Page 81 of Fight

She was angry but unhurt. I knew I could get through to her, but when I thought of how close I had been to losing her, my chest almost caved with the hurt. I’d need to rein those emotions in for the time being, because now, I needed to find out what punishment Vasile would mete out.

That was the reason I hadn’t immediately told P how I felt, told her how much I loved her. My fate was still uncertain. I might die before I ever saw her again, and saying that before I knew…it seemed cruel, unfair.

Maybe it had been a mistake to think so, but I couldn’t undo it now. All I could do was hope I lived to tell her and hoped she’d listen when I did.

I parked and was searched, the whole routine familiar, and when I entered the house, Vasile called, “Here.”

I followed his voice and went into the family room and saw Vasile as he lay his son in the bassinet that was amid the toys scattered in the room.

“He’ll soon sleep through the night,” he said, as he looked at the boy for a moment longer.

But when he turned to face me, any hint of the doting father he had been was gone. I let him walk past me and then followed him into his office.

Vasile waited as I had known he would since it was my responsibility to say what I’d done.

“I killed Markov,” I said.

Vasile’s face betrayed nothing, but he shook his head with something like regret.

“You’ve brought me more trouble, Ioan. Not even Sorin brings me this much trouble,” he said.

I couldn’t deny it. For years, Sorin had been wild, quick-tempered, but he’d married and become a father, leaving his old ways behind him.

“Yes. It couldn’t be avoided,” I said.

What I said was true. When Markov had come after P again, he’d signed his death warrant. He couldn’t be allowed to live, but that didn’t change the fact that I had violated Vasile’s long-standing truce, had acted without his approval, both of which were grounds for death, or at minimum a harsh, perhaps permanent punishment.

So whatever I’d thought Vasile would do, giving me an uncharacteristically nonchalant shrug had not been a part of it.

“It was only a matter of time. If not you, then someone else. Did you also kill Ciprian Dragos?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “He wasn’t there when I arrived.”

“He will be found,” Vasile said.

Then he regarded me, looking at me as if he were trying to solve a puzzle.

“Do you know why I no longer allow you to drive Fawn?” he asked.

“Because I failed,” I said, again remembering how I had allowed her to be kidnapped.

“No. Because you were indecisive. You were smart, loyal, but too slow to act,” he said.

“And now?”

“Now you’re not.”

“Am I going to be driving Fawn again?” I asked.

“No. Someone will have to see that Markov’s operation is handled properly. That will be you,” he said.

“Thank you,” I said, managing to keep my voice cool, though I was relieved at the turn of events, surprised that he had given me such a huge responsibility. I wouldn’t let him down again.

He nodded and then regarded me again. “Take care of your woman,” he said.

“I will.”

As I left, I realized I hadn’t challenged the notion that P was my woman.

There was no question of that and no question that I loved her.

Now I just had to prove it.

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