Episode 39

Naomi

“Can I ask you a question?” Katarina asked as the car finally pulled into a parking lot.

“Sure,” I answered, looking for my purse. “Anything.”

“Why do we call you Sveta when your name is Naomi?”

I froze, looking at both girls. “What?”

They exchanged glances themselves before Katarina rushed on. “We overheard that embassy worker that night. He called you Naomi.”

I swallowed, carefully considering how to answer her question. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs that I was Naomi and that Sveta was dead. But I knew that the moment I did that, I would be betraying Gavril’s trust and opening his secret up to the world.

But I was tired of lying. I was tired of being the person who had this heavy secret on her shoulders and was forced to bear it alone.

“I tell you what,” I said, lowering my voice. “Would you like to call me Naomi?”

They both nodded, their eyes widening. “You mean like a code name?” Aleksandra asked, her voice hushed.

It was my turn to nod. “Exactly. Like a code nam