Chapter 15:
The transition from the chaos of the riverbank to the sterile silence of Alexei’s car was jarring. My ears were still ringing with the echo of police bullhorns and rushing water, but inside the vehicle there was only the low hum of the engine and the steady click of the turn signal.
“Where is Adrian?” I demanded, clutching the briefcase to my chest like a shield. My knuckles were white, my scrubs damp and clinging to my skin. “You were supposed to be the traitor. Adrian said you sold them out.”
Alexei kept his eyes on the road, navigating the late night traffic with unnerving calm. “Adrian sees the world in absolutes, Ella. Loyalty or betrayal. He doesn’t understand the gray. I didn’t sell him out to Mikhail. I gave Mikhail just enough information to keep him occupied while
