O

nife tightly as I dragged it along the wall,

ed-obviously stopped doing whatever it was he

still dragging my k

er, Dubrov. I don't t

rasp reply. "Go to hell! I already told you, you'r

I heard Eric say. "Believe me, it'll be

aning against the frame and letting m

had only one purpose. Metal tables bore instruments

nt in and didn't come out alive. A ro

e the captive, glanced over his shoulder to give me a

, visibly recoiled at the sight of me. The weak front he had put up

n and streaked with blood

ly not enough. Otherwise, Eric would'v

y puffer jacket, keeping my eyes on hi

ow that sent his Adam'

to the man. "I told you I was the nice

ce grew paler than a normal p

grown men couldn't withstand a little p

shook his head, sw

were on me. "I... I already told you everything I know.

legs weren't bound, I was damn sure he'd have been o

y I do believe you. But I don't think he

with unshed tears. God-dammit. Did

moved to the center of the roo

es who stood like a sentinel, watc

ushed off the doorway a

It was

he door groaning shut behind them

eyes tightly, as if willing the enti

imaginary worlds where nothing hur

head-on was what made them weak. They didn't know how to

e a loose window in a storm. "I-I swear, I already t-told

ain Vault-like I liked to call it-rested on the table. It

y-nine with properties in th

ndered what they'd think if they saw him now- squir

was captured and brought over. I wondered why I don't learn, considering thi

utinizing stare under the dim light. Turning and wa

n, my tone calm and conversational as I reached f

c was interrogating this

y that hard to just look away? To act like you didn't see her?" My voice and hands i

was rambling about and focused m

anyone like her before. I also couldn't believe it when I first saw

tton instead, the small

ly see his bare chest rising and fa

e needles. When I turned back, I slipped my phone from my pocket, t

ce was still calm. "Tell me, have yo

s. "I-I promise you, we-we didn't touch her. We di

her, you wouldn't be here. Neither would your two Mistresses in Norway, or your six kids scattered in Sweden and Germany be aliv

om the fact that I knew a

gather as much information as I wanted. It was

en again. "I aske

es more focused on the picture

y lips, although it on

hone back into my pocket. "She's damn

the rage simmering within me

is pulse hammering against my grip. I selected a needle

ed the space immediatel

alm, dissonantly soothing as I slowly pushed the needle deeper into h

f he didn't hear my questio

he likes it. I mean, green was meant for her. Did you see her eyes?" I tsked. "t's funny how

ruffled. I picked another nee

est of the words out before I pushe

r pain

of song," I continued, my voice unhurried while staring d

my phone from my back pocket, tapped the screen several times and

ite. Sometimes, she sheds a damn tear while singing along. At first-" I shoved the phone back into my pocket. "-I almost lost my mind

isbelief, as though he were trying to