"Say that again," I growl. "I dare you."
"Renat." Dairy’s voice cuts through the tension. "Stand down. It would do us all well to remember that you and I were in similar positions not all that long ago, Adrik."
I don't move. Don't break eye contact with my brother.
"She's not just a piece of ass," I say, low and dangerous. "She's mine. My woman. And if you can't accept that, then we have a problem."
Adrik doesn't flinch. "We already have a problem. You've gone rogue. Compromised an operation. Put the family at risk. All for a girl you don't even know."
"I know enough."
"Do you?" He leans back in his chair, regarding me with something like pity. "You know she chose to get in your car. But do you know if it was because she wanted to, or because she had no other choice? You know she let you fuck her. But do you know if it was because she desired you, or because she's smart enough to manipulate her captor?"
The words hit like physical blows. I want to deny them, want to rage at him for even suggesting Ava would—
But doubt creeps in. Cold and insidious.
Did she choose me? Or did she just choose survival?
"Renat."
Ava's voice, soft but steady. I turn to find her standing straighter now, her fear replaced by something that looks like anger.
"Can I speak now?" she asks.
"Ava—"
"Please." She meets my eyes. "Let me speak."
Every instinct screams at me to say no. To keep her silent and safe. But something in her expression makes me nod.
She turns to face Adrik, and I see her hands shaking even as she lifts her chin.
"You're right," she says. "About most of it. I got in the car because I didn't have a choice. Not really. Stay and rot in that apartment, or worse, or go with the Devil and hope for the best. That's not a choice. That's survival."
My chest tightens. Adrik looks vindicated.
"But," Ava continues, "what happened after that? That was my choice. He gave me every opportunity to run. To scream.To fight. And I didn't. Not because I was manipulating him. Because..."
She trails off, looking back at me. Her blue eyes are bright with unshed tears.
"Because what?" I ask hoarsely.
"Because I believe in what he is doing. Finding my father. Making him pay. But also because you looked at me like I mattered," she whispers. "Not like leverage. Not like a tool. Like I was someone worth protecting. Worth... keeping. And I haven't felt that in so long that when you offered it, even if it came with conditions, I took it."
She turns back to Adrik.
"So yes, I'm the daughter of a traitor. Yes, I'm leverage or bait or whatever you want call it. Yes, I'm scared out of my mind. But when it mattered, I chose him. Not because I had to but because I wanted to."
The silence that follows is deafening.
Adrik studies her for a long moment, then looks at me. "Is she pregnant?"
The question catches me off guard. "What?"
"Is. She. Pregnant." He enunciates each word. "Because the way you're hovering over her, the way you're acting like she's already carrying your child, makes me think you've done something incredibly stupid."
I feel my jaw clench. "That's none of your business."
