50. Kat

Chapter 50

Kat

The soft hiss of fabric sliding into place is the only sound in the room. My hands tremble as I fasten the strap of my bag, every movement deliberate, precise. This is it. My one shot. If I don’t leave now, it’s over—for A.J., for me, for Nik.

I glance toward the bedroom door, cracked open just enough for me to hear if he stirs. Nik should still be asleep. He was pale and drained when I left him resting, his body finally giving in to exhaustion. He needs the sleep. And I need him not to wake up. Not yet.

Guilt twists in my chest, but the consequences of him knowing the truth are impossible to ignore. If I tell him everything now—about the stronzo , A.J., the diamond—it will be the end of him. He’d try to handle it himself and avenge me, and in his condition, he’d get himself killed. And if I don’t go tonight before the stronzo's reinforcements arrive, A.J. is dead. We’re all dead. There’s no other way.

I tighten the strap of my bag, my heart hammering as I creep toward the foyer. Each step feels like wading through quicksand. My window is closing.

"Going somewhere?"

Nik’s voice freezes me in place, low and sharp, cutting through the quiet like a blade. I spin around, my heart sinking as he steps into the room, his eyes dark and locked onto mine. He’s still shirtless, his shoulder freshly bandaged, but he’s on his feet, moving with grim determination. His gaze locks on me, pinning me in place.

"Nik," I manage, my voice trembling. "You’re supposed to be in bed."

"And you’re supposed to be here," he growls, his voice low and sharp as he steps closer. "Not sneaking out like a goddamn thief in the night."

I straighten, meeting his eyes. "I wasn’t sneaking," I say quickly, adjusting the strap on my shoulder. "I have to go. I’ll be back soon, I promise."

His jaw tightens, the muscles ticking. "Like hell you will." His voice hardens, and his jaw tightens as his gaze drops to the bag slung over my shoulder. "What’s in the bag, Kat?"

I hesitate, my pulse pounding in my ears. "It’s nothing. Just… just some things I need. Go back to bed. Please. I'll be right back—I swear."

"Don’t lie to me," he snaps, closing the distance between us. His eyes burn with fury, but there’s something else beneath it—something raw and desperate.

"Nik, I don’t have time for this," I say, my voice rising with urgency. "I have to leave. This is really, really important. If I don’t go now, it’s over. A.J. needs me."

I half expect him to lose his cool completely, but he surprises me. "Tell me what's going on."

"I... I can't. Not yet. But soon. Please, Nik. This might the most important thing I've ever done in my life. Just let me go."

He grabs my arm, his grip firm but not painful. "Take me with you."

I shake my head, panic bubbling up. "I can’t do that. You’re hurt, baby. You can barely stand without wincing. You’d only slow me down."

"Then take Dmitri," he says through gritted teeth. "Or anyone else. But you’re not going alone."

"I have to go alone!" I snap, wrenching my arm free. "You don’t understand?—"

"Then make me understand!" he roars, his voice breaking. "Give me one good reason why you can't let anyone help you."

I swallow hard, my chest tightening as I search his face. My mind scrambles for a way to explain without telling him everything. "I can’t. Not yet. I'm sorry." My voice softens, trembling. "If everything goes well tonight, I’ll explain. I promise. Maybe even tomorrow. But right now, you have to trust me. I need to do this, and I must do it without you. Please."

"Trust you?" His expression twists, torn between fury and fear. "You’re asking me to just sit here while you run off into the night to God knows where, doing God knows what? While McGuire is out there, gunning for anyone tied to me?"

I nod, my throat tight. "Yes, that’s exactly what I’m asking. Because if I don’t do this, A.J. dies. And maybe I do too. And you..." My voice falters, and I shake my head. "If I don’t do this tonight, we lose everything."

"No, no, no," he cries, his voice breaking. His expression twists into a mix of anger and desperation. He takes a step closer, his voice shaking. "You’re leaving me. And you’re not coming back."

His words hit me like a punch to the chest, and for a second, I can’t breathe. “That’s not true," I whisper, my voice trembling.

"Isn’t it?" His eyes narrow, and suddenly, he’s moving. Before I can react, he grabs me, his arm hooking around my waist as he throws me over his healthy shoulder.

"Nik!" I scream, kicking and thrashing against him. "Put me down! What the hell are you doing?"

"You’re not going anywhere,” he growls, his voice vibrating with barely contained rage.

I beat my fists against his back, but he doesn’t flinch. He strides through the penthouse, his grip like iron. My heart pounds as I realize where he’s heading. "No. No, no, no! Nik, stop! You can’t do this!"

He doesn’t answer. His back is taut, his body tense as he carries me into his bedroom. My heart pounds as he kicks the door open and strides inside. Then he kicks the door shut behind him.

"Nik, stop!" I cry, panic clawing at my throat. "This isn’t a joke! I need to go!"

He ignores me, setting me down on the bed with more gentleness than I expect. I try to scramble to my feet, but he’s faster. He shoves me back down, his hand pressing against my chest with just enough force to keep me there.

"I warned you. Over and over again," he says, his voice low and deadly. He steps back, grabs the key from his nightstand, and walks toward the door. "I can't lose you. I won’t let you leave me.”

My stomach drops. "Nik," I beg, my voice breaking. "Don’t do this. Please. You don’t understand. This is life or death. If I don’t leave now, people will die. A.J. will die."

His back is to me, his hand still on the key. For a moment, I think he might listen. But when he turns, the look in his eyes is unrelenting. His face twists with pain as his eyes harden. "And if you leave, I lose you," he says, his voice raw and trembling. "Do you think I’ll let you walk out that door knowing I might never see you again?"

"You have to!" I cry, tears streaming down my face. "Nik, this isn’t about us. I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t important."

"I'm not losing you," he snaps, his voice cracking. "Not now. Not ever."

I surge to my feet, my heart pounding. "You don’t understand," I cry, tears stinging my eyes. "You won't lose me. I'll be back. You’re making a mistake, Nik. Please."

His eyes soften for a fraction of a second, but then he looks away, his jaw clenching. "We’ll talk when McGuire is dead," he says simply, like it’s already decided. “You’ll stay here until then.”

I lunge for him, my hands grabbing his arm, but he doesn’t budge. “Please," I sob, my voice breaking. "You don’t know what you’re doing!"

He looks down at me, his expression carved from stone, but his eyes betray him. They’re full of anguish, of something so raw it steals my breath.

"I know exactly what I’m doing," he says quietly, his voice rough. "I’m keeping you alive. I'm keeping you with me. Even if you hate me for the rest of your life.”

I collapse onto the bed, my chest heaving with sobs. My mind races, panic clawing at me as I realize the truth. If I can’t leave, it’s over. A.J. is as good as dead. And maybe I am too.

I sob, shaking my head frantically. "If you do this, Nik, there’s no turning back. I won’t forgive you for this. I can’t."

Nik’s dark brown eyes—once so dear and familiar—look utterly alien to me as he takes his time studying me. For the first time, when I stare into them, I don’t recognize the man looking back at me.

He doesn’t say a word. Without hesitation, he steps out of the room and locks the door behind him with a final, decisive click. The sound is deafening, slamming through me like a physical blow, shattering my heart in one move.