Page 165 of Blood & Snow
The words hit me in the chest.
I stare at him, my breath coming faster.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Leonid returns to his desk and sits.
"If she's a liability, eliminate her. That's what you do. That's what you've always done."
"I'm not killing her."
"Why not?"
He leans forward, his eyes boring into mine.
"Because you've fucked her? Because she has a pretty face and a sharp mind? That doesn't make her valuable, Xander. That makes her a weakness. And weakness gets men killed."
I take a step forward.
My hand moves toward the gun atmy back, but I stop myself.
Leonid sees the movement.
His expression doesn't change.
"Are you going to shoot me?"
He chuckles darkly.
This man thinks he's made of steel, and I could kill him where he sits, but then I'd have bigger problems to deal with.
I need his help, not his hatred.
"No."
"Good. Because if you did, you'd be dead before you left this room."
He gestures to the corners of the study.
I see the cameras now, the small red lights blinking.
"I have men outside. I have men in the hallway. You're a valuable asset, Xander, but you're not irreplaceable."
I force my hand to drop.
I force myself to breathe.
"I'm not asking you to give me men," I say.
"I'm asking for information. Contacts. Anything you know about where Sokolov might be holding her."
"Why would I waste resources on that?"
"Because if they break her, she'll tell them about you. About where you live, where you meet, who you trust. She's cleaned your scenes, Leonid. She's been in your house."
Leonid goes still.
