I move to stand beside Alina, close enough that our shoulders brush. A united front. Irina's eyes flick to me, and I see her taking in the details. The way I'm positioned protectively. The possessive hand I place on Alina's lower back.
"Mrs. Popov." I keep my voice neutral, professional. "This is unexpected."
"I'm sure it is." She returns to her seat, crossing her legs elegantly. "But surely, you can understand a mother's need to see her child after such traumatic events."
"Traumatic events that your husband orchestrated," Alina says. Her voice is stronger now, steadier. "Events that nearly got me and Katya killed."
Irina's mask slips for just a fraction of a second. I see it in the tightening around her eyes, the way her fingers clench on the handkerchief. Then it's back in place, smooth and perfect.
"Your father made difficult choices," she says carefully. "Choices he believed were necessary to protect our family."
"Protect?" Alina's laugh is bitter. "He sold me to the Kozlovs. He tried to have me killed. He was going to kill Katya."
"You don't understand the pressures he was under. The threats we faced."
I watch this exchange with growing certainty. Irina knew. Maybe not every detail of Viktor's plans, but she knew enough. She knew about the alliance with the Kozlovs. She knew about the church attack. And she did nothing to stop it.
"Did you know?" Alina asks, and I hear the pain underneath the anger, the desperate hope that her mother will deny it, will prove that at least one parent loved her. "Did you know what Papa was planning?"
Irina's silence is answer enough.
"Mama." Alina's voice breaks. "Did you know about Sergei? About the church?"
"I knew your father was making arrangements." Irina's voice is defensive now. "I knew he was working with other families to secure our position. But I didn't know the specifics. He never told me the specifics."
"Because you didn't want to know." I speak for the first time since we sat down, and both women turn to look at me. "You knew enough to understand what was happening, but you chose not to ask questions. Plausible deniability."
Irina's eyes narrow. "You have no right to judge me, Mr. Morozov. You, who built an empire on blood and violence. You, who kidnapped my daughter and forced her into marriage."
"I saved your daughter's life." My voice is cold, controlled. "While you stood by and let your husband sell her to his enemies."
"Viktor was protecting our family!"
"Viktorwas protecting himself." Alina stands abruptly, her hands shaking. "He didn't care about us. He never cared about us. And you let him do it. You stood by and watched while he destroyed everything."
Irina rises as well, her composure cracking. "What was I supposed to do? Defy him? You have no idea what it's like, being married to a man like Viktor. The things I had to endure, the compromises I had to make."
"You could have protected us." Tears stream down Alina's face now, and I resist the urge to pull her into my arms. She needs to do this, needs to confront her mother. "You could have warnedme. You could have taken Katya and run. You could have done something."
"And where would we have gone?" Irina's voice rises. "You think there's anywhere in this world where Viktor couldn't have found us? You think any of the families would have protected us against him?"
"Dimitri would have."
The words hang in the air between them. Irina's gaze shifts to me, assessing. I see her taking in the way I'm watching Alina, the protective stance I can't quite hide. The dragon tattoo on my neck seems to pulse with each heartbeat.
"Yes," Irina says slowly. "I suppose he would have. You've made quite an impression on him, haven't you?"
There's something in her tone that makes my jaw clench. An implication. A suggestion that Alina has used her beauty, her body, to manipulate me. It's insulting to both of us.
"Your daughter is remarkable," I say, my voice hard. "She's survived everything thrown at her with more courage and strength than most of my soldiers. She's earned her place here."
"Her place." Irina's smile is cold. "As your wife. Your property."
"As my partner." The correction is sharp. "As someone I respect and value."
Alina looks at me, surprise flickering across her features. We haven't talked about what we are to each other, haven't defined this thing growing between us. But I mean every word.
Irina sees it too. I watch her recalculate, adjust her strategy. She's a survivor, and survivors know when to change tactics.
