Page 161 of Stolen Empire
I watch him pace the room, speaking in hushed tones to whoever is on the other end while I dress quickly and find my shoes.
My body is still buzzing with adrenaline, my mind racing.
This is what I signed up for when I told him I would stand with him but living with the reality of it is far more difficult than confessing my loyalty to it.
I don’t know if I’m ready for this.
I killed someone.
Dimitri ends the call and turns to face me.
"Rolan's sending a convoy. They'll be here in twenty minutes. We pack what we can and we leave."
"Where are we going?"
"To the city. To the estate."
He moves closer, his eyes searching mine.
"You need to meet your cousin Artemy. He's the only living male Morozov. If you're going to claim your name, you need his support."
My stomach twists.
"But he's probably been leading the family. What if he doesn’t want me?"
"Then we're on our own." Dimitri's voice is flat.
"But he will. He has to. You're the last of Lyovik's bloodline. The rest of the family will know that means you’re the heir and that the pact remains. Even if they don't give you leadership of the family. They’ll keep the pact to save face, just the way Rolan is."
I nod, but the fear doesn't ease.
I have no clue what's going to happen or how to process what I just did.
"I killed that man," I say quietly.
"I shot him, and I watched him die."
Dimitri steps closer, his hand cupping my jaw.
"You defended yourself, baby."
It's the first time I think I've heard him say that to me.
"You had no choice. You're not a murderer, okay?"
"It doesn't feel like it."
"It is."
His thumb brushes across my cheek, wiping away the blood.
"You did what you had to do. And you'll do it again if you have to."
With one small kiss pressed to my lips I'm feeling slightly better.
"Go pack," Dimitri says, releasing me.
I nod and turn toward the closet and grab my few belongings, shoving them into a bag.
