I held her gaze and spoke into the phone.
“Put Petya in the car now,” I said. “If he argues, tell him his sister is safe and he can yell at me in person when I allow it. If any Kask man leaves his vehicle, break the hand that opens the door.”
Nadia threw the sheet back and moved to get up.
I crossed the room and caught her before her feet hit the floor too hard. Not holding her down. Holding her steady.
She gripped my forearm. “They’re at my building.”
“Yes.”
“Because of me.”
“Because of Gennady.”
“Petya doesn’t know. He’ll open the door if they say my name.”
“Lev is already moving.”
“You promise?”
My phone stayed at my ear. Lev heard her. So did I. So did every vow I had ever refused to make.
“I promise,” I said.
Nadia’s fingers dug into my skin.
On the phone, Lev said, “We have him.”
My eyes stayed on Nadia.
“He’s in our car,” Lev said. “He is swearing in two languages and trying to get out.”
A broken breath left her.
I put the phone on speaker and held it between us.
“Tell her,” I said.
Lev’s voice came through, calm and close. “Petya is alive. He is in my vehicle. No Kask men reached him. They’re still on the street, and my men are between them and the building.”
Nadia pressed her hand over her mouth.
“Can he hear me?” she asked.
“Not yet,” Lev said. “He is busy threatening me.”
A sound broke out of her. Half sob. Half laugh.
I closed my free hand around the back of her neck, gentle, thumb resting below her ear.
She leaned into me without seeming to notice.
That was the moment my phone buzzed with a second call.
My mother.
Galina’s name lit the screen, and the phone vibrated against my palm while Lev waited on speaker.
