Page 100 of Stolen Empire
I felt like the two of us had a lot in common.
I don't pity him.
It's not that.
It's more like I care…
Like I'm starting to actually care what happens to him and whether he is able to defend himself and get his revenge on them for stalking and attacking him for so long.
"I have to go alone," I grumble, pulling on my jacket, checking the pockets.
"If I show up with backup, they'll know."
"Then I’ll follow you. Close enough to intervene if things go wrong."
"Fine."
I move toward the door, but he catches my arm.
"Wait."
He disappears into the closet, returning with a small wire.
"Lift your shirt," he orders.
I do, and he tapes the wire to my ribs, his fingers careful against my skin.
When he's done, he pulls my shirt back down and tests the connection on his phone.
"Say something," he tells me, so I mumble a few incoherent sounds and he rolls his eyes at me.
“Really?"
I snicker at him and lift an eyebrow.
"I'll be fine," I say plainly, and he nods.
"Good. I hear you loud and clear."
He grips my shoulders.
"You stay in public spaces as long as possible. You do not let them take you anywhere isolated. If they try, you run. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"And if anything feels wrong?—"
"Christ, Dimitri… I run. I know."
I pull away from him.
"I need to go. I want to be there before them so I can watch them approach. You know how this works."
I have two hours until they want to meet, but getting the lay of the land is essential for a good play.
He doesn't release me immediately.
His eyes search mine, and I see something there I haven't seen before.
