At the airport, Niko presses a ticket into my palm. "You’ll be safe on this flight," he promises, and I believe him. Aleksei’s men are everywhere, I count at least twelve in suits, scattered like shadows.
"Are you sure you want to go?" he asks.
And God, I wish I could slap him. "Don’t ask me that." I try to glare, but my eyes drop to the ticket again. The question burns in me, pride be damned, I can’t step on that plane without it.
"Why… why did he change his mind?" I lift my gaze to Niko. His sigh is heavy, and it makes me feel small, pathetic.
"Claire– "
"You know what, don’t answer that." I cut him off, shaking my head. "I don’t care. Better get on the plane before he changes his mind again." I turn, drag my bag a few steps, then glance back to wave. That’s when I notice it, the sa
