The lack of hesitation is reassuring. A little more tension goes out of Bob's shoulders, and he doesn't know why he feels so relieved by her answer, but he does. He, also, doesn't want to do what Valentina says.

Not knowing all these things is probably not great, but he still doesn't ask. He isn't brave enough. Not yet, anyway.

He just sighs and says, "Okay. Okay, good." He drains the rest of his tea. "She's not going to like that. But there's more of you than there are of her. --I hope. I hope she doesn't have a private army somewhere."