Sasha sets down the folder. “I’ve been thinking about something Katya said. About separating the mission from the man. About how Dmitri lied to her, but his actions after she learned the truth mattered more than the deception itself.”
“And?”
“And I’ve been trying to apply that to us. To separate what you were hired to do from who you actually are. I don’t know if I can fully trust you yet. But I want to try understanding who you arebeneath the operative. I think maybe you’ve been trying to figure out the same thing about yourself.”
She’s right. I’ve spent so many years being whoever the mission needed me to be that I’m not sure I know who I am without the cover.
“Meeting you made me want to be someone better,” I admit. “Better than the man who took Adrian’s contract. Better than the operative who sees people as assets. I don’t know if I can become that person, but I want to try if you’ll give me the chance.”
“I’m willing to see what happens if we both try being honest from here forward. No more performances. No more lies. Just whatever this is between us.”
“That’s more than I deserve.”
“Maybe. But it’s what I’m offering.” She stands. “Don’t waste it, Tony.”
“I won’t.”
She starts to leave, then pauses at the door. “For what it’s worth, I think your uncle would be proud of the man you’re trying to become.”
Then she’s gone, and I’m alone with that thought.
Would my uncle be proud? Or would he be disappointed that it took me this long to remember his lessons?
I gather the financial records and head back to my room. I need to prepare for tonight’s call with Adrian. Need to plant the Luxembourg information convincingly.
But halfway down the hall, Boris appears from a side corridor.
“Walk with me,” he orders.
I follow him outside to the compound gardens. He doesn’t speak until we’re far from any buildings or potential listening devices.
“Most men would’ve cracked by now,” he finally states with a grunt. “The stress of lying to someone who still thinks you’re loyal—it breaks people.”
“I’ve had practice.”
“CIA?”
“Among other things.”
Boris stops at a bench and sits. I remain standing, unsure what this conversation is really about.
“Dmitri wants to trust you,” Boris continues. “So does Alexei. But they’re leaders. They have to think strategically. Me? I just care about keeping this family safe.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?” Boris looks up at me. “Because here’s what I see. I see a man who took money to destroy us. A man who lied to Sasha. A man who’s only here now because he got caught.”
“That’s fair.”
“But I also see a man who confessed when he could’ve kept lying. A man who’s putting himself at risk to identify our real enemy. A man who looks at Sasha like she’s the only thing keeping him human.” Boris stands. “So I’m going to say this. If you hurt her again—if you betray this family after we’ve given you a chance—I won’t wait for Dmitri’s orders. I’ll put a bullet in your head myself. Understood?”
“Understood.”
“Good.” Boris leaves me standing in the garden, processing what just happened.
Boris threatened to kill me. But he also called me smart. Acknowledged that I’m learning their methods. Suggested that I might belong here.
That’s as close to acceptance as I’m going to get from him. And somehow, it matters.
