The panic retreats enough for me to listen, and getting air into my lungs, I calm down until I become aware of my surroundings again.
A pleased smile tugs at Georgi’s lips, then he gives me a hug before pulling back and letting go of me.
“You should drink some tea.” Raya comes closer, holding a cup out to me.
When I take it from her, she sits down beside Simi, who’s looking at me with knitted eyebrows and her bottom lip jutting out.
“Mama’s okay,milo moe. I was just feeling sick again.”
Raya leans closer to Simi and grins at her. “Show me what you’re drawing?”
Simi looks at her, then bluntly asks, “Who are you?”
“I’m Raya, Georgi’s sister.”
My child’s eyes widen. “Are you also a princess? Like me?”
Raya lets out a chuckle. “Yes.”
“Can you also fly like Georgi?”
Not understanding, she shakes her head and gives her brother a questioning look.
In English, Georgi explains, “I jumped after her when a fucker dropped her over a banister on the third floor.”
“What?” Raya gasps. “That’s insane! I hope you killed him.”
“Nina shot him.”
Raya turns her attention back to my daughter. “No, I can’t fly like Georgi. He’s much stronger than me.”
“He’s stronger than everyone,” Simi says in a very serious tone. “He’s my prince, and he’s taking me to his castle. He said so.” She looks at Georgi. “Right? Tell her.”
“Yes, I’m taking you to my castle. It’s high up in the sky.”
“Really?”
Simi wiggles out from under her seat belt, climbs off her seat and comes to Georgi, then proceeds to try to climb onto his lap.
I think because he saved her from falling, he’s her hero, and I don’t have the heart to tell her otherwise.
Georgi lifts her, and when she’s comfortable, she leans against his chest and begins to rub his shirt between her fingers.
“I feel sick. Like Mama,” she mumbles.
I lean over Georgi and rub her back, giving her a worried look. “Do you feel like you’re going to vomit?”
She shakes her head. “No, I feel the scared kind of sick. I want a hug too.”
My heart.
Georgi doesn’t hesitate and wraps my daughter up in a hug while dropping kisses on her hair. “You’re safe now,malkata mi printsesa.There will be no more monsters. I’ll protect you from them.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
As I stare at Simi looking for comfort in Georgi’s arms, I realize I will do anything the man asks of me if he continues to treat her with such kindness.
