“Acceptance of what? That the man I love is completely full of s**t and our entire romance is a lie?”
“That the man you love exists in a world where lying about his identity might be necessary.” I lean forward. “Daniel—or Daniil—is a Petrov. You’re from a Bratva family that’s allied with the Akopovs. Those families have been enemies for generations.”
“So he couldn’t trust me with the truth?”
“Could you have trusted him with it when you first met? Really?”
“Daniil risked everything to be with you,” I continue. “He crossed family lines, betrayed his father’s trust, put himself in constant danger—all for you.”
“Yes. He did.” I refill her wine glass. “The question is whether that lie negates everything else.”
Anastasia takes another sip of wine, smaller this time. “How do you do it?” she
