He’s going to find out they were sent by Patrick, and then he’s going to find out Patrick sent me? Then what’s going to happen?
I head upstairs on autopilot. Find Mila in her room with Elena, curled in her bed, still crying.
"Valerie!" She reaches for me the second I appear.
I climb into bed beside her, let her burrow against me. Elena quietly leaves, closing the door.
"I was so scared." Mila's voice is muffled against my shirt. "I thought—I thought they were going to take me like they took Mama."
Oh God. She thinks this is the same. She thinks she's reliving that nightmare.
"No, baby. No." I stroke her hair, the motion automatic. "This was different. Your mama—what happened to your mama was different. This was just bad men being stupid. And we're okay. We're both okay."
"Because you protected me."
"Yes."
"Like Mama tried to protect me."
The comparison makes my throat close.
Katya died protecting her children. Stood between them and the guns. And I just did the same thing.
"Your mama loved you so much," I whisper. "She would be so proud of how brave you were today."
"I wasn't brave. I was scared."
"Being brave means being scared and doing it anyway." I kiss the top of her head. "You ran when I told you to. You held on tight. You were so, so brave."
We lie there until her breathing evens out. Exhaustion pulling her under despite the trauma.
I stay, watching her sleep, replaying everything in my head.
Patrick's men. I'm sure they were Patrick's men. Which means he knows about Mila. Knows she's Lev's weakness. And he tried to use her to get to him.
Guilt crashes over me.
This is my fault. I brought Patrick into their lives. If I'd never come here, if I'd found another way, if I'd just—
The door opens. Lev stands there, covered in blood.
Fresh blood.
"Is she asleep?" His voice is quiet.
I nod.
He crosses to the bed, looks down at his daughter. Something in his expression cracks, just for a moment, before the mask slides back.
"Come with me."
I carefully extract myself from Mila's grip, follow him out. Elena's waiting in the hallway—she slips into the room to watch over Mila while we're gone.
Lev leads me to his bedroom. Closes the door. Locks it.
Then just stands there, staring at me.
"What did he say?" I ask. "The survivor. Who sent them?"
