“We’ve been seeing one another,” Lev explains. “And my father’s men are close to connecting her to you. When they do…”
Only once he trails off does Dmitri finally look at me again. “What the hell are you doing fucking a Morozov?”
For half a second, I consider lying. I could tell him I treated a patient and got pulled into something I never agreed to.
But before I can even get my mouth open, Dmitri lifts one hand, stopping me before I can ruin what little credibility I have left.
“Don’t,” he says, calm enough to be lethal. “If you lie to me now, I won’t forget it.” He nods once toward Lev without looking at him. “Did you bring him here because you wanted my protection?”
“I came because I don’t have another move,” I confess.
Dmitri nods like he expected that answer. Somehow, that makes it worse. He turns back to Lev. “You walked in here with an offer?"
“Yes,” he replies with a nod.
My eldest cousin walks around his desk and stops a few feet from Lev. “You came into my house. You offered information. I’m assuming you want something back for committing treason against your own family?”
Lev answers without hesitation. “I want her safe.”
Dmitri’s eyes flit to me. “And what is it you want?”
“I just want out,” I say. “I want to go back to my life.”
Dmitri’s mouth pulls tight. “You can’t go back to your life.”
“I built it without this,” I snap. “I built it so I wouldn’t stand in this room having this conversation.”
“And yet,” Dmitri answers, spreading his arms wide.
“She didn’t ask for any of this,” Lev says.
“Oh, she chose plenty.”
I swallow hard and begin, “Dmitri?—”
“I will talk to you in a minute.” Dmitri looks back at Lev and adds, “You want her safe, and you want yourself alive long enough to walk out with her?”
Lev doesn’t deny it. “Yes.”
“Then you talk.”
“I will. After you confirm you’re not going to punish her for walking in here.”
Alexei lets out a low chuckle. “He’s bargaining now.”
Dmitri doesn’t even look. “Alexei, if you can’t control yourself, leave my office.”
After a beat, Alexei drops back into his chair, breathing hard through his nose.
Tony taps the edge of his tablet once. “Start with something I can verify. A name would be a good start.”
Lev looks at Tony like he’s deciding whether he even matters in all this. “Who are you to verify anything?”
“I’m the one Dmitri trusts to find out if you’re lying. That’s all you need to know.”
“Fine,” Lev responds through gritted teeth. “You want a name, you’ll get one. Then she stays here until you decide what comes next.”
My skin prickles. I don’t like being discussed like furniture.
