Elena also isn’t wrong. I’ve been gone long enough, trying to figure everything out in the shadows. She couldn’t have known I was still alive. It was only right for her to continue living her life, even if I was gone. That was all I ever wanted for her.
I just never thought she would end up with a Lukov of all people.
Staring at the floor for a long moment, part of me doesn’t want to believe that I’ve done all of this work just for her to be in their care willingly, but the other, bigger part knows Elena’s telling the truth.
The now-familiar warmth of her fingers brushing against mine on the edge of the tub pulls me out of it, and those blue eyes make me want to prolong that moment.
“If you show up now after years of believing you’re dead, it’ll scare her,” Elena adds lightly, barely lacing her fingers with mine, more like a reassurance than anything else. “It might cause more harm than good.”
“You’re asking me to trust that she’s happy.”
“I’m asking you to trust her,” she corrects. When I don’t say anything, she continues, “Why did you really bring this up?”
“Because,” I force out, taking a steadying breath. “Your brothers are in line waiting for the chance to kill me if they’ve figured it out, along with the others. But instead of initiating some kind of trade, I want a truce. A bridge.”
“A bridge…that might be a big ask after what you’ve done.”
“I know, but I can’t keep being everyone’s enemy. Especially when I don’t want you caught in the middle,” I murmur, trying to tackle my thoughts as the words form. Absently, my thumb strokes her hand. “Even if you’re right about my sister, I need to see her with my own eyes. I need to know she’s okay, and if she is, I’ll back off. And I’m hoping that if I can prove to your brothers that I don’t mean you any harm, maybe they’ll want my blood a little less.”
Every word feels like a heavier admittance than the last, but Elena takes it all in with more understanding than I deserve.
“What are you asking for, exactly?”
“I want us to see your family in person. I want the chance to see my sister, and to hopefully gain their favor,” I tell her, feeling oddly vulnerable and raw. “I’m putting my ass on theline for this…but I’m trying to do this for both of our sakes. I’m trusting you, and I hope you can trust me back.”
Elena studies me for a moment, considering her thoughts silently for a long moment. “Why do you trust me?”
“Because you haven’t lied to me yet, and you’ve kept your word about cooperating.”
She huffs out an amused sound. “That’s a low bar.”
“Maybe. But it’s the only one I’ve got.”
At that, her expression softens again. Then, she sighs and gives me a nod. “Alright. I suppose you’ve held up your end of the bargain too so far.”
Relief floods me, yet the crushing reality of what I’m about to do comes rushing in. Still, I don’t let it buckle me.
“I need my brothers to know I’m okay, too. That I’m still alive,” she adds, sounding a bit forlorn.
It’s been enough time now for that separation to weigh on her, and I can’t act like I don’t know how it feels.
“I figured as much.”
Eventually, I grab a burner phone and return, finding a spot on the closed toilet lid. Elena gives me Roman’s number, reciting it from memory. I’m about to walk out of the room as I dial the number, but her pointed look tells me to stay where I am.
Pressing the call button, it takes incredible restraint not to crush the phone in my grasp and forget about it. To keep myself safe and hidden.
But I can’t. I need to do this.
After the first ring, a voice reaches me, sharp and suspicious.
“Who is this?”
“Your sister’s alive. She’s safe.”
Silence fills the line, then, he says with controlled fury, “Where is she?”
“That’s not something I’m at liberty to say,” I murmur, trying my hardest to sound just as level. “But she wants to speak to you.”
