Page 94 of Stolen Empire
"Why?"
Tears stream down her face now, hot and furious.
"Isn't this what you wanted? Me on my back, doing whatever you say?"
"No." I pull her against me, holding her tight even as she struggles.
"That's not what I want."
"Then what do you want?"
She's sobbing now, her body shaking against mine.
"What the fuck do you want from me?"
The raw scream tears up out of her chest and I don't have an answer.
Or maybe I do, but I can't say it out loud.
I ease her down onto the couch, kneeling in front of her.
Her face is streaked with tears, her eyes wild and desperate.
"I want you safe," I say.
"Katya, you're not a cheap whore to me."
"Liar."
But her voice has lost its edge.
I reach up, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"I'm pulling you out because I almost got you killed today. Not because I don't think you can do it. But because I can't watch you destroy yourself for my revenge."
"You're lying. You're a user and a pig, just like them…"
The tears don't stop coming, and I am breaking inside.
My heart has never felt like this before.
She's so pure, so willing, and I've almost destroyed her in the process of trying to unburden myself from what has been bothering me for decades.
I'm seeing her with fresh eyes, and I hate what I see now, because she's become something utterly unlike the treasure I first saw in her.
"I'm not lying, Katya. I want to protect you, and I can't do that if this is what they're going to do to you."
My hands cup both of her cheeks, thumbs drawing across her soaked cheekbones.
She stares at me, her breathing still ragged.
"I need my freedom."
"I know."
"I need to finish this so I can get my freedom."
"I know you think?—"
