Sasha’s gaze sweeps over the peeling EMPOWERMENT STARTS HERE poster taped to the wall before landing on me. When it does, he breaks into a crooked smile. “Hope I’m not too late.”
“—exactly on time as always, Sashenka.”
Because Elena is hugging him. Actually hugging him, her chapped lips pressing to his scarred cheek. “What a lovely surprise. Our guardian angel returneth.”
They start jabbering back and forth in Russian. Meanwhile, my mind is short-circuiting. Guardian angel. Guardian angel. Guardian angel.
“Wh…what is happening?” I stammer.
The two of them turn to look at me. “You didn’t tell her?” Elena arches a brow at Sasha as he shrugs out of his overcoat and hangs it up on the coat rack, as comfortable and familiar with the place as he is with his own home.
“Tell me what?” My voi
