THE GATEKEEPER

"What will you do for the information?"

"A-anything."

That was what I suspected. "You chose the wrong side."

She remains silent.

I guess I want her to say it. To be sorry she worked against us, but of course, that's foolish. Just because we can locate her nephew doesn't erase the wrongs that were done to her by the bratva.

And no gift I give her could cancel out what I took from her on my initiation night into the bratva.

I reach for her in the darkness. Find the curve of her cheek with my hand and caress it. "Be good, little warrior, and I'll give you what you want."

It's cruel of me to try to win her allegiance this way, but I already know it can be bought. It was with this promise that her supervisor convinced her to help the Moscow bratva get past our defenses. Of course, she believed she was helping the FBI.

"What do you need me to do?" she whispers in the dark. She thinks I will ask for some deed. A double-cross of the "FBI" perhaps.

Of course, we already have that planned without her help.

But it's good to know I have enough leverage if we do need her.

"Just be good," I murmur, stroking her cheek with my thumb.

"Mmm." She makes a little sound of consideration like she's trying to figure out what that means.

How could she know that I'm trying to negotiate for her love? To win her permanent allegiance? But perhaps giving her Mika will do that. When she learns he has been well cared for, as a real, adopted son, not as a young bratva brigadier, maybe she'll think differently of us.

"He is safe and happy. His adopted father will ask him if he wants to see you."

She sucks in a shocked breath. "Where is he? Who adopted him?"

"No. You haven't earned your answers yet. I don't owe you this."

She lets out a little sob of breath. "I don't know if I can even believe you."

"You will have to decide, won't you? Who you can trust, and who is feeding you lies."

She falls quiet. Her fingertips find my chest, and she traces the contours in the darkness. "It feels wrong to trust you." Her words hit me like a blow until she adds, "But I think I do."

Guilt mingles with satisfaction. What will happen to this trust when she finds out I'm the man who pulled the trigger on her dad?

I want to tell her. No, I don't want to tell her, but I know I should. Just get it out right now to see if there's any possibility of moving past it.

But I'm savoring this moment too much. I can't bring myself to snap this tenuous gossamer thread that's reaching between our hearts and connecting them right now.

Kira

I sleep heavily. When I wake, I'm bound to Maykl's bed. The covers have been tucked around my naked body, so I'm not cold. I appear to be alone.

I listen for a moment but hear nothing. A laptop is open on the dresser with a tiny green light shining at the top.

A camera.

He's monitoring me, possibly from his desk downstairs.

Gospodi, how long have I been asleep? I try to swallow, but my mouth is dry.

I lift my head and try to appear pathetic as I focus on the tiny dot on the laptop screen. "Maykl? I'm thirsty." I don't exaggerate my desperation. I actually trust that he will come. "I need water."

Just a few minutes later, I hear him enter the apartment. I hear the clink of a glass, then a faucet runs. When he comes in, he stands over me with a glass of water in his hand.

He wears a wicked smirk, and instead of bringing the water glass to my lips, he twitches the blanket down to reveal my naked form. "Valkiriya. I like having you chained to my bed." He cups the back of my head to help lift it as he brings the glass to my lips.

Water dribbles out both sides of my mouth when he spills it too quickly. He dries it with his thumb. "Do you need to use the bathroom?"

I nod, and he pulls out the key to the handcuffs and fits it in the lock.

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I consider fighting. I could take him by surprise the moment he unlocks my wrists. I have my strength back completely. I'm no longer softened by the drug and the sex and the vulnerability he wrenched from me yesterday.

Our gazes lock, and I know he knows exactly what I'm thinking. His movements still. He's ready for any attack. I probably wouldn't win against him although he's reluctant to hurt me, which I could use to my advantage. But then, I might be reluctant to hurt him, too, now.

"I'll be good," I murmur, realizing that it's true.

For the moment, anyway.

He says he knows where Mika is. I think I believe him. And, also, I'm...not hating my captivity. If I bide my time, there may be an easier way to get free.

That's what I tell myself. It's not that I want to remain Maykl's prisoner indefinitely. Not at all.

He releases the cuffs from the bed and tips his head toward the bathroom. I use the toilet and wash my face. When I emerge, he's not in the bedroom.

I do a quick sweep of the room, looking for a weapon. There aren't many. The bedside lamp, perhaps. But once more, I choose against fighting. Just note it for use in the future, if necessary.

And for some reason, I'm feeling more and more that it won't be necessary.

I find Maykl in the kitchen. He's poured Life cereal into a bowl for me. He adds milk and offers a spoon. I sit in the same place as yesterday and eat with my manacled hands. It's not easy, but not impossible, either.