“What are these?”
“Vitamins,” she said, holding out a glass of water.
“Pass, thanks. I don’t take stuff I don’t recognize from people I don’t trust.”
“They are from Kirill.”
“Exactly. No thanks.”
Anger flashed in Olga’s eyes, and I reassessed my first opinion of her. She had looked sweet and harmless, but it turned out she was utterly terrifying. She thumped the glass down and rolled up a sleeve. I watched, fascinated. Was she going to thump me? I had no idea, but I was starting to think I should take the vitamins.
She bared her forearm to reveal a faded, ugly tattoo and a number.
“The men who brought me to this country when I was ten tattooed me with this number, so they could easily trace who they sold me to.”
I had no words to respond. It was too awful.
“Kirill Viktorovich hunted down and killed the ring that sold countless other kids into lifelong slavery. He turned Viktor’s head from the flesh trade and replaced it with his computer crimes.” Olga waved her hand. She clearly had no clue about computer crimes. But it wasn’t trafficking little kids, so I had to agree it was better. “He worked for years to achieve it. Relentlessly, endlessly, even when it broke him. He’s not Viktor, and he’s won my respect. If he asks me to make sure you take these pills, I’ll make sure you take them.”
I grabbed the cup of water from her hand, my fingers trembling. I stuffed the pills into my mouth and drowned them.
Olga’s wrinkled hand patted my head, and she broke into the first smile I’d seen from her. “Maladets.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make your job harder. I-I don’t know how to handle all of this. It’s a new world to me,” I confessed softly.
She picked up my plate and headed for the sink.“Then you are one of the lucky ones,devushka. Come, I’ll show you how to make Kirill’s favorite apple pie.”
A peel of laughter escaped me. “I don’t think Kirill expects you to teach me how to be a domestic goddess. That’s not what I’m doing here. He doesn’t want you to teach me how to take care of him. He doesn’t need me like that. I’m not his girlfriend or anything.”
Olga shook her head and rolled her eyes.“Being young is such a burden. Everyone needs someone to take care of them.” She jerked her head toward the sink. “Wash your hands, and you can cut the apples, or I’ll lock you in your room the rest of the day.”
Well, there wasn’t much argument to be made to that, so I got off my ass and went to the sink.“Yes, ma’am.”
31
KIRILL
After the best week of my life, I was annoyed at being summoned to my club to meet with my father. I didn’t want to deviate from my new routine, which was getting back to the Tower as early as possible and sinking inside Molly. The rest of the night, I lingered around her, watched her, ate with her, and let my obsession take over. It was the happiest I’d been in a very long time.
Pravda was packed as usual, though the VIP was invitation only. Thanks to Viktor’s presence, it was a Chernov-only night. As my father grew older, he became more paranoid about safety. He had no idea he was at greater threat of being shanked by one of his sons than a rival bratva member.
“Tell me how it’s going with Sofia De Sanctis. I need updates. I haven’t heard from her father in a few days,” Viktor said. “You know these things must be solidified quickly if trust is to be established.”
We were at the bar, and all I could think about was getting home to Mallory. Home? Christ, I was as fucked in the head as she was.
I sipped my drink, wishing it was something stronger. “We’re getting to know each other.” I’d learned over the years that evading his questions was the best system.
He eyed me, his beady, sly gaze missing little. “How often have you seen her? Have you fucked her yet?”
“She wants to wait until marriage,” I improvised.
Viktor let out a meaty chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” Nikolai asked, appearing behind us. “You started without me?”
“You weren’t invited.”
“I’m wounded. What’s so funny about Sofia?”