Page 37 of Keeping My Enemies Closer: Pt. 2

“I want to be there,” I announced like I wasn’t speaking about the possible torture of another person.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I want to be there when Aurora questions Marcelle,” I clarified.

His back snapped as he sat up straighter.“Are you out of your mind?”

While I’d already expected this kind of reaction, I still couldn’t hide my surprise.“So, you’re okay with a woman who is eight months pregnant being involved with something like this, butIcan’t be there?”

His different-colored eyes blinked at me wildly before saying, “This isn’t a Sunday afternoon barbecue that we’re talking about here, Zoya.”

“I’m aware,” I drawled out.

“Are you?”he shot back.“Because why on earth would you ask for such a thing?”

“Because I want answers,” I semi-lied.

“Answers that Aurora can easily get for you,” he pointed out.

I turned, so that I was facing him completely.“Kasimir, I don’t want Marcelle to see someone else fighting my battles.”

“Zoya, whether you’re there or not, that’s exactly what she’s going to see,” he replied.“I mean, you can’t sit there and tell me that you’re actually up to torturing someone if it’s required.”

“Well, no,” I admitted, my spunkiness waning a bit.

“Then what’s the point of you being there?”

“Aren’t you the one who said that just plain fear is enough to get a woman talking sometimes?”I reminded him.“I can’t see Marcelle holding out for very long once she realizes what she’s up against.”

“And if she does?”he challenged.“Then what?”

“Then I leave the room and let you guys do what you do,” I answered, doing my best to convince him that this wasn’t a bad idea.

“If you leave the room, then that’s us fighting your battles for you,” he said, and I didn’t appreciate the condescending look on his face.“What would be the point, Zoya?”

Because I want to face her, Kasimir,” I told him.“I want to...I want her to know that I know.I want her to know that she didn’t get away with it.”

“She’ll figure that much out once we snatch her up,” he pointed out.

“No,” I argued.“She’ll think that she’s there because of the stunt with me and Montana.She won’t know that she’s there because of what happened to me and my mother, too.”

“Oh, she’ll know,” he smirked coldly.“We’ll be sure to let her know.”

“ButIwant to let her know,” I told him.“I want to be the one standing in front of her, letting her know why she’s there.”

Kasimir let out a deep sigh, and that was a bad sign if ever I saw one.“Zoya, this shit isn’t like the movies.These people aren’t actors and there’s no script to read from.”

“I know that,” I snapped.

“Do you?”he shot back.“Because these are real people pleading for their lives, Zoya.These are people who will offer anything to live, and while you might think that your anger can handle it, what if it can’t?What if Marcelle’s begging makes you crack?”

“I-”

“Because here’s what’s not going to happen,” he said, cutting me off.“Once Aurora gets a hold of her, there’s no going back.You can’t change your mind after the fact.Even if she hadn’t orchestrated that robbery, she crossed Aurora.She crossed a Marchetti who also happens to be a Korolev, and there is no way that Aurora’s going to let her live after such a slight.”His face softened a bit, his eyes full of concern.“Do you really believe that you’re prepared for that?”

“Yes,” I answered stubbornly.

Kasimir let out another sigh.“Lepestok,this is not some after-school fight.This is the kind of shit that changes you forever, and while you think that you can handle it, what happens if you can’t?Is that something that you really want to risk?”