“I do not know the day exactly.”
“What does your passport say?”
“I don’t remember. This paperwork I do not make myself.”
“What do you mean you don’t remember? How old are you?”
“Eighteen, but I don’t know which day exactly is my birthday. I moved from place to place. Maybe there is paperwork somewhere, but no one gives to me.”
This stops him from walking, and he looks at me.
His expression is one I can’t name. It’s like he’s confused for a moment. His fingertips touch his forehead and then drop.
“You cannot be angry at me for this, Alexei! It’s not my fault.”
He crosses to me and takes my face in hands. “I’m not angry with you.”
“Your voice is very hard.”
Alexei frowns, and when he speaks again, his voice is gentle. “Do you think the date of birth that’s listed on your passport says you’re eighteen?”
“Yes. This I’m sure of.” I lick my lips. “What is wrong?”
“If you’re under eighteen, the government could take you.”
“Take me where?” I ask, shocked. “American government doesn’t steal people. Everyone knows this. Jail, yes. Shot by other Americans, yes. But made to disappear by government police? People told to me, no, this does not happen.”
“Not made to disappear.” He takes my hand and squeezes it. “Put into the care system for children without parents.”
“Like orphanage?”
“Yeah, something like that. But you’re sure you’re eighteen?”
“Yes, yes. I am eighteen. Almost nineteen.”
“You look eighteen to me.” He strokes my face. “It’s all right. Nothing to worry about.” Alexei steps back and undresses down to his underwear, hanging his clothes in the closet. “My brother and his friends want to take you away from me.”
“What? Why?”
He shakes his head. “Unclear. Maybe to try to help you. Maybe for some other reason. I don’t know them.” Alexei sits next to me. “Bloodsport holds payment and collateral, so girls don’t take off early without fulfilling their contract, but I don’t need Polasky to do that. I’ll get him to give you your passport as soon as we get back to New York.”
“He will listen and do this if you ask?”
Alexei’s expression hardens. “I’ll make him do it.”
“I want my passport very much. My money too, but especially my passport,” I whisper, then I kiss his cheek.
His dark blue eyes settle on my face intently. “After the month with me, if you could do anything, what would that be?”
“Leave. I must go where Egorov cannot find me. Can you make your business somewhere else, Alexei? Maybe I can live with you and clean your house while I try to ask America to let me live here as student.”
“Clean my house?” His words are slow, almost confused. “Is that what you want from me? A job?”
“I need to work. Fifty thousand is a lot, but it will run out. I know this.”
“Yeah, I know you need a job eventually, but do you really want to become a live-in maid? And how would things be between us then? We’d live like roommates?”
“This word roommates, what does it mean? I thought this word is for girls who live together to share rent and rides to work.”
