Page 77 of Forced Marriage to the Cruel Bratva Pakhan

Most damning—messages suggesting Souris has been coordinating with someone inside my household. Someonefeeding him information that Serena couldn’t possibly have access to.

My blood runs cold as I review the evidence. This isn’t about Serena at all. Never was.

Her father has a separate source. Someone close enough to my operations to know details about security protocols, financial structures, strategic planning.

Someone I trust.

“The name,” I demand. “Who in my organization is the leak?”

“I don’t know.” He looks genuinely frustrated. “The messages only refer to them as ‘the asset.’ Souris was careful never to use identifying information in electronic communications.”

I study him for a long moment, looking for tells that suggest deception. He maintains eye contact, his body language consistent with truth-telling rather than performance.

“You’ll stay here under guard while we verify this information,” I finally decide. “If it checks out, you’ll be compensated and relocated safely. If you’re lying or this is a trap—”

“I understand.” He swallows hard. “I just want out of this life, Mr. Rudenko. The money Kravin pays isn’t worth watching what he does to people.”

I leave him secured and return to the main house, my mind already working through the implications.

There’s a mole. Someone in my inner circle has been betraying us to Souris, who’s been passing intelligence to Kravin. The timeline of leaks, the specifics of compromised information—it all makes sense now.

Serena is innocent.

The relief that floods through me is disproportionate to tactical concerns. I should be focused on identifying the mole, on plugging the leak before more damage occurs.

Instead, I just feel overwhelming need to see her. To tell her she was right, that the suspicion was misplaced, that I believe her completely now.

I find her in the bedroom where I left her, curled up in the armchair by the window with a book. She looks up when I enter, her expression guarded.

“Is everything okay?”

“Intelligence asset, possibly legitimate.” I cross to her, pulling her up from the chair and into my arms. “That’s not important right now.”

“Pavel—”

“You were right.” The admission comes easier than expected. “About everything. There’s a leak in my organization, but it’s not you. It was never you.”

Her breath catches. “You’re certain?”

“As certain as I can be without identifying the actual mole.” I tighten my arms around her. “I’m sorry, Serena, for doubting you.”

She’s quiet for a moment, processing. Then she pulls back slightly to look at me. “Does this mean the investigation is over?”

“The investigation into you is over. The investigation into who’s actually betraying us is just beginning.” I cup her face, needing the contact. “Yes, as far as you’re concerned, you’re cleared. Completely.”

Relief and something else—hurt, maybe—flickers across her features. “You really thought I could do that. Betray you like that.”

“I thought the evidence suggested it was possible.” The honesty is painful but necessary. “I didn’t want to believe it, but tactical assessment demanded I consider the possibility.”

“Now?”

“Now I know better.” I lean down to rest my forehead against hers. “You’re not my enemy, Serena. You never were. I should have trusted my instincts about you instead of letting suspicion override what I knew to be true.”

“Your instincts about me?” There’s something vulnerable in her voice now.

“That you’re honest. Loyal. Incapable of the kind of sustained deception that espionage requires.” My hands slide into her hair. “That you love me, and that love is real regardless of how it started or what circumstances created it.”

“I do love you.” She grips my shirt, pulling me closer. “Even when you’re being tactically paranoid and investigating me like a threat. Even when loving you is complicated and dangerous and probably inadvisable.”