And I know he’s figured it out. It’s the reason he’s been so quiet this whole time. While everyone else reacts, Isaak processes. He reads the nuances between every sentence, between each expression.
“No, we killed the wrong murderer,” continues Isaak. “He was planted to kill Otets. But someone else beat him to it. Isn’t that right, mother?”
She doesn’t break eye contact when she nods.
“I am the one who killed Vitaly Vorobev,” she says. “I killed my husband.”
The silence feels claustrophobic. A hundred violent men held sway by the secrets of two old women.
A war pinned in place by love that’s stayed hidden for years.
“Mama…” Bogdan’s voice is filled with shocked awe. He’s staring at Nikita as though he has no idea who she is anymore. “Mama… it… it can’t be true.”
She looks at him wit
