the air when they re

nearby, but the flames were already dying. W

ar behind the brothers. T

irst. His jaw was tig

nside?" h

ed," a man answe

dded once

the damage. "Thi

d quietly. "It

her. "You've se

blown-out corner

es

he pr

My father doesn't waste reso

at her. "What

knows I

fell bet

y. "Then he moves fas

twisted metal. "The charge was pl

d settle

ce

slowly. "You think

ot answer

the building. The ground was

aded for a momen

she said. "If this is inter

beside her. "An

ry," she replied. "Ang

rless smile. "I do

at him. "Ev

owed, but he

equipment. The sharp smell

ard. Her stomach

teppe

ed first. "Yo

," she sa

not," Al

under her feet. The noise a

her arm before

e," she insiste

rned firm. "Enoug

tand," s

replied. "Sta

t him but di

back wa

window. Her mind replayed the e

kno

circled li

estate, Alexei turne

the do

essary," Anya s

Nikolai

f the car without

ouse felt col

ose behind her. "Y

t," she

stop s

fr

not sw

r gaze for

ng his voice. "You don't have

caught her

respond, Alexei

is on his wa

r arms. "This i

ollapsed," Ni

as t

red at explosions

and walked tow

ness hit again. S

gripped t

beside her

ugh," he sa

sai

off as her v

itting on the sofa in the study. A

d in front of h

said gently.

ou," she

k that said he di

blood sampl

owned. "F

ty," the doc

stiff

be necessary

came low but

et hi

thing unreadable p

e looke

in

was quick

while the d

, silence fil

cross the room. "Th

t him sharply

attack," he clarified. "I

owly. "I am not

n them before the tens

you were," he

ped pacing.

ds hung

pression

lly. "If you are hiding s

ed, but her face

thing that concerns

n answer," Dm

nly one you'

yes did no

id finally. "We wa

nodde

mething had be

d alone on the balcony. The

s moved alon

r had str

nt he wa

o

approached

stepped

d quietly. "The explosio

kno

inst the rail

't seem s

was

rofile. "There's

not look

is house has se

ld affect

ours d

pause

dn't

ned downstairs. Voices murmu

t before an

sh

nced toward

oice carri

ou cer

reply was too

id someth

tomach t

ked back at

ere," h

di

st him and do

door was

her. Dmitri faced the doctor.

cleared h

y," he said carefully. "Bu

turned

Dmitri d

hesitated o

s pre

echoed in

ce fo

y. S

went

expressi

looked

an

shoc

ulat

beat roared

e for sever

ed the question

it o

that, the war