Page 63 of Stolen Empire
I close the file and try not to overthink things.
I executed the mole myself.
But this leak happened after his death, which means there's someone else.
Someone I haven't identified yet.
Katya is standing near the window, watching me toil.
She turns to face me with a serious expression.
"Let me find out who it is," she says.
I look at her, surprised.
"What?"
Something twists in my chest as I realize she's offering to help.
My first instinct to hesitate and protect myself is quashed by another deeper instinct to move toward her and find out why this change of heart.
"The same way I did with Rodion."
She steps closer.
"I can ask around, talk to the crew. See who's nervous, who's avoiding me. You said I'm good at reading people. Let me use that."
Her hands move as she talks, and everything about her seems casual and confident.
I can't tell whether this is a con or a genuine offer.
I stare at her, processing her words.
She's volunteering, putting herself forward.
A week ago, she would've run at the first opportunity.
Now she's offering to dig deeper into the danger.
I walk toward her slowly, already letting the idea of her partnering with me sink in.
"Are you starting to enjoy working for me?"
I feel my world shifting around this new idea that Katya Volsky may actually choose to participate in things she's not otherwise forced to do.
The same curious sensation I get when I imagine her coming willingly to my bed again.
It makes the predator in me feel hungry for the hunt.
Her expression shifts, uncertainty flickering across her face, but she doesn’t answer.
I take another step.
"You came here as a thief—my prisoner. Now you're offering to put yourself at risk for my operation. That's not the behavior of someone who hates me."
She backs away, her shoulders hitting the wall. "I just…"
"Is it?"
