“Piper.” Timofey draws close and grips my chin. His nose brushes against the tip of mine, and my eyes flutter closed of their own accord. “I need you to do this for me. I know, I f*****g know, it’s going to be hard for you. But this is the only way I’ll know you’re safe.”
“We haven’t seen anyone on this side of the house. Maybe Benjamin and I will be fine if we turn off the lights and—”
“‘Maybe’ isn’t good enough for me,” he says. “I won’t be able to focus if I’m not sure you’re safe. And I need to be focused. I need to go.”
I shake my head, terror choking me out. “Stay with me, Timofey. Don’t go. You have soldiers. Let them handle it.”
“If my men are willing to die for me, I have to be willing to fight for them.” He shakes his head gently. “I’ll force you in there if I have to, but I
