The man has always been a coward. Even my teenage self could see that. Those first few times that he had no choice but to enter Katerina’s domain, each visit ended the same way—with his head between his legs and puke covering his clothes.
Just like me, one day became two, two became three. Days became weeks. Weeks became years. And just like me, he eventually grew used to it.
The blood. The cries. The screams.
Butvisitingisn’t the same aslivingit. Coming and going as you please is different than waking up to it, closing your eyes to it, inhaling it, exhaling it, and soon enough,becomingit.
I don’t realize I’m squeezing Hugo’s hand until I hear asnap.
Fuck. I sit back in my seat and close my eyes, feeling the warm thrum of energy vibrate inside me. No, when I work on Hugo’s fingers, he will be wide awake.
I press a button on the center console for the intercom. “Aubrey. Tell Stella to have a bottle of whiskey waiting when we arrive.” A satisfied sigh leaves my lips as I sit back, stretch out my legs. “It’s going to be a long fucking day.”
