“Well, you’re right about one thing. Kolya Sokolov is powerful, but he’s also smart. Careful. You don’t get to where he is by being careless. He’s survived this long because he doesn’t make mistakes.” A pause. “And because he’s utterly ruthless. He eliminates threats before they become problems, like he did with your family.”
I shift in my seat, suddenly feeling worse about it all.
“I’m not trying to scare you, Thea. I’m trying to prepare you for reality. Gabriel is as good a man as you can be in a world like this. He’s strong. He cares about you. And he’s the reason you’re still alive. But Kolya… Kolya is a monster. And monsters are very, very hard to kill.”
The words settle over me like a chill.
“So you don’t think Gabriel can win?”
“No, I’m not saying that. I think Gabriel will do everything in his power to protect you and the baby. And I’m sure he’ll fightharder than he ever has before.” She meets my eyes. “But I also think that you need to prepare for the possibility that it might not be enough.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that Kolya’s been playing this game since before you were born. He’s outlasted rivals, survived assassination attempts, and consolidated power. He’s the kind of man who can give orders to murder children as they sleep in their beds and think nothing of it. But you, being here, being alive, that’s the closest he’s ever come to losing. And he won’t stand for it.”
My hand moves unconsciously to my stomach. Liza flicks her eyes there for an instant before bringing them back up to mine.
“The baby changes everything. For Gabriel, for you. You’re not just fighting for your own life anymore. And I’m sure you’re well aware that if Gabriel fails, and Kolya gets to you?—”
“Stop.”
“He won’t kill you quickly. He’ll make Gabriel watch. And then he’ll eliminate any trace of the Fetisov line once and for all.”
“Stop.”
Liza falls silent. My heart is racing. I step over to the window. Outside it looks peaceful, secure. The high walls that I hated when I first came here I now feel grateful for.
“Why are you telling me this?” I ask without turning around.
“Because I failed you once, and I don’t want to do it again. Because you deserve the truth, even if it’s terrifying.”
I turn to face her. “The truth is that Gabriel will do anything to keep us safe.”
“I don’t doubt that, but it might not be enough.”
“What’s the alternative?” I ask. “Running? Hiding? Spending the rest of my life looking over my shoulder?”
“Maybe. If it means you get to live, that the baby gets a chance at a normal life.”
“There’s no normal life for me. Besides, running didn’t work so well for you, did it?”
The jab hits and Liza flinches.
“I’m sorry,” I say immediately. “That was?—”
“True.” She smooths her apron. “It was true. Running was the cowardly move. But it did keep me alive. Kept my daughter alive. Then again, look at me now. That’s the thing about this life—it never stops chasing you. And one day, it’ll catch up. It always does.”
She sighs heavily, as if she’s not quite sure what else to say.
“I’m sorry to scare you. But maybe this will help you understand me just a bit better, what I did and why. I was so scared for Sissy. And as much as it hurts that she’s not a part of my life now, I sometimes wonder if it’s for the best. Just be careful, alright? Whatever you do. Don’t forget that Gabriel’s just a man, and even men with the best intentions can still fail.”
For a moment, I think she might start crying. But instead, she turns and leaves.
Liza’s words were like a splash of cold water to the face. But ones I needed to hear, nonetheless. I’d never seriously given thought to the possibility that Gabriel could lose, that he could fail to protect me and the baby.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’ll deal with it.
Because tonight, I have a date with the man I’m falling in love with. And I want to savor what could be the final night of normalcy before the storm clouds I see gathering on the horizon finally arrive.