That’s what my mom taught me.You’re loyal to people who are loyal to you, Vinyoshka.
And while Yulian isn’t exactly loyal to me, I also know that people’s true colors show in the face of death; that’s what Dad said.
In that moment where he could’ve died, Yulian’s first thought wasn’t to get out of the way, it was to pushmeaway.
And I don’t like how fucking conflicted that makes me feel.
Yulian Dimitriev has been a complication of epic proportions since the first time he smudged me with blood.
Literally.
“I’m used to being in danger.” Yulian lifts a shoulder. “If they find us, you should go.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“You have a better chance at survival. Take the rifle and shoot everywhere until you get to the camp or find a phone and call for help.”
“I said no, Yulian. That’s not how I repay my savior. Now, stop yapping.”
“Rude.” His lips push forward, but he’s smiling faintly. “I don’t yap; I entertain. If I didn’t have this pesky hole in my side, I’d be singing and dancing. I have killer moves, but don’t ask Cy for reviews. He’s a hater…”
“Yulian?”
His lids are growing heavy. “I’ll just take a power nap…”
“No, no…” I slap both his cheeks. “You need to remain awake. Keep talking, okay? I’ll listen to whatever you have to say.”
“Ha…look how fast the tide changes, almighty Mishka wants to hear me talk after calling me a yapper…”
“Yeah, so open your eyes.” I grab his hair, shoving his head back as I stare down at him. “You arenotgoing to die here, Yulian. I’m with you… I’mwithyou. Do you hear me?”
“Hmm.” His lips twitch as he stares up at me through heavy lids. One of his hands reaches up to my T-shirt, but falls back down before he touches me as he groans, “I’msofucked.”
“I know, but I’ll help you, all right?”
“You’ll be with me?” He sounds lethargic, but he’s blinking rapidly trying to stay awake.
“Yeah.”
“?? (da)?”
“?? (da),”I repeat. “I keep my word. Yes means yes, Yulian.”
“Say it again.”
“Say what again?”
“That you’re with me.”
“? ? ????? (Ya s toboy).”I say it in Russian.
A grin curves his lips, looking wild, a bit disturbing, actually, especially with his mismatched eyes gazing so deeply into me that I think they’ll cut my face open. “I’ll hold you accountable for that,Mishka.”
6
YULIAN
So there’s this really huge, big-deal type of shit that’s going on right now, and it’s about the worst time it could happen.
