I walked toward her slowly.
“Kliment ordered an attack through which he was planning to isolate the Chernykhs while using you as bait and bringing in a war, so I had to go and dismantle it.”
“And Kliment was okay with that?”
“No, but I did it anyway, and now I am stepping away.” Her eyes widened at my reply.
“From what?”
“From Kliment’s operations.”
The room went very still.
“That’s not something you just do. He is your brother and your family, and you cannot step away from family.”
“I just did.”
“Fyodor—”
“You’re not leverage anymore. I won’t sit here and let him treat you like bait.”
She froze. “What?”
“You’re not a bargaining chip for me, Elisse. Not a deterrent. Not a strategy.”
Her voice softened. “Then what am I?”
I stepped closer. “You are my responsibility.”
Her throat moved as she swallowed. “Because you married me?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because I choose you.”
The words left me exposed in a way violence never had.
“You don’t owe me that,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“You don’t have to protect me.”
“I want to.”
“Why?”
Because you laughed. Because you stayed. Because when I imagined the future, it had you in it.
“Because I love you,” I said.
The silence that followed felt eternal. Her eyes shimmered, but she didn’t look away.
“You’re stepping away from your brother for me.”
“I’m stepping away because I won’t let you be collateral.”
