Elena’s POV

The screen went black.

One second Victor’s face filled the frame, calm and certain, the next there was only darkness and the soft click of the call ending. Nikolai didn’t move. He stood in the middle of the private office like someone had cut the strings that kept him upright. His shoulders were rigid. The hand that still held the phone had gone white at the knuckles. I could hear his breathing,short, controlled, the kind of control that costs something every second it is maintained.

I didn’t speak. There was nothing useful to say. The words Victor had left hanging in the air,you were never supposed to be...