“There are risks.”
“Every single plan we come up with will have a risk. At least this one has a high probability of succeeding.” Nikolai’s glare becomes more pointed. “Unless you’re trying to tell me you care about the—”
“It’ll work.”
Nikolai’s mouth snaps shut. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I smack him on the back on my way into the house. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s been a long day.”
The moment I slam the door on him, I let my facade of indifference fall. Putting Alyssa directly in Sobakin’s path feels counterproductive. It feels wrong. It feels… unnatural.
But not doing it… what would that mean?
“Penny for your thoughts?”
I glance to the side as Polina appears from the corridor. I push myself off the door. “When you were little you used to go around saying, ‘Polly for your thoughts.’ Do you remember that?”
She cringes. “I was, like, three.”
“How old are you now? Four? Five?”
Flashing me a middle finger and a matching scowl, she asks, “Want some dinner? We made blinis.”
“‘We’？” My heartbeat quickens. Surely she doesn’t mean—
“Mariska and me. Not Lev. He still hates me.”
“He does not hate you,” I sigh with a sigh.
She pshaws as if it doesn’t matter one way or the other, though I know it hurts her that he doesn’t reciprocate her love as openly as she’d like. “Whatever. Do you want food or not?”
It’s not like Pol to be so short with me. The girl’s got an abundant reserve of patience. She reminds me of Alyssa that way.
No. Stop it. Stop thinking of Alyssa, goddammit.
“I’ll take a blini.”
She walks me to the kitchen and starts preparing a plate for me. It’s clear that she’s preoccupied, though. Her usual smile is gone and her eyebrows seem permanently glued together.
“Is there something bothering you?”
“I don’t know. Should there be something bothering me?”
I lean a hip against the counter and fold my arms over my chest. “Polina, is there something you’d like to say to me?”
“Is there something you’d like to say to me?”
Biting back my irritation, I say, “This is the day you decide to behave like a snotty teenager? Was there an occasion or you just wanted to be unpredictable?”
She gives me the stink eye and starts loading my plate with food, still pointedly not answering any of my questions.
“You haven’t poisoned those, have you?” I drawl. Her lips twitch but she refuses to smile. I clear my throat and try again. “So what have you been up to today?”
“Oh you know, same ol, same ol. Watched TV, went for a walk, read a book. Met the woman you’ve got trapped down in the basement.”
Wait.
“What?”
She pushes the plate towards me. “Alyssa. You know her? The pretty blonde in the basement. She and I had a little chat while Lev played video games. She’s really got a way with him. He seems so comfortable around her.”
I take a deep breath to steady myself, even though it feels like I’m being tossed around on a boat in the middle of a storm. “Did Lev tell you?”
“We literally just established that Lev barely talks to me. No, I followed him down there. I’m sure you’ve noticed that he’s not the stealthiest of people. Or the most secretive.”
“I told you to stay out of the basement,” I grit out.
“Well, I didn’t listen.” She jabs a finger in my direction. “You should have told me the reason why.”
“It’s none of your business, Polina. This is a Bratva issue and I don’t want you getting involved in it.”
“She’s miserable down there.”
“I’m aware.”
My sister’s eyes narrow. “She’s obviously down there because I’m up here. Now that I know, you can at least offer her a bedroom. No point in secrecy if the cat’s out of the bag.”
My jaw clenches. That would have made sense a few weeks ago. But now? After everything that’s gone down between Alyssa and me? I can’t imagine anything worse than having her around, in my space, spending time with my siblings. They only met today and already, Polly is in my face, championing Alyssa’s cause. The little narushitel must have some fucking witchcraft power when it comes to the Bugrov clan.
“You need to forget about her.”