Talia's POV:
"That would be me," I told him before Louis could answer. My voice was still unnaturally calm. I didn't think it had fully hit me yet, the danger that I was in. All I wanted to do right now was stop him from hurting Louis. At the same time, at the back of my mind, I was processing the fact that they wanted me because I was Nicholas's lover. That could only mean one thing: Nicholas was alive, and they meant to use me against him. I suppressed a shudder of relief at the thought.
The leader stared at me, apparently as surprised by my uncharacteristic bravery as I was. Letting go of Louis, he came up to me, grasping my jaw with hard, cruel fingers. Leaning in, he studied me, his dark eyes gleaming coldly. He was short for a man, only about five-seven at most, and his breath washed over my face, bringing with it the fetid odor of garlic and stale tobacco.
