I’m halfway through my second cup of coffee when Dmitri texts me:Come to my office.
No explanation. No context. Just a command that means drop everything and come immediately.
I set down my mug and head to his office. Whatever this is about, it involves Tony. Nothing else would warrant the terse summons at eight in the morning.
When I arrive, Alexei and Boris are already there. Tony stands near the window, looking like he hasn’t slept. Our eyes meet for a fraction of a second before I look away.
“Close the door,” Dmitri instructs.
I do. Then I take the empty chair across from his desk.
Dmitri doesn’t waste time with pleasantries. “We’re using Tony to identify Adrian’s source inside the organization. He’ll continue feeding Adrian false intelligence while we track who else has access to that information. When it appears in Adrian’shands through channels other than Tony, we’ll know who’s betraying us.”
I press my lips into a thin line and nod. “How long will this take?”
“Weeks. Maybe longer. Tony will be staying at the compound under surveillance. You’ll see him regularly. I need to know if that’s going to be a problem.”
“It won’t be.”
“Are you sure? Because if you can’t handle working in proximity to him, I need to know now.”
“I can handle it.”
Dmitri eyes me. He doesn’t believe me, but he also knows I won’t change my answer.
“All right, then. We have parameters in place for Tony’s contact with Adrian. If he deviates at all, Boris will handle it.”
“Handle it how?” I ask.
“However is necessary,” Boris replies from his position by the door.
Tony doesn’t react to the threat. Just keeps his gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder.
“What do you need from me?” I ask Dmitri.
“Nothing yet. But if Adrian asks Tony about you —your routines, your vulnerabilities, your feelings about the family—I want you prepared to help craft responses that sound authentic.”
“You want me to help him lie to Adrian about me.”
“Adrian’s not going to give up. He’s obsessed. We need to manage that obsession until we can eliminate the threat.”
The word “eliminate” settles in the room like smoke.
“When do we start?” I ask.
“We already have. Tony sent his first message to Adrian yesterday. We’re waiting to see how he responds.”
Dmitri dismisses Alexei and Boris with a nod. They leave, and suddenly it’s just the three of us—me, my brother, and the man who took a contract to destroy me.
“Sasha, can I have a moment?” Dmitri asks.
“Of course.”
He looks at Tony. “Wait in the hallway.”
Tony leaves without argument, and Dmitri comes around the desk and leans against it, crossing his arms. “Are you really okay with this? Because once we commit, there’s no going back. If you can’t handle seeing him every day, tell me now.”
I swallow hard against the lump that’s lodged itself in my throat. “I’m fine.”
