"You won't," Dimitri said.
"You don't know that."
"No," Dimitri agreed. "But I believe it. And I need you to believe it too."
Eve closed her eyes. She felt his hands on her shoulders, pulling her close. She felt his heartbeat against her cheek as he held her. She felt the warmth of him, the solidness of him, the reality of him.
And she felt the terror of knowing that in three days, all of that might be gone.
"If you die," Eve said against his chest, "I will find a way to bring you back just so I can kill you myself."
She felt his chest move with something that might have been a laugh or might have been a sob.
"Deal," he said quietly.
Mike cleared his throat. "I'm going to head out. Let you two...." He gestured vaguely. "Talk. Or fight. Or whatever happens next."
He walked to the elevator, paused, and looked back at Dimitri.
"Seventy-two hours," Mike said. "Don't waste them."
The elevator doors closed, leaving Eve and Dimitri and Nonna in the penthouse.
