Page 35 of Rapunzel Is Losing It

“How can you promise that? You don’t know that.”

He calmly placed the knife aside and turned to me. Before I could swivel around myself, his hand was on the seat of my chair, and he turned it until I came face-to-face with him.

“It’s simple, zhizn’ moya,” he grew still, the rumble of his Russian hanging in the few inches of air between us like a film of smoke that made it harder to breathe, “ya otkazyvayus' pokinut' etot mir ran'she tebya.”

“What does that mean?”

“I refuse to.”

“You can’t refuse death.” My hands itched to reach for my hair, but it was all braided away. Refusing to die was not a goodenough plan. It wouldn’t stop his uncle from putting him in danger.

“Death can try to take me away from you, but I will be the one left standing.” Victor’s forest green eyes bore into mine. I wasn’t sure I could have looked away if I tried. And for a moment, caught by his attention, every cell in my body stilled.

He would be the one left standing.Real.

I nodded.

Cordelia • 2:05pm

Are you going to make it on time?

Cordelia • 2:11pm

Please tell me you’re on your way.

Cordelia • 2:13pm

Please.

Cordelia • 2:19pm

Victor?

Cordelia • 2:24pm

I swear to god, if you’re not here in the next five minutes, I’m revoking your gym rights.

Cordelia • 2:24pm

I will never play chess with you again.

Cordelia • 2:25pm

Say goodbye to your protein bars.

Cordelia • 2:28pm

Please tell me you’re okay.

“Come on in.”I stepped aside to let Silas pass by. My eyes lingered on the street just a moment longer, but Victor’s car wasn’t coincidentally just pulling up.

I led my guest to the office, but I left the door open just in case.

That was all the nerves I would allow considering the stranger in my house.

Silas Whitaker strolled into the room like he’d been there a thousand times before. He draped his brown wool coat over the back of one of the chairs and took a seat, not waiting for me to direct him, not even looking around to take in his surroundings.

“Can I offer you something to drink?” I asked.Please don’t let him ask for coffee.I had no idea how to operate that contraption in the kitchen.