Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
But I don’t, not yet. I cannot overstep. One thing I’ve learned in my line of work is how to fade into the woodwork, which is not an easy task when you’re 6’4” and built like me. This is her time to shine, and she can’t hide from it.
So I busy myself observing her classmates and professors. This is my job. I need to see who might pose a future risk.
“How do you find your accommodations, Markov?” Irina asks in Russian. While the rest of the group is talking to Vera, she’s made her way to me. It seems as if she’s standing a little too close. Either she suspects I am not who I say I am, or something else is going on.
I’ve been told I see danger everywhere I go, but I’m instantly on guard.
“They’re fine, thank you. I do have an issue with the locks, though, and must insist on replacing them. They are not safe. I can install them myself but wanted to mention it before I make any changes to our housing.”
Irina looks apologetic. “Of course. I love that you’re concerned about Vera and want to protect her. There’s no need for you to take that on yourself. I’ll see that it’s done first thing tomorrow.”
“Thank you. I’ll also ask that I be allowed to accompany her in her studies.”
“Of course,” Irene says with a smile. “While it’s not standard for our students to have their spouses accompany them, we’re going to make an exception and allow you to partake in as many of our activities as you’d like.” She gives me an obvious wink.
I nod. Either Irina’s gotten the memo about who the Ivanovs really are and doesn’t want to rock the boat, or she has other plans. In any event, I want to stay as close to Vera as I can.
We take our seats, Vera right beside me as they bring out platters of beef stroganoff with thick noodles, salads, and rolls. My mouth waters. I’ve missed the traditional food of my homeland.
The American sits beside Vera, of course. We’ll have to have a word. Discreetly. I can’t fuck up his pretty little face without recourse, but he knows that Vera is my wife and thinks it’s alright to hit on her. For an intelligent man, he needs some more education.
I watch all of them keenly, but the rest of our meal goes without a hitch.
“Were you in the military?” the slight woman with black hair asks me. “You cut your food and eat with such precision.”
You can tell a lot by someone’s tone and body posture. She’s not judging or giving me a hard time but is genuinely curious. I’m amongst a group of exceptionally brilliant people, so I’m not surprised.
“For a while, yes,” I tell her. “When I was younger.”
The gray-haired professor laughs. “When he was younger,” he says with a gentle shake of his head. “If I could bottle up the youth elixir in one of these labs, I would. Oh, to be thirty again.”
How does he know how old I am? It might just be an educated guess, but I still trust none of them.
Any one of them could have been placed here by one of our enemies—hers or mine. It’s unlikely that anyone has suspected who I am and why I’m here, but it’s a possibility I can’t ignore.
Predictably, the American monopolizes the conversation, dropping names from Harvard. The ass hat. Irina and Morozov listen intently, but Vera is speaking less and less frequently. I can tell by the way she keeps stifling a yawn that she’s exhausted, and the wine hasn’t helped.
I watch Maxim only make a small plate of vegetables and rice, then take his leave after a few minutes of socialization.
I will watch that one. Who am I kidding? I’ll watch every one of them. No one’s anymore trustworthy than the next.
“Let’s go,” I say in Vera’s ear. “You need rest, and I’ve had enough socializing.”
Vera nods, agreeing with me for once.
Irina thankfully adjourns our meeting. “Thank you all for indulging us. It was lovely meeting you. But now, since everyone’s exhausted after a long day of travel, we will call it a night and meet first thing in the morning. Our first lab is at seven.”
Vera leans over and whispers, “Are you a morning person?”
I nod, leaning in further to make sure nobody hears us. “I like to go for a run at five. Join me?”
“Sure,” she says. “I’d love to.” I happen to know that she does love to go for a run. I also know she likes to run the same route over and over again, listen to the same playlist, and never alter her routine. That will need to change because it isn’t safe.
“Alright then, we will go for the run at four forty-five,” I announce, testing her resolve. I want to see how much she likes to be pushed. How she responds when I do exactly what she’s been reading about in those books of hers.