“I won’t shatter.” She took another tentative drink and shook her head. “It tastes terrible. Sometimes I had wine when I was in Paris. Everybody drinks wine there. That was much better.”

“But it doesn’t have quite the healing power. And I’m all for healing right now.” He pulled her closer. “Don’t stiffen. Just relax. It’s all part of the therapy. For both of us. I’m not in such good shape myself. I hate like hell seeing you like this. It makes me homicidal and frustrated at the same time. I don’t like feeling that helpless. Let me do something.”

He was doing something. She just didn’t know what it was. How could she relax? She could feel his heartbeat under her ear and the strength he was trying to give her. It felt…good. Some of the shock and pain was going away. She didn’t move for a moment. “You don’t have…to do anything. I know it always has to be me.”

He was swearing beneath his breath again. He pulled her head back to look down into her face. “There you go again. Look, I want to help you. I need to help you. It drives me crazy to know what Volkov and that monster you call a father have done to you and Maria. Okay, maybe I’m not as empathetic as Mallory, but it still bothers me.” His lips twisted. “So you should take advantage of my weakness, because it definitely gives your position additional strength.”

She tilted her head. “Are you pitying me?”

“Would I dare? No, I’m just angry as hell because you weren’t given a fair break. Nothing I hate more than a dirty game.”

“Yes, you’ve told me that.” She stared at him curiously. “But I didn’t think it would upset you this much. Maybe you’re right, perhaps it’s a weakness that I should take advantage of. But I don’t think I can, because no one has ever told me anything like that before. It would feel very strange to use it…” She pushed away from him. “At any rate, I think you’re being kind, so thank you.” She glanced absently down at the glass of whiskey still in her hand. She swallowed the rest of it and then set the glass on the end table beside the couch. “I don’t want Maria to see that photo. We’ll just tell her there was a raid. She doesn’t have to know how close they came tonight.”

“And you want to protect her. Just as she wants to protect you.” He smiled crookedly. “It’s rather touching.”

“Of course,” she said simply. “That’s how it has to be. You’re making fun of us?”

“No, actually I was being sincere.” He took a sip of his whiskey. “I might even envy you.”