Alexei’s focus returns to me. “Tell me what happened.”
A laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it, not because anything is funny, but because my nerves have apparently decided this is how we survive now. “Are you serious?”
His expression doesn’t change. “Yes.”
“You already know what happened.” I step inside the office anyway because the lobby has too many ears, too many eyes, and far too many people pretending not to listen. “Ivan was there, Alexei. Or he was somewhere nearby until he vanished and came back with blood on his shirt like that was a normal afternoon activity.”
Viktor remains silent behind us. Luka’s attention drops to his tablet, which tells me absolutely nothing except that everyone in Alexei’s world has perfected the art of not reacting.
Alexei closes the office door once Jules steps in behind me. The small room feels too crowded, especially with Alexei’s presence taking up all the space in here, making my office feel even smaller than usual.
“I want to hear it directly from you,” he says.
My fingers curl around the edge of the donation envelope. “Why? So you can compare my version to the official Russian security report?”
Jules coughs once into his fist. “To be fair, I’d read that report.”
I shoot him a look.
“What?” he says. “I’m coping.”
Alexei doesn’t smile. “Maggie.”
“No.” I step closer before I think better of it. “You don’t get toMaggieme right now. A man came up behind me in the market, said my full name, and looked at me like he wanted me scared. Jules shoved him, and then another man followed us through the aisles until we ran like fools past tourists buyin’ candles andkettle corn. Ivan appeared afterward with blood on his shirt and told me he handled it. So now I want to know what he did.”
Silence fills the office. Viktor looks at Alexei, but Alexei looks only at me.
“That man will not approach you again,” he says.
My stomach drops. “That’s not an answer.”
“No,” Alexei says quietly. “It’s not.”
“Funny how nobody around here ever actually answers a question.”
Jules moves beside me, and for once, he doesn’t make a joke. His shoulder brushes mine, just enough to remind me he’s still there.
“Did Ivan hurt him?” I push.
Alexei’s face turns colder. “Not enough.”
My breath stutters, and the anger inside me tangles with fear again, but not fear of Alexei exactly. Fear of how easily he says it. Fear of how much I believe him. Fear of the part of me that is relieved by it.
Jules lets out a small, strained sound. “Lord, I miss when our biggest problem was Kevin bitin’ through clipboards.”
Alexei finally looks at him. “Give us privacy.”
Jules immediately straightens. “Absolutely not.”
“Jules,” I say softly.
He looks at me, and all the stubborn protectiveness in his face nearly undoes me. “No. I don’t like this. I don’t like any of this,and I’m not leavin’ you alone with him while he’s standin’ there lookin’ like he’s two seconds away from orderin’ somebody into the Savannah River.”
Alexei’s eyes narrow slightly. “I would never hurt her.”
Jules turns toward him fully. “I know that. That ain’t what worries me.”
The room goes quiet again, but this time it feels different. He’s not scared of Alexei. Maybe he should be, considering the way Viktor watches him, but Jules has never known how to abandon me, and right now I can see that loyalty holding him right where he stands.
