Chapter Fifty Two: Some Way To Keep Her

“Then why do you want it so badly? Just because of your promise to your

father?”

“It was a deathbed vow...” He stopped. He’d told himself that same lie

for years, but here in the darkness, lying in bed beside her, he couldn’t tell it

again. “Because I don’t want Andrei to have it. He doesn’t deserve a

home. Or a brother.”

“What about you?” Lyra said softly. “What do you deserve?”

Viktor looked away from her, towards his briefcase, which looked

distinctly out of place in the corner of the tent. “Exactly what I will get,” he

said. Retribution against his brother and the Mata Hari who’d caused their

rift. Total ownership of both Andreevich Mining and Southern Cross. That

would make him happy. Give him peace.

It would. It had to. Looking at her shadowy form in the darkness, he

turned the question back on her. “What will you do? With your life?”

“I don’t know.” She swallowed. “Illyra always talked about sending me to

college, but even if we had the money, I’m not sure that’s what I want.”