“I know.” He doesn’t try to defend himself. “And I will regret that for the rest of my life.”
“Will you? Or will you just regret getting caught?”
He flinches like I’ve slapped him. “I deserved that.”
“You deserve a lot worse.” My voice cracks, but it does not break. I refuse to let it. “Do you have any idea what it felt like?”
“No, you can’t!” I’m shouting now, all the pain and rage I’ve been bottling up finally exploding. “You can’t possibly imagine because you’ve always known exactly who you are! Vincent Akopov, heir to the throne, future pakhan, the man who controls everything and everyone around him!”
Tears are streaming down my face. I hate that he’s seeing me like this, so broken, so vulnerable.
“Meanwhile, I don’t even know my own name anymore,” I continue, softer now. “Am I R
