Page 75 of Her Darkest Possession

Hell, he was wise enough to toss Grisha's gun on the day Indigo stumbled back into his barbershop.

"Well, whatever you do," he finally says. "Just make sure you're back to spend the rest of Thanksgiving with her."

"I will. Thank you, Marcus."

I extend my hand to him and he accepts it. His grip is firm and determined as he gives it a shake. When I stand up, he doesn't let go.

"You remember what I told you at the hospital, Anatoly?"

"I do."

Make her happy. Give her the life she deserves. God knows enough people have hurt that girl already.

"Don't you fucking forget it." His grip tightens for a moment before he lets go. "Now get out of here."

Roma's waitingfor me outside the station, leaning against the car with his arms crossed. His posture loosens when he spots me.

"You good?" he asks as I approach.

"Yeah."

He opens the passenger door, and I get in. Then, he gets behind the wheel, starts the engine, but doesn't pull away.

"Where to?" he asks.

It's a loaded question.

I stare straight ahead through the windshield. The streetlights blur against the darkness, and for a moment, I let my mind wander to all the things I'd like to do right now.

Roma knows that what I'dliketo do is find Ryan Bennet at whatever hospital they took him to so I can beat seven shades ofshit out of him. I'd like to drag him to some forgotten corner of the city and make him beg for a mercy that won't come just like I did to his piece of shit father.

I'd like nothing more than to watch the light fade from his eyes when he realizes that he went after the wrong man's wife.

But what I'd like to do and what Ishoulddo are different.

Because I still remember Indigo's face when I was handcuffed. The fear in her eyes. Not for herself, but for me.

I've been here before. Acting on impulse, letting rage dictate my actions. And what did it get me? It nearly cost me everything. It nearly cost me Indigo.

Besides, Ryan's probably waiting for me to do something stupid. To come after him so he can claim self-defense or harassment. He wants to paint me as the monster in this story.

I won't give him that satisfaction.

But I can't let his insults go unpunished.

"I need you to find out which hospital they took Ryan to," I say.

Roma shifts in his seat, his expression tightening. "Tolya, I don't think?—"

I hold up my hand. "Let me finish."

Roma closes his mouth, but his eyes remain wary. I can almost hear what he's thinking: This is stupid. This is reckless. This will just get you to end up right back here.

"I want to send Ryan a gift," I say. "To wish him a speedy recovery."

Roma's eyebrows shoot up. "A gift?" He looks at me like I've lost my mind. "Since when does a pakhan send well wishes to someone who insults his wife?"

"Since he's expecting me to do something stupid," I answer with a slight nod. "Especially after I threw him through a fucking window."