Page 118 of Stolen Empire

Why they want to harm either of us.

“Your father’s allies owe the Morozovs a blood debt. If you claim your birthright, they will follow you. And if you align with the Vetrovs, they will follow them too.”

He taps the photo.

“You are the last person who could take ownership of that pact. If you live, the Vetrovs will have the strength to destroy us.”

I stare at him, my mind reeling.

This can’t be real.

I’m just a thief, a con artist.

I’ve spent my life stealing scraps and running from danger.

I’m not a Pakhan’s daughter or a pawn in a Mafia war.

But the photo is staring up at me.

The little girl with my eyes.

The man with my cheekbones.

“Why are you telling me this?” I ask.

It feels like I'm in a really bad B movie where the bad guy gives his monologue right before he kills his victim.

“Because you need to understand what you are.” He leans forward.

“You’re not just some girl Dimitri Vetrov picked up off the street. You’re a weapon. A tool. And he’s been using you, Katerina. Do you like men using you?"

His words send a chill down my spine.

It disgusts me to even hear a hint of what he's insinuating.

My stomach clenches.

“He doesn’t know,” I say.

“Dimitri doesn’t know who I am.”

“We know.”

He smiles, cold and cruel.

“We’ve known since the moment you walked into that card room. We let you play your little game to see what the Vetrovs would do. Would they realize what they had? Would they use you? Turns out, they’re as ignorant as you are.”

My chest squeezes.

Dimitri has no idea what I am, and now these men will use that against him.

“If I’m so valuable, why am I still alive?” I ask.

"Wouldn't killing me just end that pact so you can take over?"

He looks as cruel and vindictive as they come.

The older man’s smile widens.