Nikolai inclined his head. “This is the house where her body broke in childbirth, her heart broke in loneliness, and finally, her mind. She took her life in the bathroom upstairs.”
I didn’t know that. When I thought about it, there was a lot I didn’t know about Niko and his past.
Nikolai scrubbed a hand across his face and then seemed to collect himself. “We’re not here to talk about her or Mallory. We’re here to talk about Viktor.”
“What about fucking Viktor?”
“We need to talk about how to kill him before he kills us. I’ve thought this out, and there’s only one way we can end the motherfucker.”
“How?”
“Together.”
7
MOLLY
NINE YEARS AGO
The night after I first went to Kirill’s house, I came home to find my father waiting for me in his study. My stomach dropped when I saw the door ajar and heard his deep voice as soon as I stepped into the hallway.
“Come here, Mallory.”
My mouth filled with the taste of fear. It was metallic, like blood, as though something inside me was constantly bleeding, and when faced with my bully, I was unable to ignore it. I padded barefoot through the dark foyer and into his study.
“Close the door.”
Henry Madison sat in his high-backed, leather-bound desk chair and stared at me over the enormous mahogany table between us.
There it was again, that metal taste.For as long as I could remember, family had meant the bite of blood on my tongue and fingers that wouldn’t stop shaking. Who needed hell when you already lived with a demon?
“Where have you been?” he asked in a voice I recognized. It was silky and calm. Of all the incarnations of my father, the calm one was the worst.
“I went to a friend’s house. A new kid Principal Wood wanted me to show around,” I said with equal calm. I resisted the urge to fidget. I needed complete control over my body in front of my father. Anything else was a weakness he’d exploit.
“A boy?” he asked immediately, as I’d known he would.
My father guarded my virtue like it was one of the biggest assets he owned. In my heart, I knew why, though I resisted the thought at every turn.
The men he was in business with liked innocent little girls with no choices. My virginity was the draw he’d use to sell me to the highest bidder when the time came, whether it was into marriage or to seal an important deal.
“Yeah, a boy.” There was no point in making excuses. Father didn’t like it.
He stood, and I fought my flinch. His lips curved in a wintry smile, and he stalked around his desk like a wolf about to devour a rabbit.“What have I told you about boys?”
“They only want one thing,” I responded readily.
He nodded, stopping in front of me. He wasn’t tall, but in my mind, he was a giant.“Exactly. I know you’re not stupid, Mallory. Despite your best attempts to seem so. Don’t pretend not to know how dangerous it is for your reputation to be seen going to a boy’s house. In my world, reputation is everything.”
I nodded. I knew what he wanted, and I’d learned that the sooner I agreed with him, the sooner I could get out of this room.
“Reputation keeps us in the lap of luxury you’ve become so accustomed to,” he continued. Another nod. “Be careful with it. An excellent reputation lost is almost impossible to recover, and there is nothing more important in this life than having people’s respect.”
He wrapped a hand around my ponytail and dragged my head back, exposing my throat. I didn’t dare move. I knew the deal by now. Stay still and be done faster.
“Yes, Father,” I got out.
“Good. I’m glad we understand each other.”