"I'll take care of it," I say, standing.
Viktor nods. "Good. And Nikolai?"
"Yeah?"
"Eat something before you go to bed. You look like hell."
That's as close to affection as Viktor gets. I take it.
The drive home is quiet.The city looks washed out under streetlights, slick with rain. My phone buzzes once, Elle'sname on the screen. I don't pick up. I can't talk to her now. Not with this hanging over me.
By the time I get back, the house is dark except for a faint light from our bedroom. The guilt punches me square in the chest. She waited.
I walk in quietly. The candles are still burning, soft and low, wax pooled at the base. Dinner untouched. She's sitting up in bed, hair messy, wearing one of my shirts. The sight makes me want to slam my own head against the wall.
"You're back," she says softly.
"I am."
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah." I lie too easily for a man who's supposed to be getting better at the truth.
She studies me like she can tell. Maybe she can. She's too smart not to notice when something's wrong. But she doesn't press. Just nods, quietly, and shifts over to make space.
I strip off my jacket, the holster, the weight of the night, and climb in beside her. The sheets are warm. They smell like her shampoo. She curls up like she wants to be close but doesn't know how.
For a while, neither of us speaks.
My mind won't stop replaying Viktor's words.Get rid of her.
Every logical part of me agrees. Natalia's a risk. She's not my problem. But then I see Elle's face. The way she laughs more when Natalia's around. How she's softened. And Pasha, juststarting to trust his mother again. If I take that away, what does it teach him? That loyalty is conditional? That love expires the second it becomes inconvenient?
I used to be good at this. Cut, clean, forget. Now everything's complicated.
Elle shifts. "You sure everything's fine?"
"Yeah," I say. Quieter. "Just business."
She exhales. "You always say that when it's not."
Her tone isn't accusing. Just tired. It cuts deeper that way.
I reach for her, but she turns onto her side, facing away. I stare at the curve of her back, the soft line of her neck where my mouth was hours ago. The distance between us feels like miles.
I want to tell her everything. But something's already fractured between us tonight, and dropping Viktor's orders would be the blow that shatters the foundation. I need time. I need to be present. To show her I'm here before I drop that bomb.
Instead, I say the only thing that feels safe.
"Goodnight, Elle."
She doesn't answer.
25
ELLE
Ithink God pulled a solid making sure Nikolai was up and gone before I woke, because I wake up furious. I was sad last night, but that ship sailed at dawn.
