Page 39 of Sing For Us

I give my cousin everything she needs so she can calm down. “Do you have anywhere to go tonight?”

Hana finally relaxes and takes a deep breath. “My friends wanted to go out. I could stay with one of them.”

“Do it. I’ll take care of your parents.”

“What will you do?”

The night I slit their throats was one of the best nights in my life. I walked right through the front door and saw my aunt’s husband sleeping on the couch, while she was washing dishes. I was so silent she didn’t even hear her own husband dying, her listening to some bullshit on her headphones also helped out. After that I made my way across the living room and into the kitchen, I grabbed her hair, slammed her face against the countertop in the kitchen, and beat the shit out of her.

She made my cousin’s life a living hell and forbade her to tell me.

As she was whimpering on the floor, I threw the still steaming hot coffee on her face and yelled at her. “You are never going to abuse Hana again, and the Vicious Vipers are not yours.” I made a superficial cut on her cheek. “Say hello to Satan from me when you see him.”

And the party was over. David Koljanic, my bitch-ass uncle, and Amna Pasic, my cunt of an aunt, were murdered that night by me. The only stain on this family that was left was my father—Dario Pasic. The sinking feeling that he has something to do with Hana’s state, is growing by the second.

“Maybe we should sit down?” I guide her to my living room, and after Sara has served us coffee, Hana starts talking. She explains everything that Lana made her do, and I’m gripping the fabric of my couch, making indents in it.

“She did what?” The words barely leave my mouth.

Hana waves her hand at me. “Please don’t freak out.” Why is she so nonchalant about it? Lana put her through intense psychological manipulation, which many people wouldn’t leave unscathed. My cousin notices my frustration and puts her hands in a praying motion.

“Please, just hear me out.” I nod at her to continue. “I’ll get a psychologist and everything, but I need your undivided attention right now.”

“Hana, you are killing us. Spill it,” Sara retorts and sets down her coffee cup, and we all follow suit. All eyes are on Hana, and the way she is breathing is making me uneasy.

“While we were talking, a bomb was thrown into the room. We ran outside, and it exploded.” Adam clears his throat, and he nudges Sara, then looks at Hana again.

“Maybe it was a rival? Lana must have racked up some enemies.”

“No and yes. Once we were outside and the adrenaline was subdued for just a bit, I started to notice a smell.” That bit of information really catches my attention. I sit up straighter and push my hands through my hair, an attempt to calm myself down because I know what’s coming.

“The type of bomb was a chemical flash-bang with an infused oil. Once this one went off, it smelled like–”

“Florals.” I finish her sentence. I put my elbow on my knee and let my head rest in the palm of my hands, while I am shaking my legs. Fuck, my entire body.

It was the doing of my motherfucking father.

“Fuck!” I quickly stand up and look for anything to hold onto so I don’t break down completely.

The countertops of my kitchen will do.

“How the fuck did he know where you two were? I am assuming that Lana’s band of idiots were the only ones who knew where you were.” I ask Hana for confirmation by peeking over my shoulder and looking into her eyes. She nods.

This motherfucker put my cousin in danger, but then again, she wouldn’t be in that situation if it wasn’t for Lana. That evil woman did that to Hana to get back at me. Deep, intense anger paired with a powerful desire to punish my ex is coursing through me. Then I start laughing like a maniac.

Did she really think that she could get away with this?

“Noa?” Is somebody calling my name?

“Earth to Noa Pasic!” A strong hand connects with the back of my head. That kind of strength can only come from Sara. I turn around, and yes, it’s her alright. Hana and Adam are also on their feet. Staring at me.

“We’ll get that woman, I tell you.” They are looking at me like I have just suggested we burn down a candy store. What is their problem?

“Why are you all staring at me? Lana needs to pay.”

Sara steps forward and shakes her head. “We need to go after Dario. He’s probably in Sarajevo.”

“Are you crazy? Going after Dario is not a priority; making Lana pay is.”