I laugh bitterly. "You're the one who told me to get out. I'm out. I'm not coming back."
"For fuck's sake, stop that," he roars, his voice so loud I pull the phone away from my ear.
"What?" I ask when I bring it back. "didn't you threaten me? You did say the next time you found me, you'd shoot me. So no, I'm not coming back, and plus I think you and I both need time apart."
"I don't need time apart," he says, firmly. "I've been patient for weeks. I've been a fucking kind man. So come back to this house in the next week, or I will start bombing your family's estate." My blood runs cold.
"The only reason that place hasn't gone up in smoke," he continues, "is that you're still there. So, I'm giving you a week." I swallow hard. "Wait." Silence on the other end. "So now you want to talk?" he asks, his voice softened taking on a bitter edge. "I'm beginning to think you care about them more than you care about us."
"There is no us," I say quietly. "Not if you don't stop threatening people and get help." The silence stretches between us. "I want to see you," I say finally.
"Where?" he asks immediately.
"Pick anywhere you like, and I'll meet you there."
He's quiet for a moment, then says, "Let me think. Sozhou Hotel. Tonight."
"Fine," I say. "Perfect," he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. "Should I bring flowers?"
"You're going to do whatever you want," I say. "Even if I tell you not to."
He chuckles. "You know me so well." Then his voice drops, becoming serious. "I love you." I do not say it back because the words are stuck in my throat, so I simply end the call.
• • •
I find my father in his study with Roman and Kirill, all three of them going over security reports.
"Dad," I say, stepping inside. "I need to talk to you. All of you." They look up, concern immediately crossing their faces. "What's wrong?" my father asks.
"I talked to Ilay," I say. "This house is rigged with bombs. He threatened to blow this place up if I don't go back to him. Theonly reason he hasn't done it already is that I'm here. You need to search everywhere."
Roman sits up straighter. "How many?"
"I don't know," I say. "But you need to find them all."
Kirill stands up. "I'll get the team on it right now."
"Wait," I say, holding up my hand. "There's something else."
My father's eyes narrow. "What?"
"I'm leaving," I say quietly.
The room goes silent. "What?" my father says, standing up slowly. "What are you talking about? Where are you going?"
"Away," I say. "Far away from here. It's the only way to keep you all safe."
"Absolutely not," he says, his voice rising. "We can protect you. We're not weak."
"I know you're not weak," I say, my voice breaking. "But Dad, he's going to keep coming after you if I stay. He'll never stop. The best thing I can do is just disappear."
"No," he says firmly. "I just got you back. I'm not losing you again."
"Dad, please," I beg, tears streaming down my face now. "If you truly love me, if you truly want to live, I can't take the pain of watching you get attacked and shot at. I need to remove myself from everybody's life." He stares at me, trying to blink back tears but failing. "Please," I whisper.
Roman steps forward. "Dad, maybe she's right. If she stays, he'll never stop targeting us." My father looks at me for a long moment, then finally nods slowly. "Alright. But we stay in touch. Every day. We'll work on some kind of peace agreement with him so everyone can be happy eventually."
"Okay," I whisper. He pulls me into a hug, holding me tight. "Promise me you'll be safe."
