Page 104 of Deadly Knight

I leave Katya asleep,though it very well kills me, and head for Vanessa’s office to update her on all things about my father, considering I haven’t given her the complete account yet.

She glances up from her laptop, already hard at work despite it being only eight in the morning. With a tap of her nail against her coffee mug, she says, “I have a driver waiting on standby downstairs to take Katya to our plane in case you refuse to.”

“She’snotleaving.” The snap is instant.

Vanessa’s brows lift. “You can’t keep her here.”

“Wanna make that bet?”

“You’re being ridiculous.” She slams the computer shut and pushes away from her desk. “You can’t force her to be with you.”

“She’s staying. You weren’t there yesterday. She has no more reason to leave.”

Vanessa crosses her arms, her tongue pressing into her cheek. “Another woman willnotbe subjected to being chained within this house. One was more than enough for a lifetime.” She’s referring to when Ursin kidnapped Zeno’s mother, and theconsequences of his actions led to Serafina, the half-sister she and Zeno share.

I’m about to refute her once again, but she quickly glances behind me at the exact second the ancient mansion’s flooring creaks.

Katya freezes in front of the door, dressed in the same clothes she wore yesterday.

“Where are you going?” I storm from Vanessa’s office, blocking Katya’s next step.

“Home. I’ve told you, Dimitri, I can’t stay.”

I reach for her, grabbing her wrists to pull her into me. “What about yesterday?”

“What about it?” She peers up at me, unblinking. “I never asked for any of that.”

“I won’t let you go. Not after everything.”

“Try.”

I drop her wrists to instead capture her face, once again readying for another round of the identical war we continuously find ourselves fighting. “Impossible.”

“I don’t care.” She jerks her head, only for my grip to remain firm. “Every fucking time, this organization takes my choice away. I’m done.”

She’s not done. She’s lying. It’s all in her wavering voice and slow blinks. Every few words, she roughly swallows, choking down her own false arguments.

“Then why allow me to touch you yesterday? I know you better than anyone, Katya. If you truly didn’t want me, you would have ended it.”

“Consider it a proper goodbye.”

“Bullshit.”

She huffs, trying once again to get free. “Maybe this is the problem. You’re stuck thinking I’m the eighteen-year-old youonce dated, but we’re not those people anymore. I changed; moved on. You’re needed here more than I need you.”

What about what I need?

She pulls away again and this time I release her. She wastes no time in turning for the hallway.

“I don’t believe you,” I call after her, matching her pace with my own.

“Don’t believe me then. Deal with it.”

My body cuts in front of her, blocking her from approaching the foyer. “Fine. Answer the question you refused to yesterday.”

“Which was?”

“Do you love me? Even the tiniest bit?”