Page 153 of Unrequited
Take her.
Kyla.
Gasps. Kyla’s scream pierces through the silence.
My father draws his gun, aiming at Branson, held in check only by discipline.
I step forward again, my eyes locked on the screen. “You wanted proof. Now you have it.”
My voice is steady and calm, even when I want to scream. My fist clenches.
“I went to Moscow when I found out about the Kopolov betrayal. I met with Matvei. Risked everything. And I brought it back.”
More slides. Text messages. Photos. Flight logs. Weapons stashes. All of it.
My phone buzzes. A message.
Matvei
They’re here. I can’t stop them. You have five minutes.
Shit. My chest tightens. I glance at my father. “That night, at the Wolf and Moon, it wasn’t the Russians who pulled the trigger.Ikilled them for their betrayal, which I’ve shown you clear as day. I made sure no one was left alive.”
A pause.
“Except one,” I add. “Zoya Kopolova. She saw everything. I took her. Made her my wife. And I did it for this. For you. Because they were trying to overthrow you.”
I look around. Eyes are wide. Weapons are drawn. The gravity hits.
“I need you to hold Branson. Keep him alive. Punish him with Matvei’s parents. But we don’t have time. The Kopolovs are at our door.”
Gasps rise around me.
I spin to the guard. “Where’s Matvei?”
“We lost contact.”
I squeeze the remote. Boots on gravel. Outside.
My father steps up beside me, his face grim. “This goes deeper than betrayal. This is war.”
But it isn’t who I expected. It isn’t Rafail Kopolov or one of his men.
We both turn as the front door creaks open, and Matvei enters the room.
“I tried to hold her back,” he says, pleading. “But she says she has something important to tell you.”
“You have her, then?” I ask, my voice hoarse.
Zoya steps out of the shadow behind him and into the light.
Chapter 30
ZOYA
“Zoya.”Seamus stares at me across the room. They all do. Caitlin cries quietly. Even Kyla wipes at her eyes. But everyone’s still.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers hoarsely. “I’m so sorry.” He faces the room.
