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It never comes.

Instead—

“You survived,” Ronan says quietly. “That was your job. You didn’t break.”

My chest tightens painfully. “Jonah didn’t.”

Ronan exhales slowly. “Jonah is still alive.”

I turn my head then—too fast, dizziness slamming into me.

“What?”

“He might have broke,” Ronan continues evenly. “And he’s still alive.”

Tears spill before I can stop them. Hot. Humiliating.

“I was weak,” I whisper. “I almost gave them everything. I’m sure I would have broken.”

Ronan leans forward, forearms on his knees.

“You were tortured,” he says. “And you held longer than any man should be asked to.”

“That’s not strength,” I choke.

“Yes,” Ronan says firmly. “It is.”

I shake my head. “You came for me.”

“Always,” he answers. “I would have come sooner if I knew you all were alive.”

The word hits harder than any blow ever did.

I press my face into the pillow, shoulders shaking. “Ithought you were dead. I thought Lena was dead. They told us—”

“I know,” Ronan says softly. “That’s why this ends with Malenkov.”

“Let me help,” I whisper. “I owe—”

Ronan cuts me off gently. “You don’t owe me anything.”

He stands.

“You heal,” he says. “That’s the mission right now.”

The door closes quietly behind him.

I finally let myself cry.

Not because I almost broke.

But because I didn’t die.

And that means I have to live because I survived.

42

Viktor Malenkov