Page 100 of Savage Lies

The mention of our father makes my blood heat with rage. “Don’t bring Father into this.”

“Father would have solved this problem in five minutes. He would have put a bullet in her head the moment he discovered she was FSB, and he would have moved on with business.”

“Father led his way. I lead mine.”

“Father was a leader. The kind who understood that personal feelings are luxuries we can’t afford. He would be ashamed of what you’ve become.”

I stand up so fast that my chair rolls backward into the wall. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I know exactly what I’m talking about. You’re in love with an enemy agent who was sent to destroy us, and that love is doing what she couldn’t accomplish through espionage.”

“She doesn’t remember who she was.”

Alexei cocks his head and smirks. “Are you sure about that?”

“Even if she remembers, nothing changes. She’s not working against us.”

“Her very presence is working against us! Every day she’s here is another day you’re not fully focused on protecting what we’ve built.”

“I can handle both responsibilities.”

“Can you? When’s the last time you made a decision based on what’s best for the family instead of what keeps her happy?”

The examples are piling up too quickly. Hiring Pavel despite my suspicions about his background. Avoiding certain business meetings because they might upset her. Delegating operational decisions so I could spend more time managing her recovery.

“The situation is temporary.”

“How temporary? Because at the current rate of decline, we won’t have an organization left to protect by the time you figure out your priorities.”

“I’m handling it.”

“How? By pretending she’s your wife? By hoping she never remembers who she is?” Alexei plants his palms on my desk and leans over it. “By convincing yourself that love conquers espionage?”

“You don’t understand the situation.”

“I understand it perfectly. You captured an enemy agent, and instead of eliminating the threat, you played games with her identity because you thought it would give you the upper hand. Now, those games are costing us everything.”

“She’s no longer a threat.”

He throws his hands in the air and shouts, “She’s the biggest threat we’ve ever faced! Not because of her training, becauseshe’s made you weak. And weakness in this business gets entire families killed.”

The word “weak” makes something violent bloom in my chest. I’ve never been weak. I’ve built this organization into one of the most powerful in Moscow through strength and ruthlessness.

“I’m not weak,” I grind out.

“Then prove it. Make the choice that protects our family’s future instead of your happiness.”

“What choice?”

“You know what choice. The same choice Father would have made, Grandfather would have made, and any rational leader would make. Eliminate the threat before it eliminates us.”

“I won’t kill her.”

“Then you’ve already chosen her over us.”

The finality in his voice makes something cold settle in my bones.

“She’s my wife.”