hai

d the room, but it wasn't what made her breath stop. It was the weapons displayed on the far w

od

closer. "Ah. You l

fers her mute defiance. Fi

She stumbled, her cheap weddi

off." I c

watched as her fingers shook as they wen

ighting a cigarette. "

h each one, her breathing grew more ragged. By the

inch. Her tears

r feet. My gaze caught a silver

oice came out darke

rd, grabbing th

But before she could finish her sentence, th

dly, crushing the locket under my b

nd a single tear slipped fr

tudying her nakedness with detached appraisal.

didn't

shoulders and

fr

ck was

skin. Some old and silvered, others

e without thinking. It w

" I asked, my

y father. When I was twelv

over my mouth. "

nding her. For her defiance. Forg

rned her to face

our k

ting on instinct. I cupped her face,

me." I sa

ace expressionless. But I

urved int

I said slowly,

the door. "Sleep. Tomorrow,

ck clicked

in decades, I felt some

h. The cigarette sm

, smirking. "So? Is the little

igarette under

e inter

ose scars on her back. Straight lines with

morning," I told Dmitri.

"You're ke

k that silenced

s I hadn't d

ecklace but didn't scream when I grabbed her. S

like a

hate p

ickered as I watched the

her. Still kneeling naked on the

ic. I

t.

. Her lips

nd turned u

tch ov

praying

ightened

makes pe

punish he

ber I hadn't u

answered imm

r," I said. "I want all

"Careful, Volkov. Y

without

o bed like a wounded animal. She curled into herself with

chi

tin

lik

ed into

er arrive

special. Nothing important. Just pictures of he

Young Liliana, covered i

he picture

her room wit

awning, no confusion.

od

othes at her fee

ed at th

said so."

she'd refuse. Then she r

to be nice, but to wa

herself as she dressed. Positio

urned back. The black

r," I

s under her eyes. The bites on

f you," I said slowly, lifting her ch

a sound, she j

the door.

ere. She just fol

t gi

he basement c

m smelled like s

mats, the weapon racks, and t

her. The chai

knife off the wall, "you

ere she stabbed me. "Why?" Her voic

gave it to her, "next time you stab

something flickered

ere

mil

real fun