She's sitting on the cot when I enter, arms wrapped around herself against the cold. She looks up, and the hope that flashes across her face before she can hide it does something to my chest.
"Is Ethan…" She stands quickly. "Did you find him? Is he—"
"Alive." I stay by the door. "Extracted at 0600 hours. Currently receiving medical treatment at a secure location. Your mother is with him."
The relief that crashes over her is visceral. She actually staggers and has to catch herself on the cot.
"Thank you." Her voice breaks. "God, thank you so much."
"I didn't do it for you." The words come out harsher than intended. "I did it because Patrick's methods are unacceptable. Using civilians, torturing kids, that crosses lines even we don't cross."
"Still. You saved him. You saved them both." Tears stream down her face. "I know I don't deserve it, I know you hate me, but thank you."
I don't hate her. That's the problem.
"Patrick hits our fake convoy at 0200." I change the subject before I can examine those feelings too closely. "We strike his compound simultaneously. By dawn, his entire operation will be ash."
I study her. Bruised face from where she fell. Swollen eye. Split lip. She looks broken. Exactly how I feel.
"If this goes wrong—if Patrick somehow turns the tables, if I don't make it back—Mikhail has orders."
"W-What orders?"
"To let you go. To take Mila somewhere safe. Raise her." The words cost me more than I expected. "Keep her away from this life. Give her something normal."
Valerie stares at me like I've lost my mind. "You'd trust me with Mila? After everything?"
"I saw you take a bullet for her." Simple truth. "Saw you put yourself between her and armed men without hesitation. Saw you protect her like she was yours."
"She's not mine—"
"But you love her like she is." I move closer despite myself. "That's worth something. Maybe not forgiveness. Maybe not trust in other areas. But when it comes to my daughter's safety? I believe you'd die before letting her get hurt."
Fresh tears spill over. "I would. In a heartbeat."
"I know." The admission feels like ripping something open. "That's why, if I die tonight, you get her. Not because I've forgiven you. Not because I trust you with anything else. But because Mila loves you, and you'd protect her, and that's all that matters."
"Lev."
"Don't." I step back before she can reach for me. "Don't make this more than it is. I'm making practical arrangements for my daughter's safety. Nothing more."
"But what if you don't die? What if everything goes according to plan?"
"Then my plan remains." My voice hardens. "You disappear."
"And if I refuse? If I want to stay, want to make this right—"
"There is no making this right." The words come out cold. Final. "You can't unring this bell, Valerie. Can't undo the betrayal. Can't erase the fact that you lied to me for months while gathering intelligence for my enemy."
"I stopped—"
"After you'd already done the damage. After you'd already passed him, God knows how much information. After you'd already proven that when it matters, when you're backed into a corner, you'll betray me to save yourself."
"That's not fair—"
"Fair?" I almost laugh. "You want to talk about fair? Was it fair that I trusted you? That I let you into my life, my home, my bed? That I showed you parts of myself I haven't shown anyone since Katya died? Was any of that fair, Valerie?"
She's crying harder now, but I can't stop.
