“Two of Stefanov’s ht them by surprise”