I should leave. Go back to Philadelphia, let Alexei handle this.
Instead, I walk over to her.
"Your security system was compromised four days ago," I say. "Someone looped the cameras, disabled alarms. They've been in your building."
She turns, those dark eyes meeting mine. "Tuesday night."
"Yes."
"The same night he sent the egg." She laughs without humor. "He probably watched me receive it. Watched me panic."
"He's escalating. The egg was introduction. Tonight was demonstration. Whatever comes next—"
"...Will be worse." She wraps her arms around herself. "I know how he works. Everything is performance. He's building to something."
"Then you need protection."
"I have security—"
"You need better security."
"I need—" She stops, winces. I see the cuts on her arms from glass shards.
"You're bleeding. Sit." I point to the nearest chair.
"I'm fine—"
"Sit, Sonya."
She obeys.
Sergei materializes with a first aid kit. I crouch in front of her, examining the cuts. Superficial, nothing serious. But touching her feels necessary.
"You don't have to do this," she says quietly, watching my hands.
"I know."
"You don't even like me. You came here because of my connection with Alexei."
"Yes. That was the plan."
"Was?"
I look up, meet her eyes. This close, I can see gold flecks in the dark brown. See her pupils dilate when I touch her wrist.
"Someone is hunting you," I say. "Someone who's been planning this for days. You need help."
"I can handle—"
"Can you? You received that egg four days ago. Did you tell anyone? Call Alexei? Increase security?" Her silence answers. "You did nothing except lock it away and pretend."
"I built this gallery from nothing. I survived having my career destroyed in front of two thousand people. I learned to walk again. I don't need—"
"Then give me a name." My voice comes out rougher than intended. "Because those men tonight weren't random. This is personal."
She's quiet for a long moment, her hands trembling slightly in mine, until she finally whispers. "Anton Kozlov. My former partner."
I knew it..
