Page 112 of Stolen Empire

There’s no point denying it.

He’s quiet for a moment and studies me.

"Then we make sure she comes back."

His face shifts and he says, "What’s your plan?"

"Reconnaissance first. I’ve got men moving into position. Once I know what we’re dealing with, I’ll decide the next steps."

I turn back to the screens.

"But I need information. I need to know if she’s working a play or if they’ve made her."

"Smart."

Rolan moves to stand beside me.

"If you need men, you’ll have them. If you need weapons or extraction routes—whatever it takes—I’m with you on this."

His words settle something in my chest.

It’s not relief, but I know I’m not alone in this.

"Thank you."

"She must be important to you," he says.

"You’re risking a lot for her."

"She is."

When I say the words, my throat constricts.

It's the first time I'm admitting it aloud to anyone else.

"I can’t let her go, Rolan. I thought I could. I thought when this was over, I’d send her on her way, and that would be it. But I can’t."

"Why not?"

I’m silent for a long moment and stare at the blinking dot on the screen.

"The hollow spot she’d leave in my chest if she were gone would destroy me. It’s not about the operation anymore. It’s not about what she knows or what she can do for me. It’s about her."

Rolan processes this and nods.

"Then we make sure she survives. But Dimitri, you need to understand something. If she knows you love her, she becomes leverage for the Radiches, for anyone who wants to hurt you."

"I know."

I check the tracker again.

Forty-seven minutes have passed, and she’s still stationary.

"But I can’t change how I feel. I can only control what I do about it."

"Fair enough."

Rolan moves to the screens and examines the satellite feed.