I find myself pulling out my phone and typing before I can think better of it.
Our place. Sunset. Come alone.
I send it to Kira's number and immediately regret it.
What am I doing? Meeting her alone accomplishes nothing. Changes nothing.
Except I need to see her face when I tell her about Anya. Need to watch her realize that even her sister's safety isn't guaranteed anymore.
That's why I'm doing this. For the satisfaction of watching her break.
Not because guilt is eating me alive.
Not because some part of me needs to warn her.
The phone buzzes.
Kira:
I'll be there.
I leave the estate and drive around the city. I don’t know why, but I don’t feel like I can or should trust anyone. My eyes go to the rearview mirrors, keeping a close eye on the cars behind me. I want to make sure I’m not being followed.
When I get to our secret place that I know isn’t really a secret, I park in the trees and then walk to the spot.
The creek looks the same as it did six years ago.
Hidden from roads by a thick line of trees, accessible only by a path most people don't know exists. The water runs clear over smooth stones. The sound used to calm me when the pressure of being the Barinov heir got too heavy.
I brought Kira here for the first time a few months after we got together. It was my spot before it was ours. I can still picture her sitting on the bank with her shoes off her dainty feet in the water. We would sit out here and talk for hours about nothing important.
It was one of the last times I remember being truly happy.
Now I'm back, and the memory tastes like poison.
She arrives just before sunset.
When she sees me standing by the water, she stops about ten feet away. Strategic distance. Close enough to talk, far enough to run if necessary.
I’d catch her, but it would give her a good head start.
"You came," I observe.
"You summoned." Her voice is cold. "Are you planning to kill me? Because if so, I'd appreciate getting it over with. I have adress fitting tomorrow and I'd hate to miss it. Rather, I would love to miss it, but not if my corpse is rotting under some trees."
"Not planning to kill you." I turn to face her fully. "Though the thought has appeal."
"I'm sure." She crosses her arms. "So what is this? Another chance to tell me how you're destroying my organization? Because I'm aware. Do you want a gold star? Maybe a cookie? Get on with it.”
My girl’s fight is back.
I like it.
But I’m about to destroy her.
“If you’ve got a glass of vodka—”
“What do you want, Maksim? Why am I here?"
