s hours later, revealing Yuri sm

he threshold. "We lost six men. One of the maids too

wly, eyes still

re here

xury rugs had once laid. Chipped marble. Shattered chandeli

poken since

a

hugging himself, eyes blank. Viktor watched him fro

run, weren't you?"

idn't

map under

l no

stepping closer. "That they'd free you? Love you? Th

t least they'd be

tened. "You saw w

ou kill

tect

ed. "There's no di

eft the estate. Not even Yuri. All phones were confiscated.

gala was postpo

a delay. To Noah, it was

k in the foundation. Something Viktor cou

the body of one of his own men strung to

u do it?" V

lip. "You made enemies of everyon

"You betrayed me. In my hom

u care more about that

didn'

yal out of the man's bod

lear. He stood by the vent in his room,

ok away. He

s lea

he languag

and si

s room past midnight. Noah was pre

e of the bed. "You st

th

rmured. "What I did. You thi

soft and ragged.

wly. "And yet, yo

have a

a choice. Even you. You just keep ma

aked nightclub, gun still warm in his hand.

smi

sending

harp eyes and a whisper of a Russian accen

er on the bar. "W

o ope

tos of Noah... on campus, in

" Kira said. "And sh

smiled

Viktor's own hou

ped the ring off again. He st

so beautiful fel

a voice

what happens if you

as Y

rtled. He hadn't

light. "The moment you walk away? You'll spend the rest

"Then I'll take the sha

studi

. "She tried to run too. Got as far as the port before

appened

ried him

kened. "Did she

learn

tor brought Noa

uiet and sparkling like not

said suddenly. "They left him in the street like an animal. Said it

"And this is what

"This is what sur

t you to choose me. I want you to see that I'll never let any

red, "Then

m, something shatte

can

e estate was quiet

the fir

o slipped a note under Noa

ng laundry chute.

e. The handwritin

n

d him in the eye. The one wh

know wha

invitation to hope he

te into pieces

he wa

came like

His heart pounded with every step. When he r

Pale. Sweating

he whispe

chute. "It leads to a tun

esit

you hel

I have a brother, and if he were y

d the edge

h

nf

scr

e air, striking the wall

s sho

" she

e into t

was Anna being dragged

ness. Bruised. Breat

through his shoulder. A metal hatch

le

stretched o

was

in the dista

Vikt

gu

else was