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“That sounds like an order.”

“It’s a request I expect you to argue with.”

Despite myself, I almost smile. “At least you know me.”

“I am learning.”

Despite myself, my heart does a little flip. Traitor.

I glance once at Anya’s door, then lower my voice. “I can’t leave her for long.”

“You won’t.”

He turns, and after a second, I follow him down the corridor toward the small sitting area outside the guest rooms. It is quiet there, empty except for two armchairs, a low table, and a window overlooking the side garden. He stops near the window but doesn’t sit.

Neither do I.

For a few seconds, we face each other like this is a negotiation neither of us knows how to begin.

Then he holds out his hand.

I look at it. “You’re very confident.”

“Yes.”

“I wasn’t complimenting you.”

“I know.”

I should keep the phone. I know I should. Evan is mine to deal with, and every time I hand over one more piece of my life to Nikolai, I make it harder to pretend this arrangement is simple.

But Evan’s words are still sitting inside my head, and I am tired of being the only person who has to carry them.

I unlock the screen and give him the phone.

Nikolai reads the messages without speaking.

His face gives away less than I want. That’s annoying too. With Evan, I always knew what reaction he wanted because he put it in front of me and waited. Nikolai gives me almost nothing, which means I have to stand here and wonder what is happening behind his eyes.

He scrolls once. Stops. Reads again. Then he locks the phone and hands it back.

“He knows where you are.”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I don’t know.”

“When did the messages start?”

“Just now. He’s used unknown numbers before.”

“You blocked him?”

“Many times.”

“And he keeps finding a way.”