Execution (Off Balance, #2)

by Lucia Franco

His job was to catch me if I fell. Not sweep the rug out from under my feet and watch me hit the ground.

"Say please." My eyes shot up, and I saw red. "Fuck you."

"I hate myself for that more than you can ever know," Kova admitted, and the conviction in his voice broke my heart.

The man was gorgeous on the outside, but I had to question the color of his soul.

thought you would understand more than anyone how important each competition is, what I need to do to achieve my dream. But you stripped it from me. You hardened me in mere seconds with your words and your actions, and I don't know if I could truly ever forgive you for what you did."

"You've accomplished what you set out to do."

"And what is that?"

"I can't stand the sight of you."

You're a very difficult man to follow."

"Do you not see how I cannot say what I want? I cannot,"

"Bullshit. What risk? You mean speaking your thoughts honestly for once? So you can fuck me, but you can't talk to me? How does that make sense? How is talking a risk? Who am I going to tell?"

but I knew what I needed to do to get him to open up. I needed to touch him. He needed human contact.

"I hate you and want you at the same time."

"Listen, I cannot make you any promises, but I will try to be better. I am only human, and I wrongfully acted out. And contrary to what it may seem, I never want to see you hurting like today. Your first meet to test elite is a big one and I want you prepared."

In another place, in another time, things would be different. I'd let him kiss me, let him have me however he wanted. But right now, I couldn't, and I wasn't sure when I'd let him ever again.

"Please don't kiss me."

"Do not deny me." "You told me to deny you." "I lied,"

"Every time I am near you, every time I think about you, I feel this way, malysh. You have awakened a beast inside me."

"Every fucking time. Never in my life has this happened to me. It drives me crazy that I cannot get enough of you."

"Lyubov' ne to, chto vy mozhete ponyat', eto to, chto vy chuvstvuyete v svoyem serdtse. Net slov, eto prosto tak."

"Konstantin didn't mention anything like that to me when we last spoke. In fact, he seemed very pleased with your progress. Now that I think about it, he was raving about you."

"If only it was that easy. She's that girl who gets under your skin. Just digs and digs, until she's buried herself deep in your bones and you don't want her to leave…until she

"Which one was it, malysh?" Malysh.

Hearing Kova use the one and only word for Katja I begged him not to was a direct punch to the gut.

"I have been watching you all night,"

"You know, that is something I admire immensely about you. You are always so ready to take on anything thrown your way without fear. It is an admirable trait."

it. I feel like when two people are in love with one another, they should be completely consumed with each other."

Nao to acreditando que ele falou isso pra ela.

"Yes, it would be terrible. I cannot fathom it." My heart broke at the dejection in his voice, and for myself.

I wanted him, but he wanted her.

"I made her a promise long ago, and now I do not know if I can keep it, even though it would be the right thing to do. I am continually stuck between right and wrong."

"You have not made my life harder—if anything, you have made it brighter. Pozhaluysta, do not doubt that for one minute."

I sensed you were there, I just didn't know where you were."

"That is a scary thought, you know, to feel another person like that, to know who it is, but not see them." My stomach flipped. "Yeah, it is. Has it ever happened to you?" His eyes bore into mine. "Yes."

"I am right where I want to be,"

I'd once read if you listened to someone's heartbeat that your heartbeat would mimic theirs. It was the connection and makeup of two people who were complete when joined together.

"Another time, another life… You look absolutely breathtaking tonight, malysh."

I couldn't comprehend how he could go from being with me, touching me, kissing me, and saying what he did, to acting this way with Katja. I had to wonder what lies he told himself to make it all okay in his head…and what lies he fed her.

"You kissed Hayden."

You're more frustrating to figure out than a female."

want you to sit with me and listen to what I have to say. Listen to my critique."

You are talented, and while I have faith in you, you need to see firsthand what you are up against."

"On your back. Hands by your side." "Words I'm sure you love saying."

"You make me sound like a charity case." "You are," he clipped, looking deep in my eyes. Talk about a punch to the gut. "That is exactly what you are. I am going out of my way to help and improve you, but only because I believe in you."

"Do not break,"

"I can see it in your face. Focus on the big picture. Let the words roll off your back and forget them." Kova lowered his voice and his eyes softened as he said, "Remember, when we are inside these walls, I am not here to be your friend, I am not here to be nice. I am here for one reason, and one reason only.

Everything I do for you, to your body, has a reason. Sometimes I think you are too naive to see it right now."

With the way he'd acted, I had to wonder if Katja, or anyone, ever showed him gratitude.

He never told me that. I smiled inwardly at his defense.

Tomorrow you will see why you are here and why I did what I did.

Just trust me on this. I only want the best for you.