Page 159 of Sexting the Pakhan

Then he says, “Some of them.”

Nadia frowns. “That is a worrying answer.”

“Yes,” he says. “It is.”

Mila’s arm tightens around him. “Then he should stay.”

“No,” I say, more sharply than I mean to.

Mila flinches.

I soften my voice at once. “Baby, this is not simple.”

“You said we help hurt people,” Mila says.

“We did help him.”

“But now you want to send him away.”

“I want to keep you safe.”

Nadia looks at me. “Are both things possible?”

I wish I had an answer that didn’t make my chest hurt.

Ruslan speaks before I can. “Your mother is right,” he says.

Mila looks offended. “You want to leave?”

“No,” he says. His eyes lift to mine. Then he adds, “But I should.”

Mila studies him. “Because of bad people?”

“Yes.”

“Will they hurt you?”

“They can try.”

Nadia says, “That is not comforting.”

“I know,” Ruslan says.

I pick up my phone and hold it tightly in my hand. “One call,” I say.

Ruslan nods. “One call.”

“No names that bring men here.”

“No men here.”

“No threats in my living room.”

His mouth almost moves. “I’ll do my best.”

“Don’t be funny.”

“I wasn’t.”