Page 105 of Stolen Empire
He releases my jaw, nodding to one of the younger one, and the blow comes fast.
His palm connects with my jaw, snapping my head to the side.
Pain explodes across my face and I taste blood.
"Try again," the older man says.
"What does Dimitri know?"
"Nothing," I gasp.
"He doesn't know anything. Please."
Another blow, this time to the other side.
My ears ring.
My vision blurs.
"You're lying."
The older man crouches in front of me, his face level with mine.
"He's been using you. We know that. What we don't know is whether he's aware of who you really are."
"I'm Katya," I sob.
My voice is barely a whisper.
"I didn't know. Not until you just told me. Please, I have family in Perm. I just want to go home."
He studies me for a long moment, then stands.
"Maybe you're telling the truth. Maybe not. Either way, we have what we need."
One of the younger men grabs a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back.
I cry out, tears streaming down my face.
"This is what happens when you work for the wrong people," the older man says.
He pulls a knife from his belt, the metal glinting in the flashlight beam.
"Please," I whisper.
He presses the blade to my cheek, just below my eye.
The metal is cold. I hold my breath, every muscle in my body rigid.
I'm ready to piss myself.
All I can think about is how much I don't want to die right now.
How I should've listened to Dimitri and let him send someone with me.
"You're lucky we need you alive," he says. "For now."
He drags the knife downward across my cheek.
