“You’ll get your own jar on my mantle,” she says.
“Excuse me?”
Alexei groans, shakes his head and takes a step back.
“Your balls, Dante. Your balls will be in a jar on my mantle right next to Alexei’s.”
I stare at her. She gets vulgar when she’s cranky.
“I’m getting in the car,” Alexei says. “Good luck.”
When I try to help Hannah up from the wheelchair she’s been forced to sit in, she slaps my hands. “Don’t touch me.”
The nurse says nothing and actually gives me a sympathetic look.
Hannah climbs into the SUV, jerks on her seatbelt and then crosses her arms across a chest.
Mila has similar tantrums.
I’ve learned to just let my daughter work it out in her head, which is what I’m going to do with Hannah. I think that’s safer for all involved.
When we get back to the estate, she’s still not talking.
I help her from the SUV, noting how she winces when she moves too quickly. Despite all the threats, Alexei hovers nearby. He’s ready to catch her should she fall.
"Welcome home, miss," Maria says at the door, her expression warm but worried. "I have tea ready, and soup if you're hungry."
"Thank you, Maria." Hannah's voice is polite but distant. She doesn't look at me as she speaks.
That's fine. Better, even. Distance is what we need right now.
Mila comes running from somewhere inside, her face lighting up when she sees Hannah. "Hannah! You're back! I made you a card and Papa said you'd love it and are you okay? Maria said you fell down the stairs, and I fall down the stairs all the time, but I never bleed?—"
"Mila," I say gently, cutting off her excited rambling. "Hannah needs to rest. Why don't you show her your card later?"
My daughter's face falls, but she nods, already reaching for Hannah's hand. "I can help you rest. I'm very good at being quiet."
Despite everything, Hannah smiles. "I'd like that."
“I’ll walk you up,” I say.
“I don’t need you to walk me anywhere,” she snaps.
“Too bad.”
“Alexei, would you please escort me to my room?” Hannah asks in a syrupy-sweet voice.
I look at my friend who is looking at me.
I know what he’s thinking.
And he’s right.
She’s using him to piss me off.
I nod once, giving him the all-clear.
Hopefully, she didn’t bring that knife with her.
