Ion had his hand over his glass, not letting the attendant pour anything in his glass. The poor attendant’s eyes shifted back and forth between Ion and Arek, backing away like they wanted to disappear.
Ion slouched in his chair, his rolling as his face grew bored. Like it was all such an inconvenience to him, he flicked his hand up, waving away the attendant. “What's the big deal? I'm going running after this. Being in the states had me gaining some pounds and I gotta keep up this physique, you know.” He pointed a slimy, sly smile towards his father, who in turn laughed, relaxing his shoulders as he gave me a knowing grin.
“Good. You're taking your work seriously. That's what I like to hear.” Arek turned his attention to me. “Kazia, it must be so hard right now. You lost your mother,” he made the sign of the cross, kissed his thumb, and raised it to the sky, “and now you're an orphan, left with no one. My heart bleeds for you.”
His words were like a honeyed poison sinking into my skin, causing my whole body to itch. Resisting the urge, I kept my eyes downcast, remembering my mom's sweet, earthy scent and how she always scolded me for not taking more interest in my heritage. I was interested now, but it felt a little too late. The tears welling up were real, but the motivation behind them was to get Arek to believe that I was weak and willing to do what he said.
“Yes,” swiping away the tear that ran down my cheek. “It's hard to be anywhere without family, without people you can call your own. Without someone looking out for you.”
Arek tutted out, “I know. I know.” He looked around the table at the boys, stoic and stone, cold. “This poor girl is breaking my heart!” He slammed his hand onto the table, causing me to jump. “That's it. I can't take it anymore.”
What the fuck was this man up to? What was this devil incarnate thinking in that sick mind of his?
He threw up his hands, eyeing me from the side of his face before making a fuss at coming to some conclusion. “I cannot let her daughter be without anyone, without family, so I’ll bring you into this family.” The whole room paused, not a breath being heard as he continued. “My sons and I will care for you and ensure you have the finest things in the world. What do you think boys?”
I gasped, covering my mouth to make sure my innocent act was playing, and the guys played their parts. Nicu kept his head down, nodded to his father, almost in an as-you-wish gesture; Ion sneered at me like I was some disgusting peasant, and Cezar… Well, he was petting his knife while looking like I was his next snack, so there was really no change there.
Ion spoke up, his rejection clear as day. “Father, why? Why do you have to bring her into the family? Carrying the Azadian name isn’t for just anyone.” His hateful gaze ran up and down like he was sizing me up.Good. He was playing his part well.
Arek balanced his chin on his hands, looking like he was contemplating what Ion said, but everyone knew that Arek was the leader, and whatever he said goes, or else.
He nodded, tipping his head back and forth repeatedly like he was being swayed. Then his whole body jerked up, and he clapped his hands. “I got an idea. She’ll shadow Cezar and see him work.” The whole table looked at Arek like they thought he was mad—well, everyone except Cezar, who just looked excited.
“Father-”
Nicu tried, but his father raised his hand to silence him. “I have someone I caught yesterday that I need information from, and my youngest son is the man for the job. Having Kazia watching will not only give Cezar an audience for hisartistic abilities, but it’ll also show Kazia all she needs to see about being part of thisfamily.” Everything about what he said filled me with dread, wishing for a second I could believe his lie so I wouldn’t have to work so hard at keeping my body from trembling in fear.
Arek got out of his chair, walking towards me with arms outstretched, pure joy spread across his face. “This girl needs us, and I’m not about to let her get gobbled up by the wolves of this world. You boys should know, she’s already had a brush with a catastrophe.” Suppressing a shudder, his hand went over the wound on my shoulder, and he dug his fingers in, making me tense up in pain.
He bent his head, his lips just a hair away from my ear, when he whispered, “And just remember, as you're watching him, be a good girl and you won't be the next one on that table.” He kissed the side of my face before turning to the guys. “It's been settled. Cezar, come take our lovely Kazia with you.” Bile rose in my mouth, and I was actively trying to keep it down, not to let my disgust at having his hands and lips on my body show.
Cezar wasted no time hopping up, grabbing a slip of paper from his father before kicking at my chair and telling me to get up. My eyes found Arek’s, quickly looking down, hunching my shoulders in my seat, making sure he saw that all. He licked his lips, eyes filled with a flash of desire, before turning away and shooing us off.
Keeping my head down, I got up and followed Cezar, not able to hide my grin when we turned the corner. You thought you could intimidate me by showing me the worst of Cezar, and yet I already know he would never hurt me. That made me pause for a second. I always counted on his obsession with me to get me through things, but I never entirely gave myself over to him.When did I start to trust Cezar so completely?
24
CEZAR
Why was my heart thumping like a mini horse was inside of me, galloping in circles? Rolling my neck, I opened the car door for my Roma, smelling her sweet mix of relief and excitement as she thanked me and sat down. "Remember to buckle, zia." Her mouth pinched in this adorable way, like she could argue with me and I wouldn't just go into my trunk and tie her down with chains to make sure she was safe. When she saw my hand tighten on the door, she grabbed the belt and pulled it across her chest.
Those thumps happened again, and I palmed my chest, trying to rub away the pounding. Is something wrong with me? I knew my mind was broken, but did I break my heart too? I haven't been to the doctors since they tried to prescribe me pills to make the voices go away, telling me something about schizo-something or other, but I told those pill pushers to fuck off and then torched their office. I was just doing my civic duty. I was a man of the people, you know.
Trudging around the car to get in, I drove off to show my roma my special spot, the place that always seemed to calm me no matter what happened. It was my home.
Cal's snarky voice echoed in my head,Not anymore. Now you have that sweet-ass wild haired sorceress next to you. She's your home now.
I moved my head to the side, mumbling under my breath. "What did I tell you about looking at my woman? Do you want me to get a lobotomy?"
"What did you say?"
Whipping around to face my lovely Romani wife, I shook my head. "Nope. Nothing. Just talking about the birds and the bees." Her brows pinched, and I knew I said something wrong again, but I couldn't figure out what. Was talking about birds and bees not good? I thought that was a staple among sane people.
She eyed me for a second, and I smiled wider, trying to put her at ease before she shrugged and changed the subject. "Is this how you normally start your day? Your father gives you someone to torture, and you go do it?"
When she said it like that, it seemed dirty and wrong, but I took pride in my work and enjoyed it. "Sometimes. Sometimes, it's Nicu, or a tip from Ion. Sometimes, I get to place viper and mouse with the target." Those were some of the best times, hunting them and catching them. It got the blood pumping in the best of ways.
Zia looked less than impressed, and that made me feel like a rain cloud lived in my soul, watering it all down to nothing. The thought curdled in my gut, tuning all the bits inside bitter and sour. How do I turn this all around?
