Page 167 of Blood & Snow
"Then what is she?"
I meet his eyes.
"She's mine."
Leonid stares at me for a long moment.
Then he laughs an angry, bitter sound.
"You're a fool."
"Maybe."
"There's no maybe about it."
He walks back to his desk and sits.
"You're dismissed, Xander. Go finish your job. Forget the girl. If she dies, she dies. If she talks, we'll deal with it. But you won't waste another moment of my time on this."
"I need your help."
"And I'm telling you no."
His eyes are steel as they lock on me.
"Get out."
"She knows things," I say again.
My voice is louder now, harder.
"If they break her, they'll come for you. They'll come for all of us. This isn't about me. This is about protecting the organization."
"The organization doesn't need protection from a girl, and if you do your job, Sokolov won't live long enough to be a threat, anyway."
His hand waves at me as he downs his drink and I have to stop myself before I launch at him to strangle him.
"It does if she tells them where you sleep at night."
Leonid goes very still.
His eyes are a deadly cold.
For a moment, I think he'll have me killed right where I stand.
Then he speaks and my body feels weak.
"Get out of my house."
I turn and walk to the door.
My hand's on the handle when he speaks again.
"If you go after her, you go alone. I won't send men. I won't provide resources. And if you fail, if you die trying to save her, I'll find another enforcer. Do you understand? You'll be replaced before your body is in the ground."
I look back at him.
"Yes."
