Page 19 of Toxic Salvation
He’s slouched in his chair, attention fixed on the crystal tumbler of whiskey in his grasp. He looks like he’s been drinking for a while, but knowing him, it probably takes a lot more than a few glasses to make a dent.
“It’s late,” he remarks without looking up. “You should stay the night.”
I actually laugh. “Are you kidding me? In case you missed the memo, we skipped right past the ‘cute sleepover’ portion of our relationship. In fact, I’m pretty sure that ship sailed when you told me I was nothing to you. I’m going to get an Uber back to the school so I can get my car and?—”
“Osip already collected your car from the school and had it delivered to your apartment. You’re welcome.”
“Great. Then I’ll just take the Uber straight back to my?—”
“No. You won’t.”
The emotionless way he says that makes my blood pressure spike. “What is this, Kovan? You won’t let me leave now?”
“We have things to discuss.”
“Fine.” I plant my fists on my hips. “Let’s discuss Luka and the fact that his behavioral problems are a cry for help that you’re choosing to ignore.”
“Vesper—”
“Or, how ‘bout this: We could talk about the way you threw me away because you got scared. Would you like that?”
He snorts as he reaches for the whiskey bottle and pours himself another generous measure. “What the hell do I have to be scared of?”
“Loving me? Losing me? I don’t know. Take your pick.”
He drinks half the glass in one swallow, and I watch his throat work. “You think pretty highly of yourself.”
“Actually, I don’t give a shit! If you don’t want to talk about that, let’s discuss the Keres instead. How’sthatfor a conversation starter?”
His entire body goes still. “The Keres are not your concern.”
“Except they operate out of my hospital. And you’re involved with them. And apparently—” My voice cracks despite my best efforts. “So was my father.”
“The less you know, the better.”
“You lied to me from the beginning.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Bullshit,” I snap. “You were trying to cover your own ass. And I was so stupidly infatuated with you that I bought every excuse you fed me.” I take a step closer, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. “We’re not friends. We’re not partners. We don’t owe each other anything except honesty. You owe me that much, Kovan.”
He sets down his glass with deliberate care. “Fine. What do you want to know?”
“You told me you were stopping the organ harvesting. You said it was over.”
“For me, it is.” He’s still emotionless. “The organ market was my father’s creation. He and Ihor built it up, recruited surgeons they thought would make good soldiers.”
“Surgeons like my father?”
He says nothing. Neither a confirmation nor a denial.
“Tell me the truth,” I croak. “Was Ihor lying when he told me about my dad? Was he just trying to hurt me, drive a wedge between us?”
Kovan looks away, staring at the fireplace instead of meeting my eyes.
The sob that tears out of me sounds like it’s coming from someone else. My chest feels like it’s on fire, every breath a struggle.
“So it’s true then? My father was part of the Keres?”
