Page 97 of Twisted Fate

I feel desperate to see him again. I want him, in a way that goes beyond the physical. Right now, seeing him is the only thing that feels like it could give me relief.

It's foreign and frightening and oddly exhilarating all at once.Is this what love feels like? Terror and hope combined? A longing to see someone, and a longing for them to stay away, all at once, because that would mean they’re safe?

I don’t have time to think about it. The door slides open behind me, and I know without turning who it is. I recognize his footsteps, his gait.

"Valentina." Kane's voice is ice-cold, devoid of all feeling. "How disappointed I am in you."

I turn slowly, keeping my expression neutral despite the hatred burning in my chest. He stands just inside the doorway, impeccably dressed as always in a light linen suit perfect for the tropical climate. His silver hair is neatly combed, his tan face lightly lined, his expression unreadable. He looks like a benevolent businessman enjoying retirement, not the monster I now know him to be.

More of a monster than I ever knew.

"Nicholas." I drop the respectful "Kane" I've always used before. A small rebellion, but one that doesn't go unnoticed. His eyes narrow slightly.

“You were my finest creation.” He steps further into the room. “My pride and joy, Valentina. And now… you’ve thrown it all away. For what? A man?” He lets out a paternal sigh. “How predictably female of you.”

My jaw tightens, but I refuse to rise to the bait. I remain silent, watching him.

“You had such potential.” Kane faces me. “A disappointing waste of years.”

“I’ve done plenty for you.” I tilt my chin up. “I’ve killed and killed, over and over again. All for a promise that was never going to be fulfilled.” I swallow hard. “You used me.”

He snorts. "I gave you purpose. I gave you skills. I gave you a life that most people can only dream of." He spreads his hands, encompassing the luxury around us. "And how do you repay me? With betrayal."

“I know what you did.” I look at him evenly. There’s no point in hiding it now. He’ll keep me alive for a time, to lure Konstantin. If Konstantin doesn’t take the bait, Kane will start taking pieces off of me—a thought I don’t relish. It will get worse, until he gets what he wants. But I’ll stay alive until Konstantin comes. And when he does, I have to believe that will be the end of Kane. Even if I’m not there to see it.

“Do you?” Kane looks unaffected. “You understand hard choices, surely, Valentina. I made such a choice. I could have let you die, too. But I had different plans for you.”

“Plans to use me to get back at my father, even after he was dead?” I spit out. “I wouldneverhave cooperated if I’d known?—”

“I did try to keep it from you.” Kane’s lips purse. “I hoped to give you a name eventually, and satisfy you that way. But it was a shame to lose my best assassin. My finest triumph?—”

I rear back, spitting in his face. He looks shocked for a brief moment, taking a handkerchief from his pocket, before crossing the space between us in two quick strides. The slap is so quick that I don’t see it coming, but hard enough to drive me down to the floor, my shoulder striking the hard surface once again. It’s all I can do to bite back a cry of pain.

“You failed me.” Kane stares down at me. “After everything I did for you, after the life I gave you, you failed me at the most important task Ievergranted you. So you will come to see the error of your ways, Valentina. Abramov will come for you, and I will make him regret it when he does. I will make youbothregret it.”

“He might not come,” I whisper, and Kane laughs, the sound genuinely amused.

“He’ll come for you. Love makes men stupid. It's why I've always avoided the emotion, myself."

“I’ll finish what you couldn’t,” Kane continues, his expression smoothing. “You’ll serve one final purpose for me, my dear. And then—” He glances down to the thin, almost imperceptible seam in the floor. "The rocks below are quite jagged. A fall from this height would be most unpleasant."

The threat doesn't frighten me as much as it should. What terrifies me is the thought of being used to hurt Konstantin, of being the reason he’s harmed… or worse.

"I'll kill you before I let you touch him," I promise, the words a hiss through my teeth as I get back to my feet.

Kane sighs, like a parent dealing with a petulant child. "Always so dramatic." He moves toward the door. "Rest while you can, Valentina. When Abramov arrives, things will become quite unpleasant for both of you."

As he reaches the door, a desperate plan forms in my mind. It's reckless, probably suicidal, but it's the only chance I have. If I’m dead, Konstantin can fight his way out of here without worrying about me. But if I could just take Kane with me, if I could escape long enough to find a way…

I lunge forward before I can think better of it, driving my shoulder into Kane's back with all the force I can muster. The impact sends us both crashing into the wall beside the door. Kane's head hits the stone with a satisfying crack, momentarily stunning him.

I drop to my knees, frantically searching his pockets with my bound hands as I twist around. I feel the cool metal of a pocketknife and manage to twist it open before Kane recovers, flipping it to slash wildly at the zip ties around my wrists. They part with a snap, the blade catching the skin on my wrists with a burn that makes me wince as I feel hot blood trickling down my skin, but I manage to free my hands.

Kane is already regaining his senses, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. I drive my knee into his stomach, knocking the wind from him, then scramble for the door, just in time to remember that the panel almost certainly won’t answer to me any longer.

Kane's hand closes around my ankle. I kick back savagely, connecting with something soft. He grunts in pain but doesn't let go.

I twist in his grip, bringing my free foot down on his wrist with a crunch of breaking bone. He howls, releasing me. I lunge for the door again, grabbing his limp hand and hauling it up to press against the scanner. It beeps in recognition, the door sliding open.

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