Page 100

Then the door opens.

Misha walks in with two guards, Matteo between them.

They don’t drag him—but they don’t give him a choice either.

The moment Matteo sees me, he frowns.

“Valeria?”

Something inside me twists.

Sharp. Bitter.

I used to like him.

From the very first day.

He was light in a place that felt too heavy.

Safe.

Now—

All I feel is disappointment.

In him.

In myself.

How did I not see it?

How did I miss what he really was?

Timofey stands across from Matteo, his presence filling the room without effort.

“Sit,” he says.

Matteo hesitates for half a second.

Then sits.

Slowly.

His eyes flick between all of us now.

Calculating.

Uneasy.

“What is this?” he asks, trying to keep his tone light. “Because I have a lot of work to do.”

He tries to hide it, but I hear the tremor in his voice.

“Shut up!” I snap before Timofey can speak.

“Valeria…” Timofey warns, low and controlled.

But I’m already moving.