Page 84 of Inferno

Running my hands through my hair, I tug it to relieve some tension building in my skull.

“You can do anything, Charlotte. I think this could be your way out.”

My heart almost stops. My eyes snap to him.

“How?”

“Whatever information Vlad is after, he’s desperate for it. Find it out, use it to your advantage. Something has him rattled. And while you’re stateside for a couple of weeks, I can work on an evacuation plan for Isabella.”

“You’re not coming with me?”

He shakes his head.

“I can’t. You have to go alone. Part of the terms. We don’t even know where it’s held. You’ll be collected via jet. You will be on your own.”

I take a deep breath.

“You reckon you can get Isabella out?”

He nods.

“But how? Why now? We haven’t found a way in four damn years, Drago.” I throw my hands up in the air.

Right now this just seems like a suicide mission for me, not an escape plan.

“Get the information and proof you’ve killed the mark. Yes, I think this will give us the advantage we need. Isabella’s freedom in exchange for information. You’ll already be out of the damn country, unattended, untracked.”

I scoff.

“Wait. I have to kill the owner? That’s signing my own death warrant. In his house? His army? On my own? What makes you think Vlad will even go for a deal?”

Dragos’ firm hand claps down on my knee.

“Remember how we said we might need to sacrifice ourselves to save Isabella? I think that is the way it has to go. The risk is worth the reward here. Tatiana is vulnerable now, and Vlad is after a takeover. We just need something good enough to give him to make him think it’s possible. There is a link here, we need to find it and use it. I truly believe the key to freedom is inside these games. I see no other reason why Vlad would entertain this otherwise.”

Tears well in my eyes, and I shake my head.

“And what if I don’t win? I won’t see my baby grow up,” I whisper, my hands trembling.

He pulls me into an embrace.

“I’m not saying it will happen. It’s a possibility you need to be prepared for. This job is more than any other before. The games are a survival mission, your task after is dangerous. But I know you, and I know how bad you want out of here. You can do it.”

My tears soak into his shirt.

“How will I even contact you with the information?”

He hugs me tighter.

“We will figure it out. We have another week before you leave. We need to be smart. If we can pull this off, you and Isabella will be free. Just remember that.”

I pull back and wipe my eyes.

“If there’s a chance, I have to take it.” I rub my fingers over my wrists.

“I’ll start the paperwork tonight.”

“This information could be the key to all of this, Charlotte,” he whispers.

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