Boris grabs Lev’s arm and guides him out. Alexei stands to follow.
When the door shuts, Dmitri whirls on me “Do you understand what you risked getting involved with him?”
I swallow the lump in my throat before I respond, “Yes.”
“You built your whole life around staying separate, and I respected that. I didn’t drag you into meetings you didn’t want. I didn’t force you to play a role. I let you have your distance. And in return, you lied to me for months.”
I inhale slowly. “I didn’t want you to look at me like?—”
“Like your mother,” Dmitri finishes.
My throat threatens to close, but I force my voice out. “Don’t bring her into this.”
“You walked in here with the enemy on your arm and expected me to separate it from consequence.”
“I didn’t expect anything,” I say.
Dmitri nods once. “Good. Because you don’t get to.”
I take a breath. “What happens now?”
Dmitri doesn’t answer right away. He looks toward the door, like he’s waiting for Tony to come back with proof that makes decisions easier.
He opens his mouth to say something just as a knock sounds, and half a second later, his wife Katya steps in. She takes one look at my face and Dmitri’s and understands enough.
She touches his forearm. “Go on. I’ll take care of her.”
Dmitri holds her gaze for a beat, then walks out without another word.
“His anger will pass,” she assures me once we’re alone.
“I don’t care about his anger,” I lie.
Katya’s mouth quirks. “Sure.”
I drag my hand through my hair and let out a breath. “What do I do?”
“You tell the truth when he asks,” she replies. “You stop trying to manage the situation by yourself. You wait while he decides what needs to be decided.”
“For someone like me, that sounds like punishment.”
Katya nods and offers a soft smile. “It can feel like that when you’re so used to doing things alone.”
I tuck my shaking hands into my sleeves.
Katya steps closer and squeezes my forearm. “You’re still family, Polina. Even when you make choices that scare everyone.”
My throat burns again. I nod because I can’t trust my voice.
Katya steps back, giving me room to pull myself together.
I came here trying not to be my mother, and I walked in with a Morozov at my side and my family judging every breath I take.
If I’m going to pay for it, I’ll face it head-on.
