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"As in from Russia?"

"As in working for a Russian tech investor named Viktor Sokolov. He has ties to the FSB, Russia's intelligence service. I tracked his cyber operations in Ukraine for two years."

Sophie sank onto the couch. "I don't understand. What do Russians have to do with my brother blackmailing Kit?" She glanced at me as her cheeks turned red.

Code stood and moved to the kitchenette. He filled a glass with water and drank half before answering. "NewVation, Your brother's old company, was funded by Viktor through shell companies. When I looked at their financials, I saw the same pattern I'd seen in Ukraine. Russians backing American tech startups to steal intellectual property."

“Russell was building deepfake tech at NewVation?” Sophie looked confused.

"He built it after. But he learned a lot of what he needed to know while working there. Probably had access to research, algorithms, maybe even some of the base code." Code set down the glass. "After he got laid off, he built his own system. Used it to blackmail Eddie Pope."

"Who's that?" I asked.

"That’s NewVation’s CEO,” Sophie said. “Russell didn’t get along with him. That’s why he was laid off.”

“That tracks,” Code said. “Russell created a deepfake of Eddie confessing to murdering a prostitute. Completely fake, but impossible to prove. He demanded money. Eddie panicked and went to Viktor for help."

Sophie covered her mouth and blinked back shocked tears.

The pieces started clicking together in my head. "So, Viktor sent people to find Russell."

"And to find the technology. Viktor wants it back before Russell can use it again or sell it to someone else. The Russians at the house tonight were looking for Russell, looking for the deepfake system, looking for anything that could lead them to either one."

I studied his face. The purple bruise. The cut above his eyebrow. The careful way he held himself.

"What happened when you got there?"

"Krause was already watching the house. Former SEAL who Simon knows. We went in together." He said it so casually, like walking into a house full of armed Russian operatives was a normal Tuesday night. "The Russians were searching and tearing the place apart. We tried to take them quietly but one of them got a shot off. Fight got messy."

"Messy how?"

"Krause took a bullet through the shoulder.” He hesitated, studying my face for a reaction. “I injured and interrogated one of the Russians before the police showed up. I had to put down the other one."

The room tilted. "You killed someone tonight?"

"Yes."

Just yes. Like it was that simple.

"Code."

"He was going to kill Krause. I didn't have a choice."

"I'm not." I pressed my hands to my face and felt Sophie’s hand on my shoulder. "I'm not judging you. I'm just trying to process that you went into that house and fought armed men, and you could have died."

"But I didn't."

"But you could have!" My voice rose. "Jesus, Code. You could have been shot. You could have been killed. And I was just sitting at Sophie's apartment drinking coffee, completely useless while you were… While you were putting your life on the line for me." I pressed the heels of my hands into my eyes.

"You were safe. That's what mattered."

I stood up, shaking, and went into the kitchenette. Sophie stayed on the couch, shaken. "What did the Russian tell you when you interrogated him?"

"Viktor wants the deepfake technology. Russell is blackmailing Eddie Pope for twenty million dollars. If Russell releases what he has, it could lead investigators to Viktor, back to the Russian funding, back to everything."

He looked past me, to Sophie. “And if he gets you, he could use you to draw out Russell. We need to keep you safe and hidden.” He looked back at me. “And you.”

“And me? What did he say about me?"