Page 4 of Ruthless Sin
My chest pulls in on itself and won’t come back. The bulb keeps swinging. The blood at my side keeps moving. I am still in this chair. She is still in hers.
Alexei steps back. Looks at the blade. Wipes it on his pants.
“Stubborn,” he says. “Like her father.”
He walks to the door. Stops with his hand on the frame, his back to me, and lights another cigarette. The match flares orange against the wall.
“I don’t know who you are, Canadian.” He doesn’t turn around. “But I will. Tonight.” A long exhale of smoke. “And when I find out. Your people. I send them pieces of you.”
He walks out.
The door closes.
Silence.
Just my breathing and her in the chair six feet away.
Still breathing.
Barely.
Her eyes open and find mine.
Her lips move.
No sound at first.
I lean forward as far as the restraints allow. Plastic cuts deeper. The wound pulls open another inch. I don’t stop.
“Yelena.”
“Naydi yeyo.” Find her.
The words come out broken. Barely voice.
“Naydi Milochku.” Find Milochka.
“I don’t?—”
“Obeshchay mne.” Promise me.
Blood running slow down her neck. Her breathing gone shallow. Seconds, maybe less.
“Ty mne eto dolzhen.”You owe me this.
“Klyanus’.”
I swear.
Her lips move again. Barely.
“Spasibo.” Thank you.
Her eyes stay open.
She’s gone.
I sit there. Can’t move. Can’t look away from her face.
