Page 83 of The Darkness is Calling

“Actually, his family set the conditions...”

“Stop making excuses for him, Ekaterina. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

The coldness in his voice sends shivers down my back, along with the wave of doubts his words stir inside me.

“And when you say that, are you referring to yourself or to him?”

“Both.”

He takes a step toward me until he is close enough to caress my cheek with the tips of his fingers.

“He is not like you,” I tell him quietly.

“No. He truly isn’t,” he says with arrogant conviction, even though he seems deeply distracted by the feel of my skin.

“No,” I tell him again, this time trying to correct myself. “He has nothing to do with the mafia, in any way. He is a man who has the law on his side, especially with this contract. He has no secrets, except political ones I don’t want to know.”

“Everyone has secrets, dusha moya.”

“Maybe. But nothing that would lead to canceling the contract I signed.”

“What were you thinking when you agreed to that?” he scolds me softly.

I shrug.

“I thought I was doing the right thing. That I was on the right path.”

“And now?”

I sigh and look into his mysterious eyes.

“Now you are standing in my way.”

“And I am not moving.”

His honesty warms my soul.

“Until when?”

“Until you kill me.”

I almost laugh.

“Me?”

“You are the only one with that power.”

“I highly doubt that,” I say sarcastically. “You are a Pakhan, and I am just a pianist.”

His eyes gleam, and a wicked smile appears in the corner of his mouth.

“You have your recital in a few days.”

I nod.

“I see you keep up with the news.”

“More than you think,” he says quickly.