ate did not lo

d like a

every corner. The cars drove through withou

he tinted window. She memorized t

de staircase. The house was dark

opened

," he sa

t without touc

ensive wood polish. The floors were black

re you live?

we work," Nik

lked ahea

Documents were already laid out. A priest stood near the

opped w

g it tonight

Alexei

nt," she

ed out a ch

idn't

he brotherhood clause, this union is la

," Alex

Nikolai

dded once

st looke

is eyes.

e did no

o vows. No flowers. Just

ere placed in

ared a

to wear all of

," Nikol

?" she r

er. "This is not a

otic

stepped away. The older men signe

that, it

lt no d

y a

gainst the wall. "Yo

ed drama,

lder. "You'll get e

tood. "F

rridors. Guards stood outside every

e hallway, Alexe

a desk, a sofa. A balcony overlook

yours,"

ed insid

she asked witho

," Dmitr

hem. "So it

ction," Niko

om

's enemies,"

d him. "Or

silence

room. Dmitri and Nikol

your captors," A

n't

N

er arms. "Th

e. "Your father made anot

, but she kept her fa

negotiate," Dmitri said

simple. The m

ightened sli

ered you,"

felt h

aces for signs of de

tomorrow," Alexei add

out a sl

pect gr

plied. "We expe

doors and looked outside. Th

t expose him

something we nee

back slow

idence. Government officials

ieces. Files she had seen.

access it

ked. "We do

l looke

zatio

e for the acco

s," Nikola

once. "So I was ri

did not

filled t

k and ran her fingers

me I'll h

r us to traffickers,

him. "That i

ips twitche

closer. Not thr

you want?

ion surpr

she re

," he said. "So tel

ld his

said. "Informa

ughed. "A

es

sition to demand

m and kept her

ontinued. "I need protection

ched her ca

e refuse?

Then I become useless. A

om wen

ed her for a

bold,"

prac

ff the wall. "S

aid softly. "Sh

ed closer

s?" she asked. "The offshore

f them

he said. "He trus

darkened sli

never asked

?" Nikol

w I

d closer to h

n't ste

is?" she asked him quietly. "I've been b

stopp

finally

ave trainin

ned sharpl

Alexei continued, ignoring hi

ded once

between them. "

d calmly, "I give yo

le

ir sh

o longer a

s abo

ed back towa

he said. "Tomo

r. His eyes searched her face,

ound

t, the door c

alone in th

a

a vi

lay

sk and opened one of

o

ld fill

uards took

hree rings and placed the

se me," she whispere

red back at her fr

have n