I stand there, breathing steady, surrounded by bodies. Not even winded.
Klaus is on the floor now, leaning against the window, blood dripping from his chin. Still smiling through broken teeth. "Feel better?"
"Fuck you."
He laughs—wet, rattling. "You hit like your mother finally did. Too late, but beautiful."
I run my hands through my hair. Pull. Hard. Like I can rip the rage out through my scalp. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!"
I turn back to Klaus. Crouch down so we're eye level. "Fuck you," I say again. Quieter this time. Deadly.
He wipes blood from his mouth. "She's alive, Drogo. That's what matters."
"She's suffering."
"She's breathing."
"She drove drunk into a fucking wall because I left her!" My voice cracks. "She's bleeding. Broken. Alone. And I can't—"
I can't even call her. Can't tell her I'm sorry. Can't explain. Can't do anything but sit here in this cage while she falls apart.
"I need a phone," I say.
"No."
"I need a working phone. Now."
"You know I can't—"
"I don't care what you can or can't do." I stand. Look around the room. Spot one of the lieutenants—mid-thirties, scar across his jaw, always hovering near Klaus like a loyal dog. He's standing in the doorway now, staring at the carnage.
I walk toward him. "Prinesi mne rabochiy telefon. Seychas."Bring me a working phone. Now.
He looks at Klaus.
"Ne smotri na nego," I say in Russian.Don't look at him."Ya s toboy razgovarivayu."I'm talking to you.
The lieutenant hesitates. Switches to Russian, following my lead like he's already decided who's in charge. "Boss-"
I kick his knee out from under him. He drops hard, gasping. I crouch beside him. Voice low. Controlled. "Ya skazhu eto eshche raz. Prinesi mne rabochiy telefon. Ili ya slomaju kazhdyuyu kost' v tvoey ruke po odnoy."I'm going to say this one more time. Bring me a working phone. Or I will break every bone in your hand one by one.
He stares at me. Fear in his eyes now. Good.
"Seychas."Now.
He nods frantically. Scrambles to his feet. Runs.
I turn back to Klaus. He's watching me with something like pride in his eyes, blood still dripping. Smiling through the pain.
"You really do love her," he says.
"More than you'll ever understand."
"I understand more than you think." He coughs. Spits blood. "I loved your mother once. Before she tried to kill you both."
"Don't."
"She was beautiful. Innocent. I thought maybe—" He laughs. Wet. Broken. "I thought maybe I could be different for her. But she saw what I was and it destroyed her."
