Chapter 166: The Sister's Offer

Chapter 166: The Sister's Offer
Elena's apartment was nothing like the Kozlov estate.

Small. Functional. Clean, but sterile. The sort of apartment you moved into when you were rebuilding from scratch.

Anya hesitated in the doorway. 

“You gonna stand there all night or come in?” Elena's voice came from the kitchen.

She came in. Shut the door behind her. “Nice place.” 

“It’s fine.” Elena filled two glasses with wine. Passed one to Anya. “I wasn’t expecting you to pick up the phone.”

“Irina told me to come and talk to you.”

“You always listen to Irina?” There was a trace of that old mockery in her tone. Then it softened. “Sorry. Old habits.” 

“Old habits got you here.” Anya gestured to the apartment.

Elena laughed. A short bark of sound. “Touché. I’ll take a seat. Now why did you actually come?” 

“I’m not sure.” Anya still didn’t sit down. “Irina thinks you’re trying to be different.” 

“And you don’t believe that.” 

“The Elena I knew was manipulative. Selfish. Would do anything to stay on top.” Anya took a sip of her wine. “Are you still that person?” 

“Some days.” Elena wasn’t even lying. “Other days I look at what I lost and question whether it was all worth it.”

“Was it worth it?” 

“No.” Elena met her eyes. “I thought I loved Marcus. I really thought he was worth risking everything for. But he was just a weak man. So he used me because I was there. And I was willing.” 

“And when it all came crashing down, he left you to take the fall.”

“He went to the FBI. Saved his own skin. Left me to deal with the fall out.”

They fell into silence. 

“Why are you working for the council?” Anya asked.

“Because the council is the only one that would take me. The Kozlov name is no good to anyone now.” Elena turned back to her. “I needed a job and you needed people to gather intelligence.”

“At least you’re honest about that.” 

“I don’t lie anymore. I’ve learned that it never benefits me.” Elena sat on the couch. “But there’s another reason as well.” 

“What’s the other reason?” 

“Because I want to prove I’m more than what I was.” Elena’s voice dropped to a whisper. “You survived exile. You built a life out of nothing. I want that too.” 

“You can’t have my life, Elena.” 

“I don’t want your life. I want my own life. But I need to earn it.” Elena reached across to grasp her sister’s hand. “Let me prove it to you.” 

“How?” 

“There’s something going on. Something I’ve been tracking down.” Elena reached into her purse and pulled out a folder. “New power players are moving into the city. Chinese syndicate. They’ve been very quiet about it. So careful. But I’ve been watching. Recognized the patterns.” 

Anya took the folder. Slid it open. Photographs. Surveillance notes. Patterns of financial transactions. 

“How long have you been sitting on this information?”

“Two weeks. I wanted to make sure I was right before I came to you.” Elena’s voice was very measured. “They’re buying properties. Legitimate fronts.” 

“Why haven’t you reported it?” 

“Because I wanted to bring it to you myself.” Elena looked her in the eyes. “I wanted you to see that I can do this. That I can be useful.” 

Anya looked through the folder. The work was good. Detailed. Professional. 

“This is really good work.” 

“Thank you.” 

“It doesn’t undo the things you did. The affair. The betrayal.” Anya closed the folder. “You know that, right?” 

“I know.” Elena’s voice was quiet. “I’m not expecting you to forgive me. All I’m asking for is a chance to be more than what I was.”

“Why should I give you that chance?” 

“Because you gave Dimitri a chance. You gave the council a chance when every single one of us said it would fail.” Elena stood up. “And because no matter how much resentment I’ve built up, we are still sisters.”

“You slept with my fiancé. You humiliated me in front of the whole world.” Anya’s voice was icy. “We being sisters didn’t mean anything to you back then.”

“You’re right. It didn’t.” Tears filled Elena’s eyes. “I was jealous. Of you. Of your strength. Of how independent you were. When Marcus showed interest, I latched onto it because it made me feel like I had some power.”

“It was cruelty.” 

“It was.” Elena wiped at her eyes. “But it was also jealousy and pain. And I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all of it. For the times I made you feel like less than. For not defending you when Father turned on you.”

“Sorry doesn’t change things.” 

“No. But actions might.” Elena motioned to the folder in her sister’s hands. “Do something with that intelligence. Let me keep doing work. Let me show that I can be useful.”

Anya looked at her sister. Really looked at her. Saw the changes. The hard edges. The real exhaustion of a woman trying to start over.

“One chance,” Anya said at last. “You report everything through the proper channels. You follow the protocols.” 

“Crystal.” 

“And if you betray the council, betray me, in any way, I will kill you. Not exile. Not mercy. I will hunt you down and make sure you never do this again.” Anya’s voice was ice. “Do you understand?” 

“Yes.” 

“Good.” Anya headed for the door. Halted. “The work you did. That intelligence. It’s good. Keep doing work like this and you will earn your place.”

“Anya.” Elena’s voice stopped her. “Thank you. For coming. For listening.” 

“Don’t thank me yet. Prove you deserve this chance.” Anya opened the door. “And Elena? We’re not sisters. Not anymore. We’re colleagues. This is all we are. Until you prove more.” 

She left before Elena could say anything. 

Outside, Viktor was waiting in the car. 

“How was it?” he asked. 

“Complicated.” Anya handed him the folder. “But she did good work. Chinese syndicate moving into the city.” 

Viktor flipped through the pages. “This is very good work.” 

“That’s what concerns me. If Elena is actually good at this, then it means I have to work with her.” Anya leaned back into the seat. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

“You don’t have to know tonight.” Viktor started the engine. “But Irina was right. Doors shouldn’t be left completely closed.” 

“Doesn’t mean they have to be left wide open either.” Viktor pulled the car into traffic. “And if she double crosses you again. We deal with her then.” 

“We?” 

“You think I’d let you face this alone?” Viktor glanced at her. “Whatever happens next, we’ll face it together.” 

Anya smiled faintly. Squeezed his hand. 

Maybe Elena would prove herself. Maybe she wouldn’t. 

But tonight, Anya had taken the first steps.

Not towards forgiveness. 

Not quite. 

But the possibility of it. 

Someday.