Page 72 of Shatter Me

"We'll figure it out," I tell Erik, watching the tension in his shoulders. “If Katarina feels for you what you think she does..." I pause, thinking of Tash, of the way she looked at me before she knew the truth. Once this is over, she might come back to you. It's her choice. No coercion, no threats."

Erik's head snaps up, hope flickering before he masks it. "You think that's possible?"

"The Lebedev family aren't idiots. They know this war is destroying both families. Once we negotiate peace..." I straighten my tie, a habit when I'm thinking. "Katarina's smart. If she wants you, she'll find a way back."

"And if she doesn't?"

I meet my brother's gaze. "Then you'll let her go. I'll let Tash go if that's what she chooses."

The words taste like ash in my mouth, but they're true. We're both caught in the same trap, wanting women who might never accept what we are or what we do.

"Fuck," Erik mutters, running a hand through his hair. "When did we become such sentimental bastards?"

I snort, appreciating his attempt at humor. "Blame it on the women. They have a way of getting under your skin."

"Under your skin?" Erik raises an eyebrow. "More like ripping your heart out and making you thank them."

The accuracy of his statement hits too close to home. I think of Tash's face when I confessed everything, the way her eyes widened in horror. The way she backed away from me like I was a monster.

"Yeah," I agree quietly. "They do that too."

28

TASH

Ihear his footsteps before I see him. The sharp click of Italian leather against marble echoes through the empty museum halls. My fingers freeze on my keyboard, but I don’t look up when Dmitri enters my office.

“Working late again?” His voice carries that edge of control that makes my heart race.

“Some of us have real jobs to do.” I keep typing, refusing to meet his gaze.

“Is your real job avoiding me?”

“I’m not avoiding you.” I slam my laptop closed. “I’m trying to maintain some semblance of a normal life while you’re out there burning down galleries and threatening people.”

“Everything I do is to ensure the safety of my own.”

“I’m not yours.” I stand up, hands planted on my desk. “I’m not some painting you can acquire and lock away in your private collection.”

Dmitri moves closer, his presence filling my office. “No. You’re far more valuable.”

“Don’t.” I step back, bumping into my filing cabinet. “You can’t show up here and expect me to fall into line because you’ve decided I need protection.”

“The threats are real, Tash.” His ice-blue eyes darken. “Lebedev?—”

“Stop using your war as an excuse to control me.” My voice is sure. “I’ve managed just fine before you came along.”

He closes the distance between us, and despite my anger, my body responds to his proximity. His cologne wraps around me, familiar and intoxicating.

“Have you?” His fingers brush my arm. “Because from where I’m standing, you look like you’re barely holding it together.”

“That’s your fault.” I shove his chest, but he doesn’t budge. “You brought this chaos into my life.”

“I brought the truth.” His hand slides to my neck, thumb tracing my racing pulse. “And you can’t tell me you don’t want this as much as I do.”

My breath catches. Even now, with anger coursing through my veins, my body betrays me, leaning into his touch.

“I hate that you affect me like this,” I whisper.

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