Page 42 of Conquer

After a moment, I looked back to Maxim.

“Ask,” Maxim said.

That was no guarantee he would give me what I sought, but he had indulged me for this long, and I took that as a sign.

“Let her live.”

Sam squeezed my hand harder, and part of me wondered if it was because she saw how dangerous the situation was. I chose not to think about that and instead let myself think that she had felt what I did, that she would miss me.

Maxim waited a moment and then looked to Sam.

“You’re very clever, Samara,” he said.

Sam looked at me and then back to Maxim. “Th-thanks,” she said.

“Your former colleague had a bag in his vehicle. I suggest you take it, leave, and never come back to this place,” he said.

The relief was strong enough to force the air out of my lungs. But Sam didn’t say anything, didn’t move. After a breath, I finally looked at her.

Her eyes were wet with a sheen of tears, but she didn’t let them fall.

“You should go, Sam,” I whispered.

I squeezed her hand then brush my lips against hers.

Still she didn’t move. Instead she stared at Maxim and swallowed hard, tears welling in her eyes.

“What’s going to happen to him?” she whispered, in a wavering, watery voice.

Maxim looked at her and gave her another of his grim smiles. But in the next breath, his face went hard, his eyes icy.

“Good-bye, Samara,” he said.

Sam got out of the car.

When we were alone, I looked at Maxim, ready to face whatever would come, able to face it now that I knew Sam would be okay.

“Adrian, my friend, what am I going to do with you?”