I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the argument I know is coming. "I want to help with drawing out the Gusevs."
"Absolutely not." His voice is flat, final.
"Hear me out." I move closer to the desk, my hands clenched at my sides. "The Gusev family wants me. They put up the bounty, so let's give them what they want."
Andrey stands, his jaw tight. "Have you lost your mind?"
"No. I'm suggesting that I be the bait."
30
ANDREY
"Absolutely not." The words come out harder than I intend, but I don't soften them. "There's no fucking way you're putting yourself in that kind of danger."
Mariya's green eyes flash with anger, and she takes a step toward my desk. "It's the best plan we have. You know it is."
"I don't care." I stand, needing to move, needing to do something with the rage and fear coursing through me. "We'll find another way."
"There is no other way!" Her voice rises, and I can see the frustration building in her. "The Gusevs want me. They put up a bounty. So let's use that. Let's draw them out where we can control the situation instead of waiting for them to attack again."
"No." I move around the desk, closing the distance between us. "I won't use you as bait. I won't put you in a position where you could get hurt or killed."
"I'm already in that position!" She throws her hands up. "Or did you forget about the three men who tried to kidnap meyesterday? The bomb at the library? The million-dollar bounty on my head?"
Each word is like a knife to my gut because she's right. She's already in danger. Has been since the moment I found her at that library. But the thought of deliberately putting her in harm's way, of using her as bait to draw out the Gusevs, makes my stomach turn.
"We'll find another way," I say again, but even I can hear how weak it sounds.
She moves closer, her eyes searching mine. "We can set it up carefully. Have your men positioned everywhere. Make sure I'm protected. But we need to end this, Andrey. Before someone else dies. Before they actually succeed in taking me."
I want to argue, want to tell her she's wrong, that there's a better plan. But the truth is, I can't think of one. Her idea is solid. Dangerous as hell, but solid. If we control the location and have enough men in position, we could take out the Gusevs and end this threat once and for all.
But the thought of her in the middle of it, of her being the target, makes my chest tight with fear I haven't felt in years.
"I need to think about it," I say.
She opens her mouth to argue, but I hold up a hand. "That's all you're getting right now. Let me think."
Her jaw tightens, but she nods. "Fine. But we're not done discussing this."
"I know."
We head down to breakfast in tense silence. The dining room is already set, the table laden with food that I have no appetite for. Mariya sits across from me, and I can feel her eyes on me as I pour coffee.
"It's a good plan," she says, picking up where we left off.
"It's a dangerous plan."
"Is there a safe plan?" she asks mockingly, then takes a bite of toast, chewing thoughtfully. "But this one gives us control. We choose the location, the timing, everything. That's better than waiting for them to hit us again."
I don't respond, just stare at my coffee like it might have answers.
The door opens, and Matvey walks in. He moves to the sideboard and fills a plate, then sits at the end of the table. His dark eyes flick between Mariya and me, and I know he can feel the tension.
"She wants to be bait," I tell him. "To draw out the Gusevs."
Matvey chews slowly, his expression thoughtful. Then he swallows and looks at Mariya. "Good idea."
