As a policeman, Nika was willing and able to take a punch.

The problem was that Oleksei's words- whether he accounted them misguided or no- hit harder than a punch could have.

Unconsciously, he reached for the his breast pocket, pressing his hand over it. He could just feel the slim outline of his smart leather ID case beneath the blunted tips of his gloved fingers.

Will alone kept his hand from shaking.

He closed his eyes.

They felt hollow beneath their lids.

"Don't," he said, softly.

His chest ached like a cavern.

"You don't know everything."