ited at the curb

as watching her. The driver stood next to it in a charcoal suit and a cap that hadn't moved even an inch in the twent

hand and her own duffel slung across her shoulder. Carla

to start with jus

trap, she was stepping in

?" Zoe asked, gripping h

," Anya said gently. "We're g

ere be m

no pro

ed the rear doo

p. Anya followed, heart hammering. As soon as the door shut behind her, the cit

way smoothly. Not a

t her side. "Is t

oba

king into Bluetooth headsets like their voices mattered more than anyone else's. The world of glass and steel had n

ue and stopped in front of the Volk

e stone wall beside the entrance. Doormen in crisp uniforms stood like chess pieces. A woman in a fur coat exi

oor o

at her. "Do we

d, voice softer tha

ded her the ba

light. There were no welcome signs. No concierge smile. Just security came

aked on the floor

ked, not looking u

Petr

ed once. "You're cleared for PH-1. You

cor

eared from a side hallway. Her blond hair was tied in a

"I'm Mr. Volkov's ho

a with big eyes. Any

grid stepped inside, pressed her finger to a biometr

red, "It's

back. "I don't think

matte black walls. No family photos. No art. Just

idor and stopped in front o

m is the first on the left. You'll find the refrigerator is

urned and

glance

ened th

t. Marble floors. Pale walls. Designer furniture that loo

th Zoe and shut the d

ound

a house," An

yed, clung

ceship," sh

down to unzip

fancy cave. And caves can be fille

ked around at the cold perfect

who she was tr

air in a high-end clinic. No scent of cooking or flowers or even human life. Ju

bigger than her

a sitting area with modern furniture in shades o

stopped at the doorway like she

ing her coat. "Go ahe

rd, and a bookshelf filled with hardcovers arranged by color. A small desk

slowly, looking like she

ne?" she

beside her. "L

over in her hands. "It

n fix

moment. Then: "W

imalist who feared personality. King-sized bed, pale gray bedding, glossy black nightstan

dn't e

tment, the squeaky floors, the tiny hallway where

her side now,

like it,"

owed. "It'

too

ile. "Then we'll

the bed and bounced once-ging

id t

se. Zoe leaned into her immediately,

ked arou

autiful.

museum curated by someone w

ing she needed to know ab

sagging onto the floor like tired animals. Anya unzipped the smaller one a

ur blanket with o

mas with the peel

rolled and smudged, each sig

with her palm. A smiling sun. A house with crooked windows. One with three sti

er father was in the picture. Anya had said no. But Zoe was

hand to the page

her, dragging a stu

ut up the

should ask first.

nched. "It is i

the wall. Bla

said. "You

from Anya's purse. The colors instantly changed the room, just a

ssed that way.

a couldn't sha

, glanced

oo clean. The si

nce Ingrid left. And yet... there was something about th

ed on the nigh

red quick

hostage by minimalist billion

breath. "You'

e cult compound, how emotion

a bank vault with feelings

shifted slightly, so

. Being

d y

ndow. The city stretched forever in every

e else's story," she said. "And I

hat time. Just said

r eyes. "I'll

, call me. I mean it. C

d faintly.

and set th

orn she heard a soft sound behind t

ened it, the ha

ilence

chi

through the penthouse, followed by In

r is s

nded less like an invitati

ancy-Zoe wore a cotton dress with faded stars, and Anya had changed into dark jeans and a blouse that

hall, behind glass doors that pa

ed her ha

elier the size of a compact car hung above a polished obsidian table long enough to

se. He didn'

ply lo

lifted. She wasn't about to let him

aid smoothly, as if

e returned, matc

-not beside, not across, but close enough to feel deliberately aw

ssed in black-poured

he untouched wine beside him.

e's chair out and helped her u

didn't miss the flicker

was placed before them b

d at it. "

y, stabbing a bite with

whispered, "Does

oba

. Frowned. Ate

k in left hand like a knife. He didn't speak unle

to fill th

," she said, mouth full. "And somet

. "That was

gled. "

fted-just briefly-to the child. Like h

d to him, oblivious to the ten

e said, a bit

y n

re people paid t

That's silly. C

er. Something cracked alon

omeday,"

like he'd just agre

. Anya tense. Dimitri answering in clipped sylla

ween him and An

imme

t under th

bent to pick it up, Dimitri

he said. "Keep to your wing. Privacy is maintained

lips

ink family works?"

ly," he said wi

ooked at Zoe

s a child,

tared

ot here to win anyone's affectio

p with her fork,

it!" she

" Dimitri murmure

laug

, when Anya l

he saw him

aned before Anya even re

g silverware, wiping surfaces that didn't need it. Dimitri g

to the door before

ai

pped.

ten

her little side bag, rummaging past a hal

of paper. Purple constructio

she said. "You didn't have any pi

around, brows l

of her confidence on full dis

down at th

d a crown. The third had very sharp shoulders and icy blue eyes drawn in clumsy marker. Above t

e paper like it

ur fridge if you want. Or your wi

t in restraint. Like he didn't know

it all. Caref

time, she saw the

His fingers moved awkwardly, folding it

he said finall

d back to

y looked. Not like they were a pr

dn't know what

d a child hand him

t know if he

he said stiff

spered close

stood

side, sleepy now. "H

linked

ow to smile. Mayb

orway. At the folded p

red. "But I wouldn