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“Sofia told us he gets up early.”

“He walks down from the house and spends a few minutes here. Some mornings he brings coffee and brushes Walter. Other mornings he stands by the door while Walter eats and pretends that counts as a conversation.”

“What does Walter think?”

“He thinks Andrei should remember the peppermints.”

A man speaks from the stable entrance. “Walter’s demands have increased since you began buying them for him.”

Andrei stands beneath the open doorway in dark jeans, boots, and a charcoal henley with the sleeves pushed to his forearms. His hair is damp at the temples, and mud marks one boot. Yesterday’s suit made him look as though the entire administration building had been constructed to obey him. Dressed for work, he looks as if he belongs among the people who keep the vineyard running.

Mila hooks her thumbs into her jacket pockets as Andrei enters the aisle. “You already came through here at dawn.”

“I came back to speak with Leo,” he says, stopping beside Walter’s stall.

“Leo is in the eastern block.”

“I’ve learned that.” Andrei rests his hand on the half-door while Walter stretches toward him.

Mila glances at the horse. “You see? He knows who carries the good supplies.”

Andrei rubs Walter’s neck, then looks at his expectant face. “You had two this morning.”

Walter noses the pocket of Andrei’s jeans.

“Three won’t improve our arrangement,” Andrei tells him. “You’ve developed expensive expectations.”

“He’s talking about himself,” I tell Mila.

Andrei looks at me, and the severity in his face gives way to a trace of amusement. “I was unaware you had joined the negotiation.”

“Walter invited me. I’ve already told him I came without a peppermint.”

“And he has forgiven you?”

“He’s considering it.”

Walter pushes his muzzle between us, interrupting the exchange. Andrei rubs the horse’s neck, finding a place just below the mane that makes him lift his head. I’ve seen Andrei offer courtesy and attention to his staff, but here he doesn’t seem to be thinking about how anyone sees him. He speaks to Walter again, low enough that I miss part of it, and Walter rests his head briefly against Andrei’s chest.

Watching him makes it harder to keep my opinion of him simple. This is the man who carries a gun and sent someone into Connor’s apartment. I also know he visits this horse before sunrise and talks to him as though they understand each other. Both versions belong to Andrei, and I have no idea what to do with the one I never expected to meet.

“Shto?” he asks. “What?”

“Nothing.” I scratch Walter again between the ears.

“You were about to ask a question.”

“I’m practicing restraint,” I reply.

“Mila,” he says, “how long do you expect that to last?”

Mila laughs. “Less than a minute.”

I step back from Walter and give them both a pointed look. “I liked the horse better before his friends arrived.”

Mila’s laughter follows us down the aisle. Outside, Tessa approaches with a folder tucked beneath one arm and her phone in her hand.

“Birdie, Sofia mentioned you saw the damaged table in the lodge,” she says. “Could I borrow you for ten minutes? I’d like to know whether we can repair it before the next guests arrive.”