olished she could see her reflection i

like this. The Volkov building loomed like a slab of black glass against the skyline, i

d with the sterile musk of wealth. Everythi

ion desk. Her boots squeaked slightly. The woman behind the desk didn't look up at first, scrolling on h

you?" Polite

I-I have a meeting. With t

am

Petr

the brow. Then the receptionist tapped

for Mr. Grav

k. Then she loo

44th floor. Mr. Graves' ass

hroat, and walked toward the elevators. Her b

like it had more money than her apartment. Polished steel wa

up, her nerves ratchet

drawing unicorns and eating animal

ht with warning. "If you ever hear the

ned with a so

ner chairs that didn't look sit-able. White orchids in glass v

uit stood to greet her. Her sm

Graves is expecti

they hadn't had to think about rent since birth. Anya could feel eyes flicking toward her, the

a corner office. "Mr. Grave

tepped

ched. A long chrome desk. Two chairs. Floor-to-ceilin

k-her name, on

ROVA. BE

t down

lence

in distant bursts.

eel-gray hair, glasses, and the posture

for coming. I'm Edmund Graves, couns

as a formality. She shook it

stions," he said, alrea

uld say

ntest nod. "Let

e precise stillness of a man wh

ce," he said, "you are entitled to know the basis o

eather file and tu

re

na

Ivanovic

99.996% p

at the docum

e never even met. He never reach

without looking up. "At Nikolai's request.

That's not possible. My m

ves did

rrowed ever

ed... i

s ago," sh

posture, then clos

tely. Likely from personal effects. A toothbrush.

crawl. "So he tested m

ted calmly. "And as a result, you were written int

hair, the white walls aro

ed," she said. "W

didn't

said somethin

l no

idea of a gift? A fortune I didn't ask for,

ment in front of her-an original copy of the will's third amend

om. If I cannot give her anything else,

breath

ted to burn the page and m

" she said quietly

othing. He di

ust the

still hovered

the

lder with a sound th

nce are unorthodox," he said, "b

ss-live in a tower, spin straw into

ched-almost a

n. But he believed in legacy. Int

forward. "

nt from a thin black envelop

. Dimitri Nikolai Volkov. Residency must be uninterrupted. No unauthorized travel. No independent l

ed. "I'm s

ng. The paper

d personally insulted her. "This is absurd. He's making me-what, live wi

" Graves said. "Voluntar

f I sa

st. No partial disbu

aper fall back

she asked. "Did he help write

ds again. "Mr. Volkov

. "And how's t

n't answer

he said instead. "Transportation c

child," sh

to accommodate a minor. There is a full-time h

you can just move people around like

he will," Graves said, cal

Dimitri. I don't

ifficult, given t

ing me to walk into a stranger's house. A stranger who shares blood with the

de," Graves said cooll

respond. Sh

sted hi

Petrova, there is one mor

urned

ho

door opened

e air

n't belong to ordinary doors. A presence entered the room

urned

ything inside

t like a wall-sharp suit, navy tie, jaw like it had never known softnes

c

ale blue

ind them. A crease in the s

ew tha

oids. Not fro

ght five

squerade ballroo

step back with

her once, head to toe.

e, was low and smooth

. "You're the

s bracing against an instinct that wanted to flee-and a

traig

welcoming comm

quite smile. "Som

oss the polished floor, the a

the space between them, n

room. His walk was deliberate, shoulders s

what I expect

disappointme

k, clearly regretting every life choic

ced at him. "You've

hav

he's a

e're still..

ttention back to Any

ave a

iffened

w o

ou

in the room, jag

ve. But something

e," h

't sure

our approval,"

turned toward the win

blood

?" she said. "Trust me,

ng her. "Let's not mistak

ned back toward her then-just slightly, just enough-and his ey

disd

curi

hing

liar

uth we

y a man looks at someth

most r

nce between them by a fraction, just en

lm but sharp. "I'm not here to take anything from

o the frayed leather strap hanging b

ce came as a terrible i

lieve me, if I co

. Which means you'll take whatever gets her what she needs

iffened. "I don

he said simp

e was too calm. Too practiced. Like he'd alread

said. "You don't get to appraise me an

ou're an unknown

ment too long. Cold blue, calc

econd, the m

s someth

gnit

om thi

re darker. S

ok a st

pped. "Have w

blinked.

too quic

ay was just

bre of his voice. The way he looked at her. That tiny, almost imperceptible crease ne

ulse

bout that?"

didn't

ack to the window, s

ve one year to survive under the same roof. Not

ard. "And if I

h," he said, not fa

ve, her legs unst

heard him mutter-just under h

gs don't s

nce between them by a fraction, just en

lm but sharp. "I'm not here to take anything from

o the frayed leather strap hanging b

ce came as a terrible i

lieve me, if I co

. Which means you'll take whatever gets her what she needs

iffened. "I don

he said simp

e was too calm. Too practiced. Like he'd alread

said. "You don't get to appraise me an

ou're an unknown

ment too long. Cold blue, calc

econd, the m

s someth

gnit

om thi

re darker. S

ok a st

pped. "Have w

blinked.

too quic

ay was just

bre of his voice. The way he looked at her. That tiny, almost imperceptible crease ne

ulse

bout that?"

didn't

ack to the window, s

ve one year to survive under the same roof. Not

ard. "And if I

h," he said, not fa

ve, her legs unst

heard him mutter-just under h

gs don't s

Slowly turn

lking toward the desk

was the w

asn't just w

he way h

sn't talki

ing something he'd n

Slowly turn

lking toward the desk

was the w

asn't just w

he way h

sn't talki

ring something he'd