When I’d called to check in, I hadn’t told her anything, figuring a reveal this major should be done in person.

Eventually Mom would be fine wherever I lived, but how could I leave Jess . . . and school? “Living here would be challenging, with school and all.” I could let my master’s stand as my ending degree; I didn’t have to pursue the PhD. Yet somehow that felt like quitting.

“We are within driving distance of several renowned universities.”

God, the hopefulness in his voice was killing me. I knew he was accustomed to having his way, just as Sevastyan clearly was, but Paxán was making the effort to coax me to remain—which made me respect him all the more.

“Starting at a new university is something to investigate, at least,” I said, committing to nothing.

I was beginning to suspect that I was a commitment-phobe. Though I’d always considered myself decisive, I could see now that my decision trees were usually limbless.

If one completed a master’s degree and didn’t want to make a decision about one’s future . . . well, get a PhD! Stay in the same chute. Start classes a week after the last ones ended.

Maybe that was why the money bothered me so much; in a way, it represented infinite choices.

Hell, I hadn’t even chosen to come to Russia.

“It’s your move, dorogaya moya.” My dear.

I made a halfhearted play. “What about the danger, Paxán? What’s happening with that other organization?”

“These are difficult times we live in. There used to be, well, honor among thieves. Now the areas I control are getting flooded with an element that frightens my people.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll give you a mild example. My rival, Ivan Travkin, set up a parking lot in the middle of my territory. No one used it—there was no need to—so Travkin’s men began smashing the windshields of any cars outside the lot, forcing people to pay for parking every day. They came to me to get this stopped, so I sent Sevastyan, who shut that operation down. Forcefully.”

I could only imagine what the legendary Siberian had done.

“For years, Travkin has searched for small inroads like this, planning the death of my syndicate by a thousand cuts. But when he learned of your existence and sent two of his deadliest enforcers to America”—my twinkling-eyed Santa of a father grew steely-eyed and cold—“it was a declaration of war.”

War. Was it any wonder that I worried about Paxán constantly? And about Sevastyan, his frontline general?

“Once we prevail, things will be different for you. We can move freely.” Paxán’s expression softened again. “I will show you the country of your birth, your mother’s hometown. We can find any cousins of yours!”

“I would love that. Other than this trip, I’ve never traveled.”

He gave me an odd look, a guilty one, as if that was a failing on his part. “A fact that must be remedied as soon as possible. But in the meantime, it’s not so bad at Berezka?”

As if magnetized, my gaze sought out Sevastyan. Though no longer on the phone, he remained on the dock, scanning the perimeter. I lifted my teacup for a sip, and a moment to gather my thoughts.

“So the interest runs both ways?” Paxán said slyly.

I nearly choked on tea.

“Aleksei told me about the two of you.”

I set down my cup, because it shook. “What did he say?”

“After you two arrived, he came to me, confessing that things with you had passed beyond what was . . . expected.”

Had I gotten Sevastyan in trouble? “This is all my fault,” I quickly said. “Before I knew who he was, I tried to pick him up in a bar—something I had never done before. And then later, I pushed him. He said no, that I was your daughter, but I pushed.”

“I’m not angry, dear! I love Aleksei as my son and want only what’s best for him. He’s thirty-one, and I’d despaired of him ever settling down. He’s never even dated the same woman twice.”

“S-settling down? Um, why are you speaking about that?” Had Sevastyan mentioned wanting to? With me? I couldn’t tell if I was perversely thrilled—or about to bolt from the pavilion. “What did he say?”

Kovalev steepled his fingers. “When we first began to suspect that you might truly be my daughter, Aleksei grew excited at the prospect of having a sister. But then . . .” He trailed off with a perplexed expression.

“But then?”

“He saw you in person. He hadn’t been in America for more than a week when I received a call from him. In his reserved way, he asked me to send a replacement, because his notice of you wasn’t what it should be.”

“What does that mean?” I asked as calmly as possible—even as my heart tripped over a beat. Along with my surprise at this development, a weird sense of power surged inside me. Sevastyan could barely control himself with me! He’d wanted to relinquish his job, knowing he’d disappoint the man he obviously idolized.

“Aleksei confessed his interest in you was . . . tiomniy.”

“Dark?” Sevastyan had watched me and wanted me—darkly.

Paxán frowned. “And, well, glubokiy.”

That one was even more surprising. Deep?

Dark and deep sounded . . . stalker-y. Probably because Sevastyan had been stalking me at the time (though he’d been ordered to). Still, it gave me pause. “So he’s not in trouble?”