Chapter 121 One-hundred & Twenty-one

• Maria
• "The night I was shot, I sent a text to my father. I thought I could help by talking to him, but then I changed my mind. I dropped my phone, and when I picked it up ..." I stare into Mikhail's steady gaze. "It's how I knew you were in trouble. I made an awful mistake. And if anything had happened to you ..."
• My voice trails off, and he turns his back to me. Be strong, Maria. I stirred the pot, and now, I have to clean up the mess. I concentrate on my breathing to keep myself from breaking down.