Chapter 13 - Elena Rostova Does Not Exist
The federal agent led Elena aside.
“Your real name isn’t Rostova.”
She said nothing.
He showed her the file.
A photograph appeared.
A younger Elena.
Different hair.
Different identity.
Eleanor Ward.
Cassian looked at her.
“Eleanor?”
She almost winced.
“I preferred Elena.”
The agent continued.
“Your military records were sealed six years ago.”
“I know.”
“You were officially declared dead.”
“I know that too.”
“There’s more.”
The file listed an order.
Signed by the same federal official in Cassian’s father’s photograph.
The extraction team had not simply been betrayed.
They had been deliberately sacrificed.
The government official needed the ledger destroyed.
Viktor wanted it recovered.
Cassian’s father wanted his payments hidden.
Three powerful men had agreed on one thing.
Elena’s team could not come home.
Her knees weakened.
Cassian caught her arm.
She pulled away.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I said—”
“Elena.”
His voice softened.
“For once, you don’t have to be.”
She looked at him.
The words hurt more than they should have.
For six years she had survived by being controlled.
Useful.
Invisible.
Fine.
Her eyes finally filled.
“They knew.”
Cassian stood beside her.
“They knew we were walking into a trap.”
She covered her mouth.
“I watched them die believing we had been unlucky.”
Cassian said nothing.
He didn’t tell her to calm down.
Didn’t tell her revenge wouldn’t help.
Didn’t offer some empty promise that everything would be okay.
He simply remained there.
And Elena cried.
Quietly.
Furiously.
For people she had refused to mourn because mourning made hiding harder.
When she finally looked up, the agent was still waiting.
“We can reopen the investigation.”
Elena wiped her face.
“Do it.”
“You’ll have to testify.”
“I will.”
“You’ll lose anonymity.”
“I’m tired of being dead.”
Cassian looked at her.
Something passed between them.
Understanding.
Maybe more.
The agent walked away.
Elena exhaled.
Cassian said, “So Eleanor.”
She glared.
“Don’t.”
He almost smiled.
“I absolutely will.”
“You’re about to face federal charges.”
“And somehow annoying you feels important.”
She shook her head.
Then his expression became serious.
“I may go to prison.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t seem upset.”
“You built a criminal empire.”
“Fair.”
“But.”
He looked at her.
“But?”
Elena swallowed.
“I hope you get the chance to become something else.”
Cassian stared at her.
Then agents approached again.
This time with handcuffs.
Cassian held out his wrists without resistance.
Before they led him away, he turned.
“Elena.”
“Yes?”
“If I get that chance…”
He paused.
“Maybe you should give yourself one too.”
Then he was gone.
Elena watched the vehicles disappear beyond the gates.
She thought the story was finished.
She was wrong.
Because three months later, a package arrived at Maria’s apartment.
No return address.
Inside was a key.
And beneath it, a note.
May you like
BLACKWOOD STILL HAS ONE SECRET LEFT.
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