But I can't, because I need to control myself now. The romantic, nostalgic man who was sitting here seconds ago is gone, and the enforcer is back.
The one who kills without hesitation. The one who burns buildings to the ground and leaves bodies in his wake. The one the concrete walls of Bucharest built for the Ionescu family.
I force my voice to stay level, stripping away every trace of warmth.
"No," I say flatly. "I don't know who that is. Why?" I ask.
Elena pulls her knees up to her chest again.
"I saw him," she says. "At the château."
My stomach twists.
"When?"
"When I was first taken," she says, her voice quiet. "I don't remember much from those early days. The drugs, they kept me so foggy. But I remember him. Cornel Lupu. His name, and I saw him a few times."
I lean forward, my elbows on my knees, my hands clasped together so tightly, like I'm trying to squeeze this man's neck.
"And?"
"Maxim used to mention his name," she continues. "Especially in the beginning. I didn't know who he was at first, but the name kept coming up. And then..."
She trails off, her gaze dropping to the blanket bunched around her legs.
"Then what, Leni?"
"There was a night in Moscow," she says. "I was in the bedroom, and I heard voices downstairs. I recognized Maxim's voice, and someone else's. Someone familiar. I tried to get closer, but the door was locked. I pressed my ear against it, and I heard Maxim say the name again. Cornel."
My pulse pounds in my ears.
"So you saw him when you were taken, and then he was at," I pause, not wanting to say that piece of shit's name, "Maxim's house?"
"I'm not too sure," she admits. "I never actually saw him that night. But I heard the voice, and I heard the name, and..." She lifts her eyes to mine, and I see the fear flickering there. "I'm pretty sure it was him, Adi."
I sit back, my mind racing.
Cornel Lupu. It means something to her to remember, so now it means something to me, too.
I repeat the name, burning it into my brain.
I don't know who the fuck this man is, but if he's connected to what happened to Elena, if he had anything to do with her being taken, being drugged, being sold to the Volkovs, then he's a dead man.
Elena shifts on the bed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Why this name? What are you thinking then, Elena?" I ask.
She hesitates, biting her bottom lip. It's the first Elena thing I've seen her do. She always did that when she was thinking. The sight of it almost makes me forget what we're talking about.
"I think..." She stops, takes a breath. "I think Cornel Lupu is the one who orchestrated everything."
I look at her and take a deep breath. I sit up straight and rub my chin.
"You think he's the one who took you?"
"Yes."
"Faked your death?"