Page 169 of Mafia King’s Dangerous Vow

“I am.”

The admission surprises him. I let it stand. I am his daughter. His blood is in me. His lessons live in me whether I want them there or not. I learned to read rooms in this building. I learned where the exits were.

Then I learned to use them.

He studies me for a long moment. “Your husband cannot protect you from everything.”

“I know.”

That checks him. He expected defiance. Some romantic declaration he could take apart.

“Aleksander is dangerous. His world costs too much. I know exactly where I am.”

My father’s mouth curves. “Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Then perhaps you should ask your husband what he did after Elena died.”

I don’t move. Papa watches my face with the same careful patience he used when I was a child.

“Ask him what he put into his veins when grief became inconvenient. Ask Igor how many doors he had to lock before Aleksander Sokolov remembered he was a man and not an animal chasing a needle.”

I give him nothing. No flinch. No breath. No question for him to answer.

He keeps waiting. Finally the realization settles behind his eyes.

“He told you?”

“Yes.”

His mouth tightens. “And that comforts you?”

“No,” I say. “The fact that he didn’t hide it does.”

Silence.

“He told me the truth before it could be useful to him. You only tell the truth after you’ve sharpened it.”

For the first time all morning, my father has no immediate answer. I stand up and move toward the door, stopping with my hand on the knob. “Do not contact Anna Morozov. Do not contact Ivan. Do not contact Aleksander. Do not contact me.”

“You do not give me terms.”

“I’m not giving you terms.” I button my coat. “I don’t need anything from you.”

His expression empties.

“In fact, it seems I’m not the only one who doesn’t need you anymore.”

He says nothing. Then he smiles. “You think the Sokolovs can erase me from my own network?”

“No.” I look back at him. “I think they already did.”

The screen lights up again. He lets it ring. Then he turns it face down on the desk.

“Temporary confusion,” he declares calmly.

I let it stand for a moment. Look at him one last time.