Page 99 of Stolen Empire
I almost feel bad still wanting to make my way home to Perm.
I'm lying in bed, still waking up as I listen to the sounds of the safehouse.
Dimitri crawled out of bed thirty minutes ago, but now, nearing noon, I know I have to get up or I'll waste the whole day.
So when my phone buzzes, I roll over and pick it up and see the text from my Radich contact.
Daniil 11:57 AM: 2 p.m. Warehouse on Volzhskaya. Bigger job. Better pay.
I stare at the message, my thumb hovering over the screen.
Dimitri's in the shower, water running in the bathroom.
I should wait and show him the message first.
But something in my gut tells me this is the moment we've been working toward.
I send a quick reply.
Katya 11: 58 AM: I'll be there.
When Dimitri emerges, towel around his waist, I'm already dressed and mentally preparing myself for the meet.
I hold up the phone to show him, and his eyes narrow to read it.
"Daniil wants to meet. Two o'clock. Warehouse on Volzhskaya."
His expression darkens.
"That's Radich territory—deep Radich territory."
He looks hesitant, especially after what happened yesterday, and I completely understand.
I was paranoid the whole time, thinking about how that man could've overdosed me.
But I didn't go through that for nothing.
We're so close now.
"I know," I tell him, "and I know you're going to say no, but you don't get a choice. I can do this, Dimitri. We're so close to having your answer."
I pocket the phone and watch his face screw up into a dark scowl.
"You're not going alone," he grumbles, but he doesn’t protest now.
Last night it was all, "Never going back, I have to protect you, you'll get yourself killed," and today, no protest?
It doesn't bother me a bit.
I'm a big girl and this is what I'm choosing.
I don't know why I feel strongly about it now, especially after everything, but deep down, I know I can do it.
And I did agree to the deal, so in a way, I feel obligated.
But it's more than that.
Hearing Dimitri talk about his past and open up to me about how he killed one of their men and they've been hunting him ever since spoke to me.
