I’m still overwhelmed by the size of the house, but I’m starting to recognize certain areas. I think I could navigate from the front door to his room on my own, having walked that route twice, and it feels important to get my bearings as quickly as possible. I’m at a disadvantage in plenty of other ways; memorizing the building’s layout is one I can improve in.
We head outside through the main entrance today, not the side one we snuck out before. There are four armed guards past the door, not two.
Lev pauses, so I do, too, although I’d prefer to speed-walk past the hulking figures holding machine guns and wearing unfriendly expressions.
“This is Viktor, Ivan, Artem, and Andrey.” Lev points to each man as he says their name, and I try to memorize their faces.
They’re all tall and terrifying, which makes distinguishing individual traits more challenging. Artem has a trimmed beard. Viktor looks younger than the others. He doesn’t smile, but his eyes crease in the corners like he’s suppressing one.
Viktor says something in Russian.
Artem shakes his head in disapproval.
Lev’s barked response smooths Victor’s face instantly. He gives a quick nod.
I understand none of the exchange, but the atmosphere feels less tense following whatever Viktor said.
Lev says something else. My name is mixed in. All four men nod in reply this time.
I wonder if he called me his wife again. If so, I wish he’d spoken in English.
Lev turns, striding toward the garage. I give the men a hasty wave, feeling ridiculous until I notice Viktor’s eyes have creased again. I think Ivan’s lips twitch too.
“I want to learn Russian,” I say when I catch up to Lev—I suspect he slowed his pace for me some.
“Go ahead,” he drawls.
I huff. “Obviously, I need your help.”
“We can go over some basic phrases later.”
“Will one of them be what Viktor said?”
“No.”
I sigh. “Where are we driving to?”
“Nowhere. We’re running.”
“Wait, what?” I halt, so he does, too, with an annoyed sigh. “I don’t like running. I had?—”
“The slowest mile time in gym class.”
“Well, yeah.” I cross my arms, mostly for warmth because the sun has not risen.
Running at any time is unpleasant. Running early in the morning? My idea of hell.
I’m a little embarrassed he remembered that ancient confession. A tiny bit flattered too. I forget sometimes that Lev has known me since high school.
“I will teach you to fight, too, but you might not always be able to. You might have to run, and you need to be able to.”
Now, I understand. I should have anticipated it. He’s the one who taught me how to swim. To shoot. He’s giving me tools to take care of myself, which my father never did.
I think of the deference displayed yesterday. Powerful people have powerful enemies. Marriage to Lev will protect me from a lot. It also could put me in danger.
Then I think of my mom, shot in the street to teach my father a lesson. Lev knows she’s dead, but I never told him it was no accident. He doesn’t know I’m more aware of the risks than anyone else.
He does read the fear on my face. Steps closer. “I swear you are safe here. And that I will keep you safe. But we prepare for anything.”
