Hey there! I can't believe I got to post on time, but here I am, guys!
Tika 86, thanks for asking, I have passed my exams so far and managed to survive, thanks to my two friends, chocolate and coffee. I have only three more exams this week and I will be done with it all. Yay! Keep ypur fingers crossed for me guys, cause I'll be dying this week. But at least I will be having the weekend free to get back to writing, which is great.
Enjoy and just don't get mad at me for how this chapter ends, but oh, I just couldn't stop myself from doing it :)
Have a great new week!
Until next time, lots of loooove!
I do find you interesting
DPOV
"Get your filthy hands off me!" I hear Rose saying through the haze covering my brain.
My head is pounding, my brain can't make my body move and I find it so hard to open my eyes, but I try my best when I hear a voice I know so well speak over Rose's.
"Oh, but you're a cute one. Let me just see you."
The image I see before my eyes awakens in me the instinct of wanting to go break all the bones in his hands, but when I try to move, I realize I am tied onto a chair. Three ropes. Two for my feet, one for my hands. A thing I should already start work on to solve.
Studying the situation, she is in the same position as I am, only that she's across the room. And this bastard is too close to her. His hands are way too close to her.
Rose's eyes drift on me the second she sees me moving and there's a pleading look in her eyes as she's moving her head out of his reach when he tries to touch her again.
"Get your hands off her," I find myself growl at him when his fingers clasp in her hair to keep her head tilted backward and in place.
Starting to laugh lightly, he lets go of her and turns to face me.
"Hey there, sleeping beauty. How you're doing?"
"What the hell do you want?"
"I am here to deliver a message."
"And why did you bother so much?"
"Because I had to."
"So deliver it already."
"Always so impatient. Fine, then. The old man sends his regards, 3-0-5."
Shit! How did he find out?
"Oh, poor thing. You're probably wondering how come I found you." yes, that would be a good thing for him to start with. "You know? I am glad I was close enough to be the one getting my hands on you. For too long I didn't like you and now I have the chance to do something about it."
"How?" I'll try to keep him talking and distracted as I try to undo these knots around my hands.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"I would."
"Fine. I'll tell you, Mister perfect." here he is, always grudging. So typical of him. "Nothing ever slipped from you when you were supposed to be on the down low. Until today. You so stupid that you go get a penalty?"
A penalty?
The driving penalty.
Yes, I am indeed stupid. Stupid, stupid, so goddamn stupid of me! How could I not think of that? I was using their documents after all and they got a notice of my ticket.
I let him glow in his proudness of having me in this position and I look at Rose, who is looking at us confused. She can't understand a thing we're speaking and when her eyes meet mine, she's asking me what's going on, and all I wish I could do is to tell her how sorry I am for being in this situation. Because I ruined everything. My lack of brain brought us here.
"You do that when you were supposed to be somewhere else in the world?" he tsks, faking disappointment. "That got the old man suspicious."
"Something intervened."
Maybe if I play the innocent, I'll have a way out. Or at least enough time to get free. Which is not as easy as I thought. This fucker has finally learnt how to make a hell of a knot.
"Yeah, I see. Like your little girl here."
"Leave her out of this. She-"
"She was supposed to be dead at the motel! But she's here, very much alive. You lied to him. I wonder why. He wonders why."
And he gets again close to her.
"You see?"
He touches her cheek, the back of his hand sliding slowly down on it, then under her chin, tilting her head.
"I don't get it. Why would you risk everything for a woman? For her? I mean, yeah, she's not unnoticeable, but still… What has gotten into you? What did she offer you to go against the old man?"
He laughs as Rose calls him a bastard and his palm gets a hold of her face, his fingers dug into her cheeks, which only makes me struggle harder to get myself free.
"Get your hands off her! Now!"
"Or what?" he doesn't even bother to move his eyes or hand off her. "You know what he told me?" he asks as his hand only gets further down on her body, over her breast, and she tries so bad to pull away, uselessly telling him to not touch her. "Hm, impressive."
"Lev, I swear to God, leave her be!"
"He told me to bring you to him. Unharmed. Because he wants to be the one dealing with you. And I will do just that. He didn't say anything about her. But just delivering you to him would be too easy for you. So first, I will deal with her. And I will do it right in front of you. I will enjoy it so much. The way you took so much care of her, the way you so easily lied and disobeyed, there is sure something between you two. I mean, isn't this sweet? She's wearing your coat too."
"Get away from her you brainwashed monkey! It's me the one you always hated! Get things even with me! I am the one you want!"
"Oh, but don't you see? I am getting things even with you. I will take her away from you, I will break her to little pieces, and then I will kill her right in front of you. And I swear I will take my time, just to see you suffer. Just so that you see that your actions have consequences and if you don't do what you've been told, you'll suffer. And only then I will take you to him to punish you the proper way."
He gets her untied from off the chair and after he strips her of my duster, he pushes her down onto the floor, obliging her to do so, pinning her to the ground with his body.
"Comrade? What's going on?" she asks panicked as she's trying to keep him away with no success.
"Oh, don't you worry, sugar. He can't help you," he says laughing. "He can just watch."
"What? No. Please."
I hear pure fear creeping into her voice and if things weren't bad enough already, now they're getting worse.
I need to get off this chair.
As he gets lifting her blouse she cries and starts fighting him so badly, squirming under him and trying to kick him, but he is not letting go of her, and she is unable to escape.
I feel my wrists burning from all this friction, but I am quite desperate at the moment and my brain can't think of a better solution. I just keep going, hoping I will manage to loosen it enough or maybe break it. I have to.
His hands are all over her now, one keeping her hands pinned above her head and the other squeezing her flesh.
I hate his filthy hands on her!
"I will fucking kill you! Let go of her!"
"And how are you going to do that, may I ask?"
Oh, in the worst way possible, I swear to God. I would break every single bone in his body.
But he is not listening and gets back to touching her, getting way further up under her blouse and reaching her breasts, making her plead some more.
Next, he pins her moving head down by grabbing her hair and pulling it down, making her whimper a faint "comrade" as his goddamn lips get pressing on hers and she starts squirming harder under him, begging him to stop.
And this knot is not getting undone, goddamnit! Come on! I have to get rid of it now!
I need to take my eyes off them so that I can see how I could get rid of this knot, and I don't even get to put my eyes on it that I hear Rose whimper again.
"No. Stop. Please." she starts saying between sobs. "I am begging you. Please don't."
And I find myself too yelling at him to let her be, to come to deal with me, but none of my words seem to be heard.
He has already unbuttoned her jeans and he stops just for a second to look at me, a smug, evil smile glued to his face, before going back to what he was previously doing.
I don't want to see what comes next. I won't. Only if I could get rid of this rope around my wrists!
"Let her go! You will regret this!"
"Why don't you want me to do it?" he asks taking things a little slower. "Does she mean anything to you?"
He has no idea how much she means to me. He will pay for this.
"You will die before you get to touch her!" and this is a promise.
"But you see, I already am."
And as he wants to drag her pants down fast, I hear some material ripping too and she whelps.
"Oh, God, please, comrade. Please, don't. No. Please, comrade, help me. Please."
And hearing her beg like this, something snaps inside me. And it snaps along with a piece of string around my wrists.
RPOV
I had my eyes closed tight and I was so, so afraid of what was going to happen to me, of what this man was going to do to me, and the fact that I could do nothing to stop him made things a hundred times worse.
But only it didn't come. Nothing bad happened to me. He didn't touch me further. His hand didn't reach to the inside of my pants.
On the contrary.
Instead of feeling his body press even harder on mine and him doing some other things I don't even want to think of, I feel lighter. I feel free. Because he got pulled off me.
I snap my eyes open to see how come this miracle happened, but it's no miracle.
It's him.
He somehow got himself untied and now he has that man pinned to the ground and well, he's beating the shit out of him, not even giving him the littlest of chances to fight back, and I bet that the words getting out of his mouth aren't very pleasant.
I get myself up from the floor, button my pants back up and pull my blouse down, covering myself, the prudishness in me still surfacing in such a moment.
And still, he hasn't stopped throwing punches at that man, and I am glad that he's getting his ass kicked big time, but I find myself having to stop him with my shriek when I see another man coming inside the room, carrying a gun.
And it's pointed at me, and I start wondering if this was it. This is all going to be it? I will die getting shot?
But the guy changes his target and shoots towards the men fighting on the floor, but I can't say I'm glad he did that because I don't want my guy to get hurt.
Next, he points his gun at me again and I freeze once more, the only word able to get out of my mouth being a faint "Comrade?".
And that was a gesture that made the good Russian in the room get even more pissed, I perfectly see it on his face as his eyes snap into the man's direction.
In less than a second, he is in front of me, his arm protectively wrapped backward around me, keeping me close to him, and I hide behind him, cowardly.
But I don't want to be in this situation either. Because it means that he could get shot if I am not.
But the man in front of us, oddly enough, doesn't shoot.
Instead, the men begin talking.
And even if I don't understand a word they're speaking, it's like my life saviour is daring the other to shoot him.
A thing that he doesn't do. He gets pissed off big time, but he doesn't fire the gun.
In his anger, he comes closer, the gun still pointed at us, saying something that I again don't understand.
And that's when it happens.
He, so effortlessly snatches the gun from the other and instead of shooting and finishing things fast, he throws the gun on the floor, a disgusted look on his face, and starts using his fists.
He knocks his adversary down with just two punches, perfectly aimed at his temples that make him crumble to the ground.
And you would think that this was all, but of course, it's not. Things can never be so simple.
The first one, Lev I guess, decided to move, even though his face and chest are full of blood.
And not only that he moved, he even crawled to the place where the gun landed, and he's so close to getting his hands on it.
But to his most unfortunate luck, he doesn't manage to get to it in time.
I don't even get to reach it in time as I wanted to make myself useful and get the gun out of his reach.
Because again, the Russian is faster than anybody. Sometimes I forget he is a walking killing machine. A flawlessly working one.
His foot makes contact with Lev's forearm, and even though covered by his scream in pain, I swear I heard the bone breaking.
Just before putting him back to the ground, he gets the gun out of his reach, sliding it away across the room, then he is free to get back to pounding fists into his already damaged face.
And gosh, he doesn't stop. His fists just keep on moving.
Now the man is laying on the ground, not even protesting anymore, not moving at all in fact, just moaning form time to time, but he is still hitting him, continuing to tell him things I don't get.
And it's not like he doesn't deserve it, but I think it's too much. I can't bear to see this. It's too… violent. He's too violent.
Without thinking things through I go towards them and I try to get a hold of his hands, to make him stop, but he just pushes me away with a growl, and I need to take a few steps back so that I won't land on my butt.
What the hell?
But I'll be damned if I am giving up. I am done with all this killing. He has made his point. The man is half dead anyway.
I try once more to stop him, this time trying to introduce some words too, but I get the same reaction from him, only that this time I land on my ass on the floor.
This is when my brain signals me that something is out of place. Way out of place. That there's something wrong going on with him, but I can't figure out what. But he needs to stop, no matter what. I can't bear to watch him be like this.
In a last, desperate attempt, I get behind him, bend and wrap my arms around his torso and hold him so, so tight.
"Stop. Please, please, comrade, stop. Listen to me. What has happened to you? Stop. Please."
But he doesn't. He slowed down a little, but he doesn't stop.
"It's enough. He's dead. Or almost dead. He can't fight you anymore. He can't do anything anymore."
Still no response.
I don't know what else to do. He seems to be so furious. I put my head into the crook of his neck and hold him a little tighter.
"Stop, please. You are scaring me. Please, comrade. Stop this."
Growling, he stops, turns his attention to me, and wants to turn around.
I let go of him and when I do get far enough, we stare at each other for a second.
When our eyes meet, I see such darkness in them that a chill goes down my spine. What's happening? Something is off.
I dare move and lift my hand to touch him, but he doesn't react how I hoped he would.
He reacts like I would have wanted to hurt him. Like I am nothing more than another threat to him.
He grabs my hands in defense and pulls me a little towards him, shaking me and when I do the mistake of wanting to pull away, his grip on my wrists only tightens and he pushes me down, pinning me to the ground and immobilizing me completely with his body.
In this second I am so afraid I don't even have the courage to speak. I am even afraid to breathe. I don't want to end up like the other person he got pinned down like this. What is he going to do to me?
He stops, hovering over me, breathing heavily, that darkness still there, clouding the warmness in his eyes.
"Co- com- comrade?" I whisper along with that breath I have been holding for so long.
Tears form in my eyes, I gulp the lump in my throat and continue to speak.
"It's me. Rose. Please, don't hurt me."
And with that one little sentence, I start crying so hard.
"Please, you are scaring me."
I realize that my whole body is shaking with fear. I am completely terrified of what I see in his eyes. He is not the same man he was minutes ago. He is… I don't know. But he is not the man I know.
He looks at me for a couple of seconds, tilting his head, watching me just like I would be a stranger to him. Like it would be the first time he sees me.
He gets up and pulls me up on my ass, gets his hands off me and blinks a couple of times, still looking at me confused.
I start shaking even harder, some more fear creeping in me. I won't deny it. I am very afraid of him now. Why isn't he saying anything? This situation is too unpredictable and I don't know what to do. I am too afraid to do anything.
His hand reaches for me again.
I squeeze my eyes shut and make myself little, pulling away.
"Comrade, please, it's me… I don't…"
I feel him wrapping his palm on my forearm, but this time it's not as tight.
"Please, don't…"
I try pulling away from him, but he doesn't let me get out of his grasp. I open my eyes and look at him pleadingly.
"Please let go of me. I… Please," I say, more tears strolling down my face.
I try to pull away some more but he gets a better hold of me with both hands, keeping them in place, preventing me from moving.
"You're scaring me. Let me... please. It's me, Rose."
His eyes widen, then he frowns, and in a split of a second, I get to see warmness come back in his eyes.
"Roza…?"
His eyes leave me and he looks down at his hands tightly wrapped around my wrists and lets go of them all of a sudden.
I pull them close to my body and crawl away from him.
He reaches for me, but I get myself out of his way, even more afraid, not knowing if it's safe.
I remember that look in his eyes, all the hate, all the anger, all of it directed my way, and I hate it.
"I would prefer you not to do this now, please."
His expression crumbles as he finds himself obliged to keep the distance.
"Did I hurt you? I didn't…" he looks down at his hands again, inspecting the blood on them. "Roza, I am sorry… I… God..." he passes his hand through his hair and looks around the room, his eyes stopping on his previous victim.
"What… what happened to you? You… weren't... you."
I don't know if he still is. I don't know what happened, but I never want to see him like that ever again. He scared me so much.
"Is this yours?"
He ignores my question and looks at me. On me, to be more precise. When I inspect myself too, I see that he has left some blood on me earlier.
He slowly and gently takes my hands in his and inspects them and I don't pull away again. Even though I am still shaking from all of my joints, I think I am safe. Because the man I know is back. And I don't feel that afraid anymore.
"Did I hurt you? Tell me. Did I…?"
But I keep my ground. I won't let this question without an answer.
"Hey." I get his face in my hands, lifting it and I make him look me in the eyes. "Tell me what happened here. Now. Tell me now. You…" I shake my head, not wanting to think about it again. "You changed. There was something about you…"
"I am so sorry, Roza."
He wraps his arms around me, one across my back and the other one starting to soothe my hair, and he holds me tight, and I don't pull away. Whatever happened to him earlier, I know that it is now gone and that he means his words.
And I can't help but feel safe in his embrace. I always do. So I relax and let him hold me, his arms around me washing away all the doubts that were left in me.
He buries his head in the crook of my neck and speaks to me so softly.
"I am so sorry, Roza. I don't know what... I swear I would never hurt you. Never. You…" He doesn't finish that thought, just sighs. "Oh, Roza…"
"I what?"
He sighs once more. "Nothing."
I pull away and out of his embrace and I watch him expectantly.
"Comrade? I what?"
His eyes avoid mine.
"Nothing."
I reach my hand for his face and force him to look me in the eyes. I want to know.
"Hey, tell me."
"I already told you it's nothing." His voice got cold in a matter of seconds.
"Why are you like this? What's the matter with you?"
"Rose, don't make a big thing out of it. I didn't mean to say anything more."
When I keep on watching him, not willing to drop the subject, he tries to make contact with me once more but I jerk my hand away.
Now, I am angry with him. And all that adrenaline in my blood is doing me no good. He won't persuade me again to let go of whatever's happening. I am way too angry with him this time to drop the subject.
"No!" I pound my palms into his chest with each word I yell further at him. "Goddamnit, no! You don't get to act like this…" I show him the man laying on the ground, barely breathing. Maybe he is not breathing anymore. "And then just tell me it's nothing! This was not nothing! It was a lot! You…" I sigh and look again into his warm eyes. "You... I don't know... You were so..."
I stop myself before saying it. I don't have the guts to say this out loud.
"What? What was I, Rose?"
I shrug. "Not yourself."
"How do you even know I wasn't myself?" He gets defensive.
Ouch. That really hurt. Hardly, as I speak, I try and keep my tears from falling but my voice cracks often.
"You're right. Because I know… Nothing. I know absolutely nothing about you because you never tell me anything. But, even though, I know you are not like that…"
"Like what?"
"Like that." I show him the man on the ground again. "I know you are not like that."
I have felt his goodness so many times so how can I see him only like a man who has beat another man to death in such a way?
"You are not that heartless. Not that…"
DPOV
Not that much of a savage.
I know. I usually don't give in to that behavior.
But I just... snapped. And I couldn't control it. I didn't want to.
All that self-control I have been taught for years, it took me just a split of a second to forget about it. Because she was in so much danger. Because I could have lost her. And I couldn't let it happen.
Hearing him talk like that about Rose… I couldn't let him. All the things he wanted to do to her. It would all have been because of me. And I promised myself that I won't get another person I care about get killed. Never again.
But I have lost it so bad that I was close to hurting her too, the only person on this earth I have promised to keep safe.
But I didn't. Because just by looking in her eyes, I found so much peace.
Words could never do justice to those brown eyes of hers. Just a look in that warm deepness and I could be high for days, I wouldn't need anything to get by, and it could calm the deepest tempest in me.
She has a way of changing everything with just her look, a touch and sometimes, so rare in my experience, a kiss, that's so, so sweet. She doesn't need much to take control over me and she is not even aware of it. She has a power over me I never thought someone ever would.
She makes me want to be good. To be better. To be that someone she deserves in her life.
But seeing fear in them as she was watching me, it broke me. It has made me feel like the brute she has always say I act like. Because even though I want to be the man for her, maybe she was right all along when she was saying that I am nothing more than that instinct-driven animal. Maybe I never could be more. Maybe I'll never will.
RPOV
"What? Not that much of a brute, right? This is what you wanted to say earlier and didn't have the courage to?"
"I wasn't… No… I-"
I didn't want to say it, but remembering how he acted, I thought it. Does this make me a horrible human being? Oh, gosh, I am.
"Is this how little you still think of me? Hasn't your mind change at all? You still see me like that."
"No. I am-"
"Isn't that what you always say about me? That I am such a brute? So emotionless? That I don't even have a heart? Maybe I am indeed that man."
I can only look at him and feel more hurt with each word he throws at me. I didn't mean for this to come out like this. Not at all.
"Maybe I will never be something more than that, Rose! Maybe I never was! Maybe I can't!"
I felt the hurting saying these words cause him and I start crying again.
I know he is not like that. He is just... a product of his environment. He was taught to be like that. He can and is so much more than that. I have seen the other little bits of him. Those are what make the real him. And the real him is nothing close to this man I have just seen. Something deeper that I don't understand happened and made this dark side of him appear.
And I did him wrong to him to think such a thing.
"I am sorry. I shouldn't… You are not… I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking that. I…"
At my sight, his expression calms and he sighs deeply and passes his hand through his hair for the thousandth time these past minutes.
"Rose, don't cry, please."
"No, you're right. I… I shouldn't have… I'm sorry."
I get up and my eyes again fall on the almost dead body of that man, thing that only makes me cry harder, remembering how he was while beating him to death.
"I will, um… wait for you outside. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I really didn't."
I walk away to let him deal with that man.
He calls after me but I don't turn. I just rush to the door and out. I need to get away to clear my mind too.
A few minutes later, he comes outside and sits next to me.
We don't speak for a while, but his presence calms me. He always makes me feel better, and it happens even now, after I have seen what I have seen. There's something deeper inside him that radiates towards me and makes me feel so peaceful.
And after all, I trusted him completely earlier when he said that he would never hurt me. He didn't hit me or anything close to that.
But then again, he asked me that question. What if he cannot be more than what I have seen tonight? What if he-
No. It can't be. He's good.
Or…?
There are so many conflicting things in my head I don't even know what to do. Never let him touch me again or cuddle into his embrace again and never leave? I can't afford to do any of them now.
I can't… he's right. How could I possibly know how is he? I know nothing about him. He…
"Rose." is everything he says.
I look at him at last, when I gather enough courage, hoping that I won't see those dark eyes looking back at me. I'll admit I will be afraid of this thing for a while.
And when our eyes meet, I swear I can see the guilt I feel in his voice as he continues to speak.
"Did I hurt you in any way earlier? Let me know."
I shake my head no. "You didn't."
"But still, I was… harsh, right?"
"Don't you remember?" was he that out? That deeply into that darkness?
He doesn't respond.
"Have I hurt you? In any way. Even the littlest of it. Be honest with me, please."
He reaches his hand for mine, but stops just before touching me, fisting it and pulling away a little, probably remembering how I pulled away from him earlier, and I get to see that he has washed his hands somewhere, as they don't carry all that blood on them.
"Can I?"
I nod and he gets my right hand in his, moving gently, just like he would be afraid of breaking me, and pulls the sleeve up to check on my wrist. I won't get a bruise, that's sure, and the redness of his fingers disappeared a while ago, but not completely.
He sighs as he passes a thumb over a reddish spot.
"I am sorry, Rose. I really am. I…" He sighs once more. "Back in there, I… I don't know..."
He walks his thumb on the inside of my palm and I dare to get a hold of his with both of mine, stealing the warmness his skin always gives.
"You're cold," he states and this is the second I realize I am shaking. Indeed, I am cold as hell.
Next, he gets up and goes back inside.
I know he came back when I feel the leather and heaviness of his duster on my shoulders.
"Thanks."
He sits again next to me, this time so much closer, and he even puts an arm around me, trying to pull me closer to him, a gesture I didn't see coming, a gesture that makes my body stiffen.
His response is a little sigh as he walks his palm up and down on my upper arm.
"Don't be afraid of me, Rose. I won't hurt you," he whispers, just like a promise.
"I know. I just… I…" I just think I need a second to accommodate myself with being touched. I mean, after…
"I know," he says holding me a little tighter. "But it's okay now. I promise."
He continues to walk his hand up and down on me, warming me, and I dar snuggle a little closer to him, finding comfort in nestling into him, and he welcomes me into his embrace.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." at least I guess I am.
"The hell you are, Rose," he cuts out my bullshit.
"I'll… I'll be."
"Oh, Roza…" he says with his head getting to lightly rest on mine.
"I um… thank you. You know, for… that… because if he… if he… oh, God."
Just remembering how close he was to…
His hand finds mine and his fingers interlock with mine.
"Hey. I wouldn't have let him do that. I wouldn't have let him hurt you."
"I know but I… I didn't… I couldn't…"
I don't get to finish my sentence because a strangled whine stops in my throat and I wrap my hands around his torso, my head buried into his chest and I start crying, harsh sobs shaking my body.
"I wanted to fight him. I tried, but… but he… he was so strong and I… I was so afraid and powerless."
He starts soothing my back.
"Hush, love. You are fine now. Everything is fine now. You're safe."
"You promise?" I ask him muffled, sounding like a little kid.
"I do. Nothing is going to happen to you ever again. I promise."
With this reassurance, I dare hold him a little tighter, like a silent thank you. Which he reciprocates.
"I um… You... scared me a little in there, comrade." I simply speak, without really thinking things through, taking advantage of having my face hidden into his chest.
I pull away a little and look for his reaction. I wouldn't want him to get upset again. I hope I didn't mess things up.
He entangles our fingers and brings my hand up to take one more look at my wrist, just like a reminder.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to… But you…" he shakes his head. "I would never hurt you. Not you…" He sighs, sounding defeated. "Don't fear me, please. I will never do anything to hurt you, Roza. I swear."
I smile at him and nod.
"I believe you." He has been nothing but good to me ever since we met and I believe his words. He could have hurt me so, so many times but didn't. In fact, he has always protected me.
And we sit there like that, his hand holding mine and again, I don't know what to think. I don't know what to understand from this. I don't know if this is something more than him comforting me after that horrible thing. If his promises mean more than they should.
But I don't ask anything. I don't care now. For now, I don't want to think about it. I just want to be. Here, with him.
I lay my head on his shoulder and he moves, taking my other hand in his too, warming them both, his thumb caressing my knuckles.
And I enjoy this. Just this little moment. With him next to me, nothing confusing happening, him just holding my hands and being close to me.
And everything was well, until a few minutes later, when his phone starts ringing in the pocket of the duster, which spoils our peace.
He doesn't respond, doesn't even bother to move, doesn't even seem to be hearing it, but I know that this was it. We'll need to move, to go, to do something.
When it stops ringing, I speak.
"So, what do we do now?"
He lifts and unglues his eyes off my hands and looks at me just like he has been somewhere else until now.
"We… go I guess." He gets up and extends a hand to help me up, which I take without a second thought. "Let's catch some sleep. How does that sound?"
"Good. That sounds really good, comrade."
I anyway feel like I have run two marathons and this night has been so, so long already and it's not even close to midnight.
He has bought two packs of ice from the Walmart we stopped at for buying some clean clothes, and the first thing he did after we entered our room at a new motel he found, was to get into the bathroom, put them in the sink and now he's keeping his fists in that coldness, which makes me feel shivers down my spine just by thinking of it.
"Does it hurt?" I find myself asking from the doorway as he has left the door open. A stupid question, I realize, but still, I asked.
His head snaps in my direction and he shakes his head no. The hell it doesn't. I bet he even got to hit the floor some times, that driven he was.
I get closer to him, watching his hands the whole time.
"Is there something broken?"
He laughs shortly at my concern. "Don't you worry. They have seen worse times."
I bet they did. I wonder through how many things his body has been through. How many signs of battle he carries.
"Can I take a look?"
"Why?"
I shrug. "Don't know."
He has always been concerned about my injuries. Why wouldn't I be about his? I mean, I am the reason he got them in the first place.
Looking down, he takes one hand out of the water, resting it on the edge of the sink.
I move unsure, not even knowing if he's letting me or he did it just because it was too cold, if it was hurting him or something, but I don't sit around to ask. He got his hand out the water, and even if it wasn't for me, I am still going to take a look, just to make sure he's fine.
When I get close enough to him, I take his hand in mine, feeling the ice-cold skin of his on mine and I bring it a little up to study the bruises starting to form on his knuckles, along with some still bloody spots. The bruises and cuts he got fighting with those men, only to keep me safe.
I walk my fingers along each indent between his fingers, feeling rough, slipped skin beneath.
And I start stupidly chuckling. It's more like a nervous laugh, but still, it makes him ask me confused about why I am doing it.
"You could say we're brothers now, comrade."
"What?"
I walk my fingers across his wrist, which is having on it a mark just like mine, from the ropes.
Understanding, he laughs a little too.
I am the first one to get back to being serious.
"Why didn't you use the gun? It would have been much simpler." less painful too.
"I don't do guns."
"But still, you could have gotten shot by that guy."
It was crazy of him to put himself in between me and the gun in the first place.
"But I didn't."
I turn his hand around, checking for something else, but only find the calluses on his palm and I study each of them, remembering how they felt on my skin, on my hips, on my… oh, it just feels so good to touch him again.
"And what if you do get shot someday?"
"Then that it will be it."
His careless response startles me.
"You don't care about your life, like, at all? Are you one of those fatalists?"
He looks at me, smiling warmly, and I see how hard it is for him to hide the tiredness on his face. I guess this day took its toll on him too.
"What? Am I not right?" I continue when I don't get an answer from him.
"That's just how life works. One day you die."
"Your life might be ending with a bullet, comrade. But not everyone's. You do it because you enjoy the danger and stuff?"
"I just don't do guns, Rose. Don't make this deeper than it isn't."
"Why?" I insist.
"Does there have to necessarily be a reason?"
"I guess so."
He smiles and shakes his head, a little more amused than earlier.
"There isn't."
"Come on, tell me." I know there is a reason. And it may not be that personal and I may have the chance to get an answer.
"They don't seem…" he starts speaking and I want to make a pirouette. Yes! He is finally telling me something.
"What? Of honour? In a fight I mean. That's it?" I ask smiling, already starting to fill the blanks because I am excited.
"Yes, somehow. They don't seem honorable." Wow. He is talking like a real cowboy now.
"How?"
He seems to be thinking of an explanation and I won't give up until I get it.
"How, comrade?" I need to ask again when he doesn't say anything for ten seconds.
He smiles at my stubbornness and even rewards it with the answer I so much asked for.
"It seems an act of cowardice. It's easy to kill someone with a shot. And that's it. But it's different when you fight. Each has his fair chance."
That seems, well, manly of him. I mean, he is right after all. That is a cowardice gesture.
"But you still use them."
"I do. But only when there is no option left."
"You know what? It doesn't make sense with all the cowboy stuff and-"
And I realize what stupidities I am saying and seal my lips and move my eyes down. Now I can't even look back at him.
"What cowboy stuff are you talking about?" I hear the amusement in his voice, and I bet there's some of it on his face too.
"Nothing."
"Rose?" he asks in disbelief.
"Really, it's nothing."
I want to sink his hand back in the water and leave, but he squeezes on mine, keeping me in place.
"Rose? What were you talking about?"
I sigh, knowing I have no way out. Why do I have to let words slip out of my mouth like that?
"You'll think I am an idiot if I finish that sentence."
"I won't."
I look at him suspiciously.
"You didn't hear it yet, and I know you will."
"I won't."
I still eye him, not giving up on my suspicions.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"And what if you laugh even though?"
"I never break my promises."
"Fine."
But I still don't say anything.
"So?" he pushes it.
"You know, with your duster and your books about the old west and all, I thought that you would be a fan of guns. I mean, didn't they use guns pretty much back then? With the quick draw and all?"
It takes so much from him not to smile way wider than he's now.
"See? You are laughing at me." I punch him with my free hand.
His expression gets serious in an instant, but I am already pulling away from him.
"No. I am not. Really."
He pulls me back to him, but his smile that is widening is giving him away.
"On, really?" I punch him again. "You promised."
And this time, he goes serious all the way.
"Fine. Sorry. You're right." He squeezes on my hand and walks his thumb on it. "I was laughing, but just a little. It's funny that you thought about that thing."
"No, it is stupid."
"It's not. Really. In fact, I have never thought of that. That's the impression you got about me?" he asks and again, gets smiling.
I smile too. "Well, after I got over the mafia guy one and the other presumptions and saw you reading… yes."
"Oh, Rose. You're unbelievable. You-"
He gets interrupted by a very loud growl of my stomach, which makes him frown.
"You're still hungry."
"Not really…"
"Not really? You last properly ate for breakfast."
"I did not. I ate back-"
"That little Reese's doesn't count as a meal. I am taking you to eat something."
"But it's so late."
"So?"
"Aren't you tired?"
"Aren't you hungry?"
"I am, but-"
"No buts. We're going. There's a diner across the street anyway."
As we eat- Well, mostly I am eating, because he is too busy staring at me.
"What? Why do you always look at me like that when we eat? Do I look weird or something? You have done it a lot ever since we're here."
"No. Nothing like that. I am just impressed with your abilities to eat," he says resting his chin into his hand and continues to watch me as I munch on a fry.
But his comment made me laugh. He wouldn't be the first to say that.
"So that was it. But you see, I was kinda starving, comrade."
"Sure, I know that, but how come all this food gets into someone so little?"
"Hey. Don't call me like that."
He smiles, seeing the chance to tease me. And he definitely doesn't want to miss it.
"Why not? Obviously, you are-"
"Comrade," I growl. "I mean it."
"You mean what?" he gets that devilishly attitude I know so damn well I shouldn't like. But how can I not? How can I resist it?
I'll try to keep my ground.
"Don't call me like that again."
"Call you how?" he continues to tease.
"You know how."
"Oh, you mean li-"
"Speak more words and I will hurt you." I even lift my fork that I haven't used at all and point it at him.
"And how do you plan on doing it?" he provokes me, and I swear it takes a lot from me to keep a straight face.
"Look, comrade, don't keep on messing with me," I try to seem convincing with my threat.
"Why not? You look cute when you get angry."
And it's not the first time he says his shit to me, and I believe it's finally the time I take my revenge on him for it.
I punch him under the table, my foot making contact with whatever part of his body that I reached.
My reaction doesn't bring him any pain. It only makes him smile wider.
"What? You don't believe me?"
"Why would I?" I ask him and pull a face. I know he's mocking me.
"See? That thing you just did."
"What about it?"
"I like the way you scrunch your nose in displease. It makes you look just like a teeny-tiny rabbit," he insists on emphasizing those words, doing it on damn purpose. I wonder why he enjoys so much on teasing me like this. "Moving its whiskers left and right. And how your cheeks flush when you get really mad-"
"How many people are out there wanting to kill you?" I cut him off before he says something more that would make me do something I might regret later.
"Who counts?"
"Well, I bet it is all because of your amaaaaazing personality."
"From what I know, you're the first one to complain."
"I bet I am. Lie yourself with that, comrade."
I lean back in my chair and no matter how much he says I have eaten, honestly, I am still hungry as hell. I would eat half this diner if given the opportunity.
I don't dare ask for another serving. He would think I am insatiable.
But I keep on eyeing his almost full plate, my eyes not able to leave it. It's such a pity he is not eating all the goodies there.
And as he had nothing else to do but look at me, he saw me looking at his plate like it was the holy grail of food. So he extends his hand and pushes it towards me.
"What is this? Another peace offer?"
"Why would it be?"
He has the audacity to ask this?
"Because I am mad at you." I try to keep my lips from curling into a smile.
"You are? Are you still mad?"
"Dunno. Are you still a little jerk?"
He smiles, understanding my game. "Only if you still consider I am."
"Maybe I do."
He now smiles that damned cheeky smile of his that I shouldn't want to see more of.
"Okay. Then consider this a peace offer," he says pushing his plate towards me again. "Or do you want a bigger serving?"
"Nah, I am fine, comrade. This will do."
DPOV
It's tacos in my plate that I so gladly handed to her and she is now putting ketchup on them and I must admit I am curious to see if she is just doing it to fuck with me, or she'll actually eat that.
"Don't you think I am weird for eating it like this." oh, so she's not messing with me. "It's the way I like it. I ran out of salsa once," she explains herself. "Don't judge until you try it. So I don't even want to hear the word weird getting out of your mouth."
"I don't think you are weird." she keeps on insisting I believe this about her. And many other bad things. But I don't. "I think you are interesting."
"Yeah," she gets rolling her eyes. "And you say it like that. I think you're interesting, Rose," she impersonates a man's voice, but she didn't match the tone I used. Because she again thinks I am mocking her. Which I am not.
She goes back to eating her tacos, not having as much enthusiasm as earlier.
"No, really. I do find you interesting."
The thing that I can't decipher her completely makes me very curious about everything about her. I would love to learn all her little quirks and so-called weirdnesses and everything else in between. I would learn her, in and out.
"Yeah, right. You'd be the only one," she says and rolls her eyes once more.
"Why is it so hard for you to believe me?"
"Because it is."
"Why?"
"Just because. It doesn't matter."
Why do I have the impression it has something to do with Haynes again? But of course, I wouldn't mention this to her.
"If I'd say I mean it, no hidden stuff, would you believe me?"
"Not really."
"What about… what if I'd say you have a good heart?" I have missed my chance to say it when it needed to be said, but better later than never.
Me saying this makes her smile, then look down as she's putting a strand behind her ear.
"You are quite a charmer when you are not killing people, comrade."
"Is that a compliment I heard from you, love?"
"You know what? Now that you called me like that, again, I am taking it back."
"No. You can't take it back."
"Says who?"
"I do."
"And since when do you make the rules?"
I shrug. She can take it back all the way she wants. She still said it.
"Anyway. I am still taking it back."
"Take it. But I will still remember you said it."
Not liking my response, she sticks her tongue out at me, bringing out a little part of that careless Rose out, and what she does next, brings another one.
She takes the straw resting on the table, rips one of its endings, puts that part in her mouth, then looks at me smiling.
I tilt my head into a question, not understanding what she's doing.
But when she blows air through it, I get it. Because the wrapping flies my way, hitting my chest, which brings a pleased smile on her lips, as I guess it reached her desired destination.
"What was that for?"
"For calling me love again."
"Seems fair."
"Does it?" she gets more surprised than she should.
"You asked me not to do it."
"But you still do."
"Can't help it."
"What do you mean?"
In response to this, I decide it would be better to just shrug and change the subject. If I would tell her again the reason why I so much like to tease her, to see her get so feisty, she would think again that I am just fucking with her, even though I don't get it why is it so hard for her to actually believe that I find her cute and hot when she does that. And so much more than that.
"If you took your revenge, does this mean that the compliment remains?"
"Is it that important to you?"
"Oh, Rose." I place my hand over my heart, trying to seem like I am playing, when in fact I mean my words. "You have no idea what your words mean to me."
She puffs. "Don't you mess with me, comrade." she again points that fork at me. "I might take it back for real."
"Fine, then. From now on, I'll behave."
"Yeah, sure," she says taking a bite from a taco.
RPOV
"Sooo, is it Vladimir?"
He smiles. "No."
"Grigory?"
He shakes his head.
"David?"
"You already tried that."
"Did I?"
"Don't you remember that either?"
"I was kind of a mess, comrade." he smiles, probably remembering all the stupid stuff I said and done. "But hey, I can only get better from there, right?" I try to be funny and optimistic, but his expression went dark the second I stopped speaking. Did I say something wrong?
"You shouldn't have known that."
"Know what?"
"Know that I said that."
My eyes widen and I can't hide the surprise on my face.
Oh, God, no. I shouldn't know he said that because it happened before the shower. Oh God, oh God, oh God! Someone please tell me I didn't do what I have already done.
"I um… I…" I don't even know what to tell him.
But he understood I lied to him back then. Oh, why do I have to be this stupid?
"I um… comrade… I just…" what can I tell him to make things right?
But he doesn't say anything. Not even scolds me. He is way too busy staring at the table, his jaw moving slightly left and right.
And who would blame him? I bet he can't even look at me from how pissed he is.
"You're… not going to ask why?"
"Are you going to respond?"
With this question his eyes lift and when they look back into mine, they pierce through all of me, through every little part of my being, that intense his stare is.
"I… I don't know…. It seemed…"
"Right?" he says a little too harsh, but hey, he has all the rights to do it.
"Maybe. I don't know. I know shouldn't have, but-"
"I understand," he cuts me off.
"You do?"
"Of course I don't, Rose. But… that's what you do. You… I should have seen it coming." he says rather amused than annoyed.
"You're not mad?"
"Mad?" he shrugs and looks away for a second. "No. I don't think I'm mad. I don't get it why you lied to me, but you must have had a good reason, but I am sure that if-,
"I was embarrassed," I simply drop it.
"Why?"
"Because I dared do that." I know all this conversation is around that damned so close to be kiss. "Because I was such a mess. Because…" because that was the first time I have given in to my deepest wishes and desires.
"Okay. I understand. And I am not mad." and with this, he seems to have dropped the subject.
So I drop it too, even though I would have wanted to add some more apologies there. Because he deserves them.
"Would you like some dessert too?"
God, I swear that these waitresses come out of thin air. This one almost gave me a heart attack. She's sneaky.
But from hearing the word dessert, my mouth has already started salivating. Who wouldn't want dessert?
"I bet she does," my companion says, seeming amused. I wonder how much of it is faked or if he got over the lying thing that fast.
"Well, we have…" and she is telling me a lot of goodies that they have, but she finds herself interrupted by the man in front of me.
"You're out of apple pie."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You just said you have apple pie. Which is not true."
"How come?" I am the one asking. Is he some kind of psychic too?
"Simple. There were two pieces left when we came here, and the couple in the booth next to ours are having some. So, they're out of apple pie."
Not only my eyes, but the waitress' widen in surprise.
She next apologises for her slip, and I resume to ordering something with chocolate, letting her go do her thing.
"Do you remember all the stuff that happens around here? Hear all of it?" I dare ask, testing the waters to see if he's still mad at me.
"It's part of my job to pay attention to my surroundings."
"So you observe everything?"
I wonder how much attention he has given to stuff I do. Why am I even wondering? He perfectly remembered everything that happened when I was drunk.
"Is there a thing you even miss? Has it happened to you?"
"Usually not."
Wow. The confidence there.
But I don't trust it one hundred percent. I feel the need to test it.
"Interesting. Then, tell me," I look around the diner to spot a victim of his attention. "Something about the blonde woman behind you."
"Be specific." Wow. He's playing my game. I didn't see this coming. He really meant it when he said he's not mad. Or, of course, he's an incredible actor. "Which one of them?"
"Oh, right." I didn't even realize there were two of them there. "The one with the fancy sunglasses." that I observed too when she passed along our table.
"What about her you want to know?"
"What is she wearing?"
"Date clothes."
"You cannot possibly know that." he is messing with me.
He smiles, getting that all-knowingly attitude and surprising me with his good mood.
"I do."
"How?"
"Because she is just about to meet her lover."
"That is impossible to know!" I say louder than I should, making some of the heads around us turn our way.
I temper the excitement in my voice and lean closer to him over the table.
"Tell me how you know that."
"She is not wearing any ring, but still, she has a trail of it, the skin being whiter, and she even has a mark, as in, she wore it earlier today. Maybe even half an hour ago."
"Oh, but that simple to see. I bet you always look to see if women are married, comrade." I try and make a little joke, which gets rewarded with a smile from him. "But tell me how do you even know she is here to meet her lover? Maybe she has just gotten divorced today and is here to enjoy herself. Or maybe the ring was too tight for her just today."
"Unlikely. As I have said, he is wearing date clothes. Cute and stuff and she's having her makeup on point. It's obvious she put some effort into it. So, unless she is here to pick up someone, she is here to date her secret lover."
"I like it that you're so sure about it."
"Because that's what's happening. And let's be honest. Who else would have a date in this place if not some hidden lovers? It's far enough from the city, but not that far so it would be inconvenient. But it's not that, let's say, romantic. But it's hidden. Which is good because no one who knows her might see her. Plus, the motel is close enough."
Seeing that everything he says makes a lot of sense, I can only be amazed by his presumptions.
"What are you? Sherlock Holmes?"
"No. I just see things. And here is the lover," he says just as the door of the diner gets opened.
Shamelessly, I turn my head that way and just as he predicted, the man heads towards the blonde woman, and I watch them as they kiss, greeting each other.
I can't believe this!
"Okay, comrade. We are so not leaving this place until I see them get up and head to the motel."
He laughs lightly and shrugs. "As you wish."
I see the waitress coming closer, to bring me my sweet treat that I never thought would be coming.
"One more thing. Tell me fast. What is the name of our waitress?"
"Gina," he responds, not even needing time to think.
When she reaches our table, I look on her tag and that's it! Her name is Gina!
My jaw drops and I wait for her to leave before I speak again.
"Damn, comrade. I think that from now I should be more careful with what I do around you."
"Can I bring you something else?" Gina asks once more tonight.
"Yes. Another one of this," I say pointing to the chocolate smudged plate in front of me.
"That's your third tonight," the Russian adds, startling me.
"Thank you for keeping a count, comrade. But did I stutter when I asked for it?" I look at the waitress and tell her again to bring me another one.
"The answer is no," he tells her. "She's not getting more."
"Why not?"
Seeing that things are getting a little heated in between us, the waitress leaves us alone.
"Why am I not allowed to have some more?"
"It's not that you're not allowed to."
"What? You're concerned I would get fat?"
"I am concerned about you getting into a sugar coma. Are you aiming for that?"
"Not really. But that cake is just so good."
"Would it hurt to try a vegetable from time to time?" he approaches a funny tone.
"Carrots might turn you orange. Chocolate won't color you. So why take the risk?" I decide to play along.
"But at least it's healthy. And it's not the only vegetable present on earth."
Seeing him bring logic into the discussion, I try to approach it too.
"Chocolate is a vegetable too. Chocolate comes from cocoa beans, and all beans are considered vegetables, right?" so I win!
"That's not how it works, Rose."
"I think it does. You are just pissed off I am right."
"No. Because that's a fruit, botanically speaking."
"You're shitting me."
"Not at all. Go search," he ends with a smug smile on his face.
I lean over in my chair and cross my arms over my chest, trying to seem mad rather than impressed.
"You do like to know them all."
"You seem to do too."
"How come? I am not trying to be a smartass."
"Maybe. But you still know a lot of stuff."
"What do you mean with that?"
"You seem to know a lot of stuff too. Like, little things. Is it because of your job?"
"Oh. That thing. Yes. These kinds come up with the funniest and trickiest questions."
"And what did you find out trying to answer them?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Why wouldn't I? I asked, didn't I?"
"Yeah." he did. And seemingly, not out of courtesy.
No one ever really gave a damn about my silly, little job. So I decide to answer his question.
"Did you know that The Cookie Monster has a real name?"
"Other than The Cookie Monster?"
"Aham. It's Sid."
"Impressive. Do you know the carrots thing from there too?"
"Yeah." I get laughing just by remembering how I learnt that thing. "I had one kid that loved carrots so much he started to turn into one."
And he gets laughing too, that deep, sounding and warm laugh of his that makes my heart weak in so many ways I can't even begin to understand.
"What about you? What crimes have you committed?" I take my chances to find a little more about him when we stop amusing ourselves
He shrugs like it wouldn't be an important thing.
"You name it, and I've probably done worse."
"And you're so proud of it, right?"
"No. It's not about being proud. I didn't do it to brag about it. I just did it." yeah. Because it's his job.
"Can I say something?"
"Say it." and if he is expecting me to say something about his job, he is in for a disappointment.
"I'm sorry about that thing."
"What thing?"
"That I didn't tell you I remember everything."
"It's fine, Rose."
"We both know it's not and that it was wrong from me to do so. But I… I was ashamed of what… I was so drunk and you have been nothing but nice and even when-" it would be pointless to say out loud what happened. He and I know so damn well what happened. "I know it wasn't fair of me to lie. Can… maybe it's not so easy for you to do, but-"
"I forgive you." he doesn't even give me the chance to ask for forgiveness.
"You do?"
He nods. "I told you I am not mad at you."
"Not even a bit?"
"A little disappointed, yes, maybe. But not mad. And at least now I know. And I see how sorry you are."
"I am. I really am."
"I know. I see. And it's okay."
He is again way too good with me. Why?
But I don't get the chance to ask him because the two sweethearts have gotten up and they're heading out.
"Shall we?" he asks, already getting out some money for the check.
"Shall we what?"
"Follow them, of course. Let's see if I was right."
I chuckle. "Sure, let's go. Let's play private detectives."
We get out and keep a fair distance from them, keeping on to a light and pleasant conversation along the way, in which I tell some more about how many little things I went through with those little pranksters at my job.
But at some point, along our little chase, the man turns around and heads directly our way, fast, leaving the woman go on her way to the motel.
"Oh my God, comrade, I smell trouble."
I hope I am not right.
The man comes to my companion first and starts talking angrily.
"What are you? A private detective? This is how you watch people nowadays? Pretending to be with someone?" he gets pointing his finger at me, displeased. "Well, find out it didn't work. You are doing a crappy job. Who sent you? Did her husband hire you?"
Hearing that, I start laughing and I am unable to stop.
"You were right, comrade!"
"What is wrong with her? Why is she laughing like an idiot? Is your date retarded?"
"Hey, watch it."
He tenses on spot next to me and grabs the man by the front of his shirt, pulling him close to his face.
"Back off before I put you through the wall." that man dares threaten, which was his worst decision tonight.
"Yeah? Let's see who would get through a wall tonight." he gets his response.
Oh, no. Trouble. Big, biiiig trouble. I don't want this guy to get beaten up tonight. The last ones ended really bad and I don't want the Russian to get again that mad.
I first wrap my palm on his upper arm and look at him, shaking my head.
When he doesn't give me any attention, I squeeze my way in between them, obliging them to make space for me and pull apart, then I turn and try to mend things with that man.
"Look, we're not any kind of detectives. Really. We just have a room at that motel too and we had something to eat and it is just a little coincidence. That's all."
"Yeah, sure. And I am just the stupid you try to fool. Go tell that to some idiot that-"
"No, really. You see-"
"Look, you bitch-"
"Who are you calling a bitch?" I am the one to get angry now and I pound my finger into his chest. "Listen here you-"
Because I am with my back turned to the Russian, I don't see it coming.
The punch, I mean. The one heading straight to this dude's nose, which makes the blood flow out of it in the very next second.
And maybe I should be angry. Maybe I should do something like scolding him for his temper surfacing again or his reaction, but I don't.
I just start laughing again, even harder. Look in what situation we have gotten ourselves into! Look how many people have gotten their ass kicked tonight! I haven't had part of so much action ever in my life.
"Come on, let's go."
He grabs my hand and drags me towards the motel fast.
"I am going to sue you, you motherfucker!"
He doesn't even bother to stop walking.
"Just try and do so! I bet that the police would love to know what you are doing here, along with a married woman. And I am sure that her husband would gladly find out about it too!"
This is all the answer he gets and without him saying anything more, we get back in our room.
I have been laughing all the way here and I still can't stop, having to lean over a wall for some support.
He sits in front of me, hovering and looks at me, still being pissed.
"What's so funny?"
"Isn't it for you?" I say still chuckling. "It's hilarious."
"What's hilarious?"
"Everything! Everything that happened is."
And his harsh mask breaks and he smiles too.
"It is kind of funny, isn't it?" he gets laughing a little harder.
When we stop amusing ourselves, I keep on looking at him and I become serious.
"Thanks, comrade."
"For what?"
"For that thing outside." he frowns. "I wanted to punch him too, but you did that first."
His expression changes to serious again.
"Well, he shouldn't have said what he has said."
"Yeah, but I could have defended my honor too, you know?"
Continuing to smile, he puts an arm on the wall next to my head and comes a little closer to me.
"Maybe you should resume to getting into one fight a night. What about that, love?"
I can only follow the way his lips move above me, and I didn't even hear what he said. But I agree with it anyway.
"Sure."
He continues to stare at me, smiling.
"Good," he gets one centimeter closer to me, resting his other hand on the wall, and my breath gets heavier, as in some anticipation. Of what, I don't know.
But in the next second, the relaxed, amused expression on his face darkens, and he repeats the word "good", but he says it like some kind of conclusion now, kinda harsh too and goes away from me fast, heading straight to the little bathroom.
Why did he storm out of here like that? Did I do something bad?
I have put on my new, gingerbread men filled pyjamas that I couldn't resist buying, and he was already lying in bed when I came out of the bathroom, still confused after his reaction earlier.
I don't say anything to him as I lay next to him and get myself covered with a blanket, preparing to finally go to sleep after such a long day. Who knows what tomorrow brings?
But the peace only lasts for five minutes after he turns off the light.
I didn't even get to calm my brain, that the door bursts open and I shriek in surprise, and as I get up, I almost fall out of the bed.
When the light gets turned back on, I see a familiar face.
Tanya.
So, I should be happy she's here, right? They're on the same side.
But wasn't Lev too on the same side?
She throws a smile our way, and a suited gorilla gets inside the room too. And I realize that I can't be happy about her presence here. Because I don't like how this night is evolving.
The Russian is already onto his feet and his palms are flexing, preparing for a fight.
"Maybe you should have left earlier, partner," she says faking an affected tone. "Take her," she commands to the gorilla.
When I realize that that her she is talking about is me, I get up to my feet too, my first instinct being to flee, but I realize that I don't have where to go because the exit is blocked.
And for a couple of seconds, no one moves. Everybody seems to be checking their surroundings, and I don't know what could be happening next.
Until the black-suited man starts heading towards me.
"Alive." it's the last command Tanya gives, watching me with a superior look in her eyes.
His action gets rewarded with a reaction from the Russian, his fists heading towards his face.
"Really? You are protecting her? Why? You barely know her."
Moving slowly and like teasing my nerves, she starts heading towards me, so sure of her actions.
I turn and grab the lamp on the nightstand and to hell if I am letting her touch me.
"Get away from me!" I try to keep her at distance.
My reaction from her is only a smile, both of us knowing that I have no chance.
"And you are fighting with me for her?" she continues to speak to him, but keeps on looking at me. "I am very disappointed, you know? After what happened between you and me, that night, I thought that we had something, partner."
She gets a gun out of her pocket and arms it.
"What if we stop things before they get messy, Rosie?"
She lifts the gun, pointing at me, and yells a "Stop!", covering the noise the men were doing while fighting.
And they both listen to her.
"Good. It's nice to see you can follow some orders. Now be a good guy and don't move."
Still keeping the gun pointed at me, she urges the man to come and get a hold of me, which he does, the Russian only watching what's happening, his jaw so tight I believe it will snap soon.
And my eyes are pinned on him too. I am so afraid of what would happen next I think I am going to faint and looking at him is the only thing making things a little better.
"Okay, so let's set things right now." Tanya gets complete control over the situation.
But I see him moving a little though. He is moving his elbow slightly upward, so unnoticeable and then looks at the bed.
And if I am not getting things wrong, he wants me to elbow the guy and hide under the bed when he lets go of me.
Which I won't hesitate to do. What else do I have to lose?
Rather than your life? Nothing much.
But I trust him. If he tells me to do it, I do it.
I step on his foot as hard as I possibly can with my bare one and push my elbow into his solar plexus, taking him by surprise, a thing that makes him let go of me, and I take advantage of it and throw myself to the floor, crawling closer to the bed.
And as I do that, the Russian comes and jumps on that guy, knocking him down, and I hear three gunshots, and this is when I start praying none of those touched him.
I don't have the courage to get out from my hiding place for a whole minute, even though I hear a lot of growls and punches being thrown, and when I finally dare take a peek from under the edge of a blanket, I see Tanya is now fighting him, as the suited man is pretty unconscious on the floor, but he's fastly regaining his powers and seems willing to rejoin the fight.
I see something else, laying at the foot of the bed.
The gun.
I don't need to think twice about it. I grab it and get out from under the bed, not having the slightest idea about how even to hold it right, and I sadly find, after figuring out the gun, that the gorilla is back in the game and they're both on taking out the Russian, who I don't think can go on like this for too long.
"Stop!" I make the fighting cease and point the gun at Tanya first. "And you, get away from him," I try to seem confident at least in my voice as my whole body is trembling.
I really don't like holding this gun.
She says something in Russian and I don't get the cue to start threatening again with the gun I am so badly manipulating, that the two men start fighting again, and I find myself having to choose my target.
I know I can't risk shooting at them. They're moving and I could end up hurting him.
So this means I'll have to take Tanya out.
But can I?
I keep the gun pointed at her, but there's not even the littlest piece of confidence in my gesture, and she sees that.
She laughs. "Come on, shoot me if you can," she says, her steps taking her closer to me, as mine only try to get away from her,
"Stay away!"
I can't do this! What if I miss?
"Show me you can do it," she pushes me, but I don't dare move. "Come on, Rosie. We both know you don't have it in you."
"I am tired of people telling me this!"
And I do what I have never thought I would do.
I shut my eyes so tight that they start hurting and I press the trigger.
I pray I have at least managed to get her foot or something, but the next thing I know is that I feel some hands wrapping on mine and tearing the gun away from me.
She pushes me, and I stumble and fall to the floor, then she points the gun at me.
"Okay, you had enough fun. Let's see how you'll do with an unfunctional leg."
Oh, God, this was it for me. Now would be a good time to be anyone but me.
I hear a gunshot.
That's the sound that keeps on ringing in my head now.
But no pain comes along with it.
No dying sensation either.
Nothing.
I thought that getting shot would hurt like hell.
So, confused, I dare open my eyes.
And what I see in front of my eyes makes my mouth let out a whined "No."
This can't be.
Please.