TIMOFEY
She's so close.
Her eyes are still shut when I cross the distance between us. My hand snakes around her neck, and she stretches onto her toes.
I press my lips to her ear. "Where is he?" I close my eyes at the way my voice manages to crack with the pain I can't—won't—let her see.
"I don't know." She starts to shake her head, but stops when I squeeze.
Desire and anger brew a toxic cocktail in my gut. Her life is in my hands, and I'm not sure what I want to do with it. I could do what any other don would do in my stead. Or… I could do what I want.
She fights for a breath, but I only let up just enough for it to shudder through. Old instinct wars with new. Yet another problem I don't have the time to face.
