I grind my molars together in aggravation. “I fucking hate you, Maxim. No, I despise you. You make me sick. I will neverlove you.” A tear rolls down his cheek, and I huff. “Why are there students in The Morgue?”
“Well… for testing. To create soldiers, Caterina.”
“What the hell did you just call me?” I screech.
Turning abruptly, I eye the table across the room. I stalk over, grabbing a wicked-looking hammer. “Never say that name to me again.”
“Don’t you want to know about your family? The Rossi's?” Maxim counters.
“W-what could you possibly know?” I stutter. That question throws me for a loop. The thought of my family momentarily overtakes the rage.
“Everything, Little Bird. They ran from the other six families. You were taken, and they went into hiding.” Maxim shrugs.
My anger comes back fast, washing over my skin. I brandish the hammer, raising it high. “You want to lose a kneecap, motherfucker? Tell me something I don’t already know. Where are my parents?”
“I suppose I can tell you, for a kiss. A real one—with tongue.”
A full-body convulsion seizes me.
But I need to know this. The mental picture I have of my family is too visceral; so close I can taste it. I HAVE to know.
Should I…?
My brain wars with itself. I take a few minutes to decide, though it’s hard to control my reaction to the deed.
Fuck. This man raped me. He hurt me in ways that add to my PTSD. How can I possibly touch him? He repulses me!
I think back to the heroine in the movie I just watched with the girls. She was so strong; so steadfast in getting her revenge. Maybe I can take a page from her book.
I push my lips to Maxim’s, sweeping my tongue in so quick he can’t even respond. I make a point to bite his lip hard as I withdraw.
“No fair,” he complains. But he keeps going. “They’re in Collings Lakes. It's a way from here.”
“Address?” I bark.
“Sorry, Little Bird. That's all I'm saying. You're smart. You'll figure it out.”
Before I can continue with my questions, the door opens, my guys fighting each other to get through the doorway at the same time.
I stand there, hands on my hips. “Really?”
“Sorry, Pretty Girl. We can’t let you stay in here any longer. It's just too risky,” Hunter looks me up and down. “What’s the blood on your mouth from?”
Uh-oh. This is not going to go over well. “I bit his fucking lip.”
Frost makes a strangled sound, and snatches the hammer from my hand, smashing Maxim’s kneecap in. Maxim lets out a wail.
Well shit. All hail my Frosty.
“Let’s go, Iskra. I'm not risking your health any further. We let you have enough time with that asshole.” Purge takes my hand and leads me out.
“I have info on my family,” I tell Purge. “In Collings Lakes, Maxim said.”
Purge nods thoughtfully. “Okay, we can work with that. Let's all go get cleaned up, alright?”
I bite my tongue, not having the energy suddenly to argue any further. My adrenaline has crashed, leaving me feeling weak and shaky.
A hot shower and food sounds like heaven.
