“You don’t protect me by silencing me,” she says softly. “You protect me by letting me help you end this.”
I search her face—this woman who walked through broken glass without screaming, who stared down men like Malenkov with nothing but truth and grit. Who was held prisoner for three years, when I thought I had lost her. The only woman I will ever love.
I don’t like it.
But I trust her.
“Rules,” I say finally.
She lifts a brow. “Compromise?”
“Yes,” I answer. “Delta Five security rotation. No solo movement. You don’t publish anything without clearance.”
She considers it. Then nods. “Agreed.”
“And,” I add, stepping closer, voice dropping, “you don’t lie to me about what you find.”
Her fingers tighten against my shirt. “Never have.”
I pull her into my arms, holding her tightly now, no restraint left. She presses into me just as hard.
For a moment, the world narrows to heartbeat and breath.
Then she murmurs against my chest, “You realize he wanted this.”
“What,” I ask.
“To make you afraid.”
I tilt my head down, lips brushing her hair. “He failed.”
She smiles faintly. “Good.”
Because if Malenkov thought today would make me retreat…
He just declared war.
And this time?
I’m not fighting it alone.
45
Lena
Location: Coastal North Carolina — Secure Home Office
Time: 0206 Hours
Ronan thinks locking the doors will slow me down.
It won’t.
It just changes the battlefield.
The house is quiet—too quiet for a man like Ronan, who sleeps with one ear open and one hand ready. He’s downstairs running security checks with Delta Five, voices murmuring through encrypted comms.
Which gives me exactly what I need.
