Page 65 of Forced Marriage to the Cruel Bratva Pakhan

“I think the evidence is concerning enough to warrant investigation.” He moves to his phone. “I’m going to have Viktor bring up the full communication analysis. You’re going to answer every question thoroughly and honestly. Then we’re going to determine conclusively whether you’ve been compromised.”

“Compromised.” I repeat the word like it’s foreign. “You’re talking about me like I’m—like I’m an asset that might be turned against you.”

“From an operational standpoint, that’s exactly what this situation suggests.” He’s already dialing. “Viktor, bring the Souris files to my private study. All of them, including the timeline correlation analysis.”

He disconnects and turns back to me. “Sit down.”

“Pavel?”

“Sit. Down.” The command is absolute. “We’re doing this now, completely, so there’s no room for doubt afterward.”

I sink into the chair, feeling like I’m facing interrogation rather than a conversation with the man I love. “What do you want to know?”

“Everything.” He remains standing, positioning himself between me and the door in a way that’s probably unconscious but feels deliberate. “Every conversation you’ve had with your father since the wedding. Every detail you’ve shared with him about life here, about my operations, about anything that could be used as intelligence.”

“I haven’t spoken to him since the wedding,” I repeat. “Not once. No calls, no messages, nothing until that envelope appeared yesterday.”

“You’re certain? No indirect contact through third parties? No messages passed through staff or political associates?”

“I’m certain.” My voice is shaking now. “Pavel, I know how this looks. I know the timing is terrible and the evidence makes me look guilty. I’m telling you the truth—I didn’t know about my father’s betrayal. I didn’t pass him information.”

“What do you want?”

“You.” The word comes out broken. “I want you, Pavel. I want this messy, complicated relationship we’re building. I want to be your partner instead of your captive. I want…” My voice cracks. “I want you to believe me when I say I didn’t betray you.”

Silence falls heavy between us. Through the window, I can see the grounds bathed in moonlight, the walls that surround the property both protection and prison.

Viktor’s knock interrupts before Pavel can respond. He enters carrying several folders and a tablet, his expression carefully neutral as he takes in the scene: me in the chair looking devastated, Pavel standing rigid with controlled fury.

“The files you requested, sir.” Viktor sets everything on the desk. “The timeline analysis shows correlation between Mrs. Rudenko’s presence in operational meetings and subsequent intelligence leaks to Kravin contacts, but no direct evidence of communication or coordination.”

“Meaning?” Pavel doesn’t look away from me.

“Meaning she had access to information that was later compromised, but we can’t confirm she was the source.” Viktor hesitates. “It could be coincidence. Or it could be exceptionally good operational security on her part.”

“Or it could be that I’m innocent,” I interject, anger finally cutting through the fear. “That my father has another source entirely and I’m being investigated because I’m the convenient suspect.”

Pavel picks up the timeline analysis, scanning it with that focused intensity. I watch his expression shift as he processes the data, looking for the conclusion that will determine everything.

Finally, he sets it down and looks at me directly. “Viktor, leave us.”

“Sir?”

“Now.”

Viktor exits without further argument, closing the door behind him.

We’re alone again, and the weight of Pavel’s scrutiny is almost physical.

“I want to believe you,” he says quietly. “More than tactical assessment should allow. More than operational security protocols recommend. I want to believe this is all terrible timing and your father’s manipulation and complete coincidence.”

“But?”

“Belief without verification is negligence.” He moves to crouch in front of my chair, bringing us to eye level. “I need you to understand what’s at stake here, Serena. If your father’s intelligence continues leaking to Kravin operatives, people die. My people. The men and women who trust me to keep them safe while they execute operations. The security breach your father represents is a direct threat to lives I’m responsible for protecting.”

“I understand that.” Tears are streaming down my face now despite attempts to control them. “I understand the stakes, Pavel. But I’m not the leak. I’m not working with my father. I’m not your enemy.”

He reaches up to cup my face, his thumb brushing away tears with surprising gentleness given the circumstances. “Then help me prove that conclusively. Answer every question. Submit to whatever verification protocols are necessary. Let me eliminate you as suspect so we can focus on finding the actual source.”