"Roman changed the arrangement." The words come out harsher than intended. There’s nothing gentle about it. "About Anya."
Her head snaps toward me. Her entire body stiffens. "What?"
"She's not going to Paris."
“What do you mean?” Her words are so faint I barely hear them.
"He's arranged a marriage instead. To Artem Trotsky."
The color doesn't just drain from her face—it vanishes. She actually sways on her feet.
"No." The word comes out strangled. "That wasn't the deal. She goes to Paris. That was the only reason I agreed to—"
"Roman doesn't care about deals." I cut her off. "He cares about leverage. As long as Anya's fate is uncertain, you'll cooperate. The moment she's safe in Paris, you become unpredictable."
"Trotsky will kill her." Kira's voice breaks. "He'll destroy her. She's nineteen. She's innocent. She's—"
"Your sister. I know." The guilt twists harder. "Which is why Roman chose him. Maximum leverage."
She's shaking now. Fury and fear warring in her expression. "You agreed to this. You sat in that meeting and agreed to let him marry my baby sister to a monster."
It's not a question. Just an accusation I can't deny.
"The decision was made without me."
"Why?" She takes a step toward me. "Maksim, I get that you hate me. I understand you want to destroy me. But Anya? What did she ever do to you?"
"She hasn’t done anything to me. She exists as leverage. She's collateral damage.”
"Collateral damage." Kira's laugh is wild. "That's what you call my sister? The girl you used to bring books to? The one you helped with her art projects? The one who cried when she heard you died because she loved you like a brother?"
I force down the regret. "That was before everything changed."
"She didn't change!" Kira's shouting now. "She's still that same girl! Still innocent! Still everything good in this fucking world! And you're going to let Roman destroy her to hurt me?"
"You destroyed me to get power," I shoot back. "Why is this different?"
"Because Ididn’t!"The scream tears out of her. "How many times do I have to tell you? I didn't betray you!”
We're too close now. I don't remember closing the distance but we're almost touching.
"You were marrying him anyway," I snarl. "Roman would have taken your organization with or without me. At least this way I get the satisfaction of watching it happen."
"My organization was my only shot at survival!" Her hands fist in my jacket. "Don't you understand? Without power, I'm nothing in this world. Just another woman to be used and discarded. At least with my organization, I had leverage. Had options. Had a chance of killing Roman before he could kill me!"
The admission stops me cold. "You were planning to kill him?"
"Of course I was planning to kill him!" She's crying now, furious tears. "Did you really think I'd just roll over and accept being his wife? That I'd let him control me? I was going to marry him, get Anya to safety, and then put a bullet in his head!"
"And take over his empire," I finish.
"And survive!" She shakes me. "Not for power! Not for glory! To fucking survive in a world that was trying to destroy me!"
I grab her wrists, stopping the shaking but not pulling her away.
We're breathing hard. Standing too close. Her hands still gripping my jacket. My fingers are on her pulse at her wrist. Her heart is racing.
"I don't know what you are anymore." My voice comes out rough. "I thought I knew you. Thought I understood you. I hate you, Kira."
