Page 60 of Betraying Family Vows

Dimitri doesn't take his eyes off the road.

"I needed to know," he says. "I know where I stand with you. I wanted to see if you still saw me as the monster."

"And if I'd taken the shot?"

"Then you would have lived a life regretting it," he says. His eyes meet mine briefly in the darkness.

"Well, even if…" I stop myself. "I couldn't have done it anyway. Not after everything. Not after seeing how you fought for me, twice now."

Dimitri nods slightly but says nothing.

After some time, we reach the outskirts of a small town, its lights glowing dimly against the night sky. Dimitri drives through some narrow streets until we reach a bar with several cars parked outside.

He parks and turns off the engine, sitting still for a moment, watching. Listening.

"What are we doing here?" I ask.

"Switching cars," Dimitri says, scanning the parking lot. "This car has a tracker on it too, I'm sure. We can't keep driving it."

I stare at him. "You're going to steal a car?"

Dimitri looks at me. "Would you prefer I go inside and ask politely?"

I roll my eyes.

"Relax," he says, reaching out to touch my hand briefly. "I've done this before."

He finishes surveying the area.

"Stay here," he says, grabbing his bag and reaching for the door handle. "Keep the gun ready, but hidden."

As he moves to leave, I catch his wrist. His skin is warm under my fingers.

"Dimitri," I say, the words catching in my throat. "Be safe."

"I will. And don't worry, I'll be back for you," he says, getting out and shutting the door.

I watch the bar entrance, the parking lot, my heart racing. The gun rests in my lap, hidden like he said, but ready.

In the rearview mirror, I catch a glimpse of my reflection. There's some blood on my cheek, and my hair is a mess.

I can't really focus on how shitty I look. I'm too nervous.

I keep my eyes locked on the bar's entrance, counting seconds in my head. My pulse pounds in my throat.

One minute passes. Nothing.

Two minutes. Still nothing.

At three minutes, I catch the top of Dimitri's head. He's moving between parked cars, staying low.

He pauses by a sedan, and just as he's about to reach for the handle, the bar's door swings open. Light floods across the parking lot as a group of men stumble out, laughing loudly. I freeze, gripping the gun tighter.

Fuck.

They're headed in Dimitri's direction.

My breath catches. I should warn him somehow. Do something.