The folder fell from my hands onto the cement.
I wanted to run, but I was paralyzed.
“What if I say no?” I whispered, staring down at the cement by my feet, a chill wracked my body. “What if I run?”
Nikolai was first to answer. “There is no running from this, Violet. For what it’s worth, I am sorry. We all are, but it’s the only way, and we need to keep the Petrovs in place; Andrei can only do so much here in Chicago. The Family is large enough that they’re constantly trying to plan a coup, even with someone like Andrei in charge.”
“Right.” I licked my lips. “So, I’m going to be the ultimate sacrifice just to keep some greedy old men happy?”
Next to me, Breaker shook, his hands dangled at his sides, his fingers trembling like he was about to ball them into fists and punch someone, or maybe he would just pass out.
The wind picked up, worsening the sickening chill in my heart, sucking out the last pieces of my soul.
Nobody answered.
Which was my answer, wasn’t it?
“We all make sacrifices,” I said in a hollow voice, “for the Family. I guess this is mine.”
“Violet—” Breaker grabbed my hand, but I gently pulled away and looked up into the eyes of the men who’d sworn to protect me, the ones now handing me over to another Family.
“Anything else? Because I’d like to have some time alone to process.” I sounded calm on the outside, but on the inside, I was twisted, a bit broken, and trying to figure out why my chest felt like it had been cracked in half and put back together backward.
“For now, just get in the SUV.” Nikolai backed away, and I had no choice but to follow, hands shaking at my sides as a pissed off Breaker got in after me.
The car ride was fast.
And then I was staring up at Nikolai’s private jet. “Why are we going now?”
“Because I can’t keep you safe anymore here in Chicago, and your family can’t know about any of this.” He said sadly, his dark brows drawing together. “It looks less suspicious if Breaker’s with you—you’ll be visiting different Universities under the guise of studying in Seattle, he’ll accompany you, and then you’ll return decision made, ready to say goodbye to everyone and everything you’ve ever known.”
My throat closed up as I reached for Breaker’s hand.
He took mine and squeezed; by the tick in his jaw, I knew he was ready to fight, but I needed him calm because if he wasn’t, I was afraid that I would snap, and if I snapped, I might not ever be able to put myself back together again.
“Fine.” I licked my dry lips and made my way up the stairs of the G6 gripping Breaker’s hand the entire way.
We were, of course, offered champagne once we were on board. I took two glasses, Breaker grabbed the bottle, and without even asking, we moved to the master bedroom.
He closed the door and locked it while I started chugging the champagne like it was water.
When I was done with both glasses, he handed me the bottle, left for a few seconds, and came back with another one of whiskey.
“Ah, starting in on the hard stuff already?” I tried teasing.
He said nothing, just stared down at the bottle in his hands. “This is my fault.”
“Breaker, it’s not—”
“—it fucking is.” He snorted. “I didn’t save you, Violet, why am I always too late? Why am I always in the wrong? You know why I’ve been different since that night?” His emerald green eyes met mine, blazing with fury. “Because I can’t fucking look at you without feeling like I failed.”
“You didn’t fail me.”
He opened the bottle and tipped it back, his throat moving making him look powerful, sensual as he drank deep and then wiped the back of his mouth with his hand.
I got up and walked over to him, then very slowly hiked up my skirt and straddled his lap. I gripped his chin with my fingertips and stared into his eyes. He looked so regal sitting there, his jaw tight, his eyes furious as he stared me down. “What do you need, Vi? What can a man like me give you that you don’t already have?” He tried to jerk away from my hold, but I wouldn’t let him, which just seemed to piss him off more. “Vi—”
I cut off his protest with a kiss.
He gripped my sides, digging his hands into my skin like he wanted to mark me as his tongue clashed with mine. He tasted like whiskey. He tasted like wicked, sweaty nights, and lazy days in bed.
“You can make me forget,” I said against his mouth. “And you can make me remember why it’s only ever been you.”
He sighed, resting his forehead against mine. “We were damned from the start.”