Page 139 of The Enforcer’s Pawn

“I know,” I say, meeting his eyes. “I’m saying he has to ask first.”

A line appears between his brows, but he says nothing.

Maksim glances at Yuri. “Leave the path open. Give him time to touch it again.”

Elena’s hand stays around mine. “And if he asks only for Cara?”

Dmitri answers before I can.

“Then we decide how to answer without giving him Cara.”

I don’t like the way he says it, but I breathe a little easier because he says we.

For ten minutes, the annex runs on screen light, low voices, and the faint click of Yuri’s keys. Nothing moves. Then the old Boston relay flashes again.

Yuri straightens. “Second touch.”

Kirill moves closer to the side screen. “He’s typing.”

Dmitri steps to the table. “Read it.”

Yuri waits until the line comes through.

Cara, is that you?

My stomach drops so fast, I have to grip the table.

Kathryn goes pale. “That sounds like him.”

“Answer?” Yuri asks.

Dmitri’s face says no before his mouth can.

Maksim raises one hand. “Let her choose the words.”

Everyone looks at me.

I stare at the message. Patrick is cautious enough to hide behind a relay and stupid enough to think I’ll sound like the sister who used to clean up after him.

“What would I say?” I ask Kathryn.

Kathryn swallows. “You’d be angry. Scared, but angry. You wouldn’t beg.”

I nod once. “Type this.”

Yuri puts his hands over the keys.

I say, “You? How the hell did you find this?”

Yuri sends it.

The reply comes back faster than I expect.

Prove it. Same phrase from Boston.

My mouth goes dry.

Patrick wants proof, and not Mikhail’s name, not a school, not a clinic, but me, the old rhythm of my life before home stopped feeling safe.