He leans in close. “Look at me,” he murmurs. “Trust me.”
I do. He steps back.
We stand there on the empty platform as the sound of the train fades into nothing. The station feels too quiet now. Too still. Like the world has lost something essential and doesn’t know how to keep turning without it.
“Now, we finish this.” Pyotr turns me toward him. “We take everything Bogdan built and burn it to the ground. We clear your name, eliminate the threat, and bring Kira home.”
“And Bogdan?”
His eyes go cold. “Bogdan learns what happens when you target a Kozlov.”
I think about my daughter’s face pressed against the window. I think about the spy coin clutched in her small hand. I think about three years of terror, running, watching over my shoulder, and jumping at shadows.
No more.
I have a monster to destroy. And my daughter’s future depends on it.
“Then let’s get started.”
25
Pyotr
The apartment is so empty without Kira.
It’s been four hours since we watched the train disappear around the bend, and Daria hasn’t stopped moving. She’s cleaned the kitchen twice, reorganized Kira’s room, and is now standing at the window staring at nothing while I coordinate with Tony and Boris over the phone.
“We’ve got eyes on Bogdan’s lieutenant,” Boris reports. “Ms. Svetlana has been making her rounds through the city, checking in with various contacts. Looks like she’s trying to figure out why her boss’s accounts were suddenly frozen.”
“Any sign of Bogdan?”
“Nothing yet. He’s gone to ground. But Svetlana will lead us to him eventually. Fixers always report back to the boss when things go sideways.”
“What about the surveillance on this building? Has there been any movement?”
“Quiet so far. The two watchers from yesterday haven’t been replaced. Either Bogdan’s pulling back on his resources, or he’s repositioning for something bigger.”
Neither option makes me comfortable. A cornered predator is the most dangerous kind.
“Keep me posted.” I end the call and walk over to Daria. “Hey.”
She doesn’t turn around. “I keep thinking I hear her. Little footsteps in the hallway or her voice asking for a snack. The apartment is too quiet.”
“She’s safe. End of story.”
“I know.” She finally looks at me, and her eyes are red-rimmed from the crying she’s been doing when she thinks I’m not watching. “I just miss her. I’ve never been away from her for more than a few hours. Not since she was born.”
“We’ll get her back soon. Once we deal with Bogdan?—”
My phone dings with a text from one of Boris’ men stationed outside. I read it, and every muscle in my body locks tight.
Two men just entered the building. East stairwell. Armed.
“Get away from the window.” I grab Daria’s arm and yank her toward the kitchen, positioning us against the counter where we can’t be seen from the street or the door. “Armed men in the building.”
Her face pales. “Bogdan’s people?”
“Unknown. Assume yes.” I drag her to the counter and stand behind her with one hand against her stomach to keep her still. My other hand rests on the gun at my hip. “Don’t move. Don’t make a sound.”
