“You’re an intelligent girl, so I’m going to be straightforward with you. You’re becoming a potential… liability. The longer you remain undecided, the more uncomfortable I get. You’re going to have to take a side. If you choose us, I will provide round-the-clock protection while you live with your parents the next few weeks. In exchange, you’ll have no contact with any of Jane’s people. Once you turn eighteen and graduate, you’ll join us and I will make sure you are rewarded.”
“And if I don’t choose you?” I made a conscious effort not to curl my hands into a fist.
He lifted a shoulder and his eyes gleamed. “That would be a shame.”
“So, basically, what you’re saying is choose you now — or else?” I folded my arms over my chest to steady my trembling hands.
“Take it however you like, Tessa.” Boris crossed his legs and leaned an elbow on his knee as if he hadn’t just threatened me, but his eyes were on guard and ready for battle.
“You’re not trying to win me over with your charm anymore or trying to convince me you’re the good guys. You’ve moved straight to intimidation. What changed? Why the rush?” I reminded myself that Boris’s tactics were exactly what I’d expected. I needed to stay levelheaded, but that was difficult to do when his attitude disgusted me. As if I’d bow down and let him be boss over me. I rose from my chair. I let the fury take over and my adrenalin pumped through me. Anger was good. It was either that or be swallowed by terror.
“Tessa.” Hayden stood next to me. “Have a seat. We’re still talking.”
“We’re just talking,” Chait echoed in his smoothest voice.
“Listen to the boys,” Boris said, eyes narrowing to slits. “Sit.”
They were right. I was coiled too tightly. A quick glance at Chait told me he was ready to spring. Hayden looked more than ready to fight too.
Boris would never own me. Now was not necessarily the time for battle though, if it could possibly be avoided. Taking my seat again, I crossed my legs to appear relaxed though I was far from it. My limbs quivered and my mouth was void of moisture. Still, I spoke up.
“I don’t have a problem making a decision. We told you at dinner how we felt about Rena and David. Out of all of them, Chait’s the only one we like.” Taking a deep breath, I continued. “We can’t make a formal decision. I’m still living at home. I’m vulnerable there. You might have your men watching me, but someone could still get through. You can’t guarantee our safety. That was proven when Rena kidnapped me and later when she tried to kill me.”
As the words left my mouth, I realized that no matter how convincing my performance, Boris wouldn’t settle for anything less than a commitment right then. If he had his answer, he’d go and we’d work out the details later. It would give Hayden and me time to gather our strength and skills while we finished school. But could Boris keep us safe from anyone with their own agenda, like Rena? Unlikely. Besides, something about agreeing to Boris’s terms felt like selling my soul, even if I knew I was lying. If I could stall him…
“We’ve already discussed it and we’ve decided to choose you. I’m going to have to insist on more time before announcing it officially though.” As I faced him squarely, and lifted my chin, I noticed his expression change.
His eyes narrowed and his fury washed over me. He knew I’d already made my choice and it wasn’t him. It was over. He and his men weren’t leaving until Chait, Hayden and I were dead.
Not if I had any say about it. Boris’s ignorance of the extent of my abilities would work in my favor… maybe. I had to try. Closing my eyes, I gathered my strength. Another adrenalin rush hit me and I threw up a shield around Chait, Hayden and myself. I stood, interlocking my arms with theirs. We kicked our chairs aside and backed away from Boris.
In an instant, Boris stood in front of us. “What the hell is that?” He pushed out his hand then withdrew when he couldn’t go any further. “Fascinating. Such a shame you won’t need that talent after today. I’m going to give you one last chance. Choose me now and announce your decision to both sides tonight. Or watch Bree die. She’s here in the house now.” He sneered.
When I looked for her presence, I felt her close by. My insides trembled. Putting myself in danger was one thing. Risking Bree’s life was another matter entirely.
“They have orders to kill her if you fight me.” A corner of his mouth lifted.
I could drop my shield from Hayden and Chait, in favor of Bree, but without their help, all four of us would be dead. Maybe there was another way. I couldn’t imagine Boris hurting Bree after what I had to say.
“That would be stupid,” I said. “She’s like me. If you got rid of me, you could gain her trust while she’s young. She’d be loyal and very useful.” I could stall Boris, but how long could I hold up our shield? Beads of sweat formed over my brow.
He kept his expression neutral, but it was obvious by the gleam in his eye that I had him at ‘She’s like me.’ He wouldn’t kill her. But it was too late for me. I’d blown it. Boris would never believe I’d choose him, even if I dropped to my knees and begged forgiveness.
“You make a very compelling argument. I’ll try to keep her alive. However, that depends on you.”
“I don’t get it. You would’ve had me on board if you’d been patient. By pushing, you’re losing me. Why the rush?”
His stance stiffened. “It seems that Her Majesty Jane has disappeared. That troubles me. I’ve known for years that there’s something different about your family. What are you exactly though? Does Jane know? Does it have anything to do with her disappearance? I wasn’t worried about any of that until…” He tapped his chin, still looking at ease, as if completely confident that his ten men could handle one little girl and two young guys.
Pins and needles. If only he’d spit it out.
“Now I’m wondering if your uniqueness and Jane’s disappearance could be related to your sister Zoe digging herself out of her coffin. Strange, huh?” My face must have given me away, because Boris’s brows shot up. He leaned toward me. “You already knew.”
My hand shot out, sending a ball of fiery energy straight into his gut.
He gasped and fell back, clutching at his stomach. “Kill them!”
His men charged, but I strengthened my shield.
Boris popped up, face flushed with rage and twisted into a remnant of its former self. “You stupid little bitch. You’ve just assured your demise,” he scoffed. “While you’re using all your energy, I’ll send a man out for food. When you’re too weak and can’t refuel, which boy will you cut loose first? Hayden? Or Chait?”
“Tessa, let go when you need to,” Hayden said. He and Chait exchanged a nod, then pulled out their knives and struck out, their bubble of safety protecting them while they kicked ass on Boris’s men.
Which left Boris for me to deal with. He’d never let me out of his sight. Not until I was dead. If he suspected Zoe was alive, he’d kill her too. He’d make sure it was done right this time.
I remembered the logs and imagined his heart as a hunk of wood — which wasn’t much of a stretch. In my mind’s eye, the spark grew to a blistering heat. “Bring out the little girl!” he screamed, twitching in pain.
Bree appeared, shaking and sobbing as Kyle held a knife to her throat. My shield went down and Boris lunged, a large knife in his hand. We tumbled to the ground.
“Tessa, don’t worry about us. Protect yourself f—” Hayden stopped mid-sentence but Boris kept me too busy dodging the blade to see what happened. We tussled over the hard laminate floor, my limbs thrashing at him. He trapped me beneath him, grabbed a chunk of my hair with his free hand and smashed my head against the floor. Searing pain speared my skull.
His strength unnerved me. If he hadn’t been damaged by my fire and weakened, he probably would’ve already killed me — which he could still do if I didn’t get him off me and turn my shield back on. If I put it up while we were touching, would he be included in my protection?
I wrenched his hand away and he thrust the dagger at my chest. I clamped a hand onto his wrist while his fist pounded my throat and knocked the breath out of me. As we rolled over, his dagger flew at my neck. I jerked to the side but the metal still grazed my skin.