Page 31 of Lethal Alliance

“I did, at first.”

“Blyat.”His response is uncharacteristically harsh. Seeing my surprise, his mouth thins. “It’s the second time today I’ve been accused of holding you to open that vault. Mickey came to the same conclusion.” Before I have a chance to ask how Mickey knows about any of this, he goes on: “You said you thought that at first. What changed your opinion?”

The horrifying days of darkness when I thought I’d never see you again.

The truth is that believing I had lost Roman forever lent my thoughts the detachment of regret, causing me to read the situation without the overlay of my emotional investment.

“I know your wealth is vast enough that you have no need of what is inside the vault. After reading your letter, I think I understand why you didn’t confide in me.”

“Then why—” His voice cracks, and he spins away from me. His hands are on his hips, his shoulders rising and falling in deep breaths as if he’s struggling to calm himself. “Why didn’t you talk to me?” He remains turned away from me, his voice low and raw. “Or warn me? Divided loyalties I can understand, Darya. I knew you would want to help your brother. But the fact that you didn’t try to warn me? About abomb?”

“I didn’t know about that!” I reel as if I’ve been struck. “How could you possibly think I knew the Orlovs were going to set off a bomb? Don’t you know I’d have done anything—anything—to save the children, if I’d known?”

He still has his back to me.

He doesn’t trust me, any more than I trust him.

The realization is as shocking as it is painful.

“Why do you think I’m here, and not on the plane my brother booked for me?” I force myself to speak past the emotion choking my throat. “Do you think I could ever trust Alexei again, after what happened? I love my brother, Roman. I always will. But if it comes down to helping him regain our family legacy or saving the children’s lives, there’s no choice. My God.” I shake my head, utterly bewildered. “How could you ever, even for a moment, believe that I would risk their lives?”

He turns halfway through my speech, his face still shadowed as he watches me. “Alexei didn’t tell you about the bomb?”

“Of course he didn’t tell me!” I’m so appalled I feel sick. “Alexei told me that the Orlovs knew who you were and that you had the missing key to the vault. They already have Alexei captive. With you and me in one place, Alexei said the Orlovs would have all the pieces they need to open the vault. All they needed was leverage, a way to ensure we all cooperated. I ran because Alexei told me that the Orlovs were planning to take the children and use them as that leverage.”

Roman doesn’t speak.

“Alexei never said anything about a bomb.” My voice is weak. I’m finding it hard to speak at all. “Or about Inger. He just told me that running was the only way I could save the children.” My voice starts to shake, the sudden burst of adrenaline fading, leaving me shocked and utterly distraught.

Roman crosses the terrace in one stride, and when he reaches for me, I have no thought of refusing. He pulls me close, and I fall against the wall of his chest, inhaling his familiar scent, clinging to him as if he were the only solid rock amid a tornado. “I’m sorry,” he mutters, holding my head against his chest, stroking my hair as his other hand pulls me close to him. “I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you the truth about who I am. And I’m more sorry than you can ever know that I ever suspected you of endangering the children. I said terrible things, Darya, things I can’t ever take back.”

“I don’t care.” I shake my head against his chest, the tears I’ve been trying to hold back all day streaming down my face, dampening his shirt. “None of it matters, Roman, not now.” I pull back to say more, but before I do his mouth finds mine, and in that moment of connection I can feel all the pain and longing and fear that is haunting him, the regret and the long years of secrecy he’s been forced to live. I hold his face as his lips move on my own, feeling the heat between us, but it’s far more than that. This kiss isn’t about passion or desire. It’s a reminder to us both that we are home, that this thing between us, however strange and complicated, is the one real, strong foundation we can rely on. That no matter what is coming for us now, we have this. We have each other.

When Roman finally lifts his mouth from mine, I truly see for the first time the grim exhaustion in his face, the shadow of horror behind his eyes.

“The Orlovs have already won,” I whisper. “They have the girls.” I stare up at him. “Nothing is worth risking their lives. We can seek justice later. For now, we need to do whatever it takes to get Ofelia and Masha back. Give the Orlovs what they want. We have to open that vault, Roman, and we have to do it as soon as possible.”

“I agree.” His voice is husky with exhaustion. “There’s only one problem.”

“What?” I frown. I can’t imagine what could possibly matter, when both of the girls are gone.

Roman’s mouth twists. “I don’t have the key to open that vault.”

11

DARYA

“What do you mean, you don’t have the key?” Darya stares at me in confusion. “I didn’t even know therewasan actual key, but Alexei said the Orlovs suspect you have it. Key or not, the vault can’t be opened without your fingerprints. I should know.” I don’t miss the hard note in her voice. “Vilnus pressed my fingers against that damned vault every day for years trying to open it.”

“It’s complicated.” I glance uphill, toward the restaurant where Mickey is waiting. “We need time to talk about this, Darya. But I’d rather do it while Mickey is with us.” I almost smile. “I promised that I would include him in every step. I don’t want to risk breaking that promise less than a day since I made it.”

“Then let’s go.” She moves toward the stairs without hesitation.

“Wait.” I gesture inside the apartment. “Don’t you have anything you want to bring with you?”

She shakes her head impatiently. “No. I burned anything important. And we’ve already wasted enough time.”

I lead her through the alleyways, trying to keep my shock hidden.“I burned anything important.”

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