Lines in Italics were actually spoken on the show.

In the days that followed, Galina tried her hardest to act like nothing had changed, even though the persistent knot in her stomach told her otherwise. She couldn't stop worrying and the panic that had engulfed her since her and Dmitri's confrontation had become her near constant state. She had to resist flinching every time the bell above the store door chimed to announce a new customer. She kept expecting mafia goons to turn up with the sole intention of making her pay for what she had done. However, over a week had now passed and nobody had come and nothing had happened. Galina was really beginning to hope that for once in his life Dmitri really had handled it and everything would be okay as he had promised.

He went out every single day and usually didn't return until late at night after she'd already tucked herself into bed. She hadn't been sleeping well at all though and since Vasily usually sought her out at some point in the middle of the night anyway, Galina had even been encouraging him to just start out in her bed in the first place. During the daytime, she had been trying to spend as much time with her sons as she could, which explained why she was currently sitting on the sofa between the two youngest and watching an unappealing show while ignoring the work she still needed to complete downstairs. She hadn't finished before her sons had been heading up for the evening, and Galina had been afraid to stay alone in the store after dark. Their company had become an indescribable comfort to her and being around the boys was just about the only time she was able to feel normal.

"Which is better?" Yuri called, walking into the living room holding two shirts hung on hangers out before him. He held a grey polo up to his front and then alternated with a blue and yellow plaid button-up.

Grateful for a reprieve from the television, Galina turned towards her oldest son. Slinging an arm around Vasily's shoulders, who was nestled up beside her to watch his show, Galina had to bite back a smile as she observed the way Yuri was rocking anxiously on the balls of his feet. It amused her to see him so nervous. After all, he had known Anna, a girl from their neighbourhood, since the two had attended kindergarten together and they'd hung out with groups of other kids for many years. However, this was the first time they would be going out just the two of them. It changed the entire dynamic of the relationship and Yuri had been fretting for days.

"You trying to look good for your girlfriend," Vasily crooned teasingly, earning himself a swat to the side of the head as he leaned against her. At ten, he was still as much of a mama's boy as ever and wasn't shy about it, although his boldness never ceased from giving his brothers a hard time.

"Shut up," Yuri rolled his eyes, He gathered both shirts into the same hand and then slicked his reddish blonde hair, still damp from the shower, back against his head.

"I like the grey one," Galina replied, standing up suddenly and causing Vasily to crash back on the sofa.

"You could have given me some warning, mama," Vasily complained, rubbing at his head dramatically as he'd fallen back onto the sofa after his mother had moved away without warning.

"The grey one? Really?" Yuri intoned dully, holding it out in front of his bare chest and looking suddenly skeptical.

"It brings out your eyes," Galina argued. She thumbed at the fabric of the plaid shirt he had also been considering. "And I don't like this one because it's too baggy on you. It didn't look so loose on the rack at the store."

"That's why you should wear it," Maxim advised his brother. "A polo is too preppy. You're not going to a job interview."

"Yeah, you're right," Yuri agreed. He dropped the grey polo onto the coffee table without hesitation. He then slipped the oversized plaid off of the hanger.

"Why do you even ask me?" Galina crossed her arms, as Yuri slipped his arms into the sleeves of his shirt and began to do up the buttons.

"Because it's helpful to know what you think," Maxim laughed. "No guy wants to wear what his mother picks for him."

"Then how does that apply here, hmm?" Galina asked. "Considering I still buy all of your clothes because Vasily is the only one of you three who will come into the store with me?"

"But what I'd really like to know," she continued, walking over to Maxim's side with her arms still crossed. "Is how come you didn't want to go to this dance also? You could have asked someone to go with you."

"Nah," Maxim shook his head dismissively, turning determinedly back towards the television.

"Why not?" Galina pressed. "There are a lot of pretty girls in your class. What about-"

"Please stop talking," Maxim moaned, burying his face in his hands while Vasily laughed heartily at his brother's embarrassment.

Rolling her eyes, Galina turned to follow Yuri back into the bedroom that all three boys shared. The quarters were cramped, with a set up bunks against one wall and a single bed against the other, with a single dresser jammed in between them. They were used to it by now, but their chatter and antics often kept them up well past their bedtimes when they had been younger. However, now she liked to believe that it had only brought them all closer.

"So, do you think you'll be coming straight home after the dance or will you be wanting to go somewhere else?" Galina asked, sitting down at the foot of Vasily's single bed to watch as Yuri stuffed his wallet and the chain that had his house key on it into the pocket of his jeans.

"Is it alright with you if I do?" Yuri asked. He pulled a pair of fresh socks out of the top dresser drawer and then sat down on the bottom bunk across from her to slip them on his bare feet.

"Yes," Galina nodded. "So long as you find a payphone to call and let me know where you'll be. Do you have change?"

Yuri frowned. "What if I just tell you now that the plan is to go get a bite to eat after, so just expect me home an hour later, okay? I don't want to have to stop everything to call my mother."

"Stop everything?" Galina raised her eyebrows. She leaned back on her hands and regarded him carefully. "What exactly are you planning to be doing tonight?"

"Nothing," Yuri exclaimed, his pale cheeks darkening a suspicious pink. "I just don't want to have to call you, that's all. Nobody else does."

"Fine," Galina conceded, exhaling an exasperated sigh. Teenagers were a whole new experience for her, and she already knew that she certainly preferred mothering them when they were small and completely obsessed with her. Now, it seemed like every single day he was trying to distance and assert his independence from her. She knew it was a sign that she was doing her job well, but it saddened her also. She didn't know who she was outside of being a mother and wanted to hang onto her children for as long as she could.

"The school dance ends at ten, huh?" she clarified, and Yuri nodded. "Be home by 11:15 or I will search this neighbourhood for you, and I promise that you won't like that."

"I'll be home on time," Yuri promised. "You can trust me, Ma."

"I know," Galina agreed weakly. "Do you need money?" she offered, reaching into the pocket of her green cardigan for the wad of cash someone had tipped her earlier that day and she had forgotten to transfer to her wallet.

"No, I've still got ten dollars from my allowance," Yuri protested. He knew his mother often worried about finances, although she tried to hide it and make sacrifices herself so that he and his brothers never went without. However, his place as her oldest child often gave him a little more insight into his family's situation. He tried to do what he could to help his mother and rarely asked for anything.

"Well, that's not enough," Galina protested, as she held out a few folded-up bills for Yuri to take. "When you ask a girl out, you should always offer to pay. If your father had tried to skip out on the bill when we were dating, then you and I would not be here having this conversation now."

"Anna's like the first girl I've gone out with, Ma," Yuri reminded her. He accepted the cash and pulled out his wallet so that he could put it away. "I'm not going to marry her."

"Yes, well, that's what I said," Galina replied. Dmitri had been the first person to ever ask her out and though she had never expected to be married to someone like him, that is exactly what happened.

"But it's obvious to all of us that you regret it," Yuri retorted, with a knowing look.

"I've never said that," Galina said quickly, although even her tone gave her away. She had always tried not to air open hostility towards her husband in front of their boys, but she knew there was only so much she could keep from them when they all lived under the same roof.

"You don't have to," Yuri said shortly. "I can just tell." He got up and went to the closet to pull out a grey windbreaker jacket and then slipped it on.

"Well…" Galina said uncertainly, "I hope you have fun tonight." She got up from the bed and followed him out of the room as he made for the front door. A quick glance into the living room told her that Maxim and Vasily were still zonked out in front of the television and probably wouldn't even be moving for the next few hours.

"If something comes up then I promise I'll call you," Yuri assured her, as he slipped on his shoes. "But nothing will, and I will be home at 11:15 on the dot."

"You better," Galina forced a smile. "Because you know I'll worry."

"You don't have to," Yuri replied. He leaned over to kiss her cheek in farewell. "See you later, Ma."

XXX

It seemed silly to get all choked up about her son going out on his first real date to a school dance with a girl they'd all known for several years, but that's exactly what happened once Yuri left. It was probably just a cumulation of everything else that was going on with her but Galina found herself feeling emotional and more than a little lost. She tried and failed to sit back down with the other two and watch television, and when she couldn't stop fidgeting she announced she was going back downstairs to do some work. Maxim and Vasily rarely registered her leaving, but to Galina this was a very big deal.

It wasn't that she'd been clinging to her sons more than she probably should have, it was just that being with them was the only way she was able to temporarily appease the nagging fear that was constantly consuming her. Galina didn't think she had ever been more frightened or regretted her actions more in her life, not even when she'd risked prosecution to stand up to the state or been on the journey towards a new life in America. There was no escaping the truth this time that she really had done a stupid thing to very bad people. There was no telling what would come from this and the fact that nothing had happened this entire week did not make her feel any better. She thought they were just biding their time.

Dmitri was off doing whatever it was he did for them early every morning. He refused to tell her anything, but the way he returned home pale and shaky well after dark each night made is quite evident that he wasn't just carting boxes around for them anymore. She wanted to demand answers, hopeful that the truth was minor when compared with what she had been imagining. They'd all heard whispers from the home country and right in this neighbourhood, about the crimes and presence of mob activity, but until now they had only been warnings. The only thing she knew for certain was that Marina had already had the procedure to fix the deflated breast implant and was fine. She was at home and in a few days, it would be like this had never happened, but for Dmitri and Galina their problems were just beginning.

Galina blamed herself for the situation but a small defensive spark in her refused to take complete ownership for the way the mafia was now circling her family home. She'd never wanted them there. She'd have preferred keeping her head down and her boys a far distance from anyone who had the potential to make trouble or endanger the bright futures she aspired for them. Yet, it was Dmitri who had sought them out, working with them of his own accord because he thought the affiliation a promising connection. He had never intended to be indebted to them or need to beg for mercy, but Galina at least felt he should take responsibility for the fact that he had essentially invited dangerous people with welcome arms and brought them around his family. That never should have happened.

Leaning forward against the counter, Galina tightened her hands on the edge and concentrated on her breathing. She was contemplating just going back upstairs since her mind was already swimming with regrets and anxieties and she'd just gotten here. This is exactly what she had been trying to avoid all week. She wanted to be in the safe and warm confines of the apartment with her children, but she also wanted to get over herself and do what needed to be done. She didn't think she had ever been such a coward before. Revolution and adventure had once been her driving forces, but now all she cared about was being a good mother and protecting her family at all costs.

So, she forced herself to stay exactly where she was. There were meats purchased from the butcher that morning that needed to be sliced and individually frozen, and the work would not complete itself just because she'd rather be upstairs with her boys right now. She kept the lights turned off though. The lighting shining in from the street would suffice and she didn't want anyone to be able to see her from outside and know she was in here alone. In the shadowy space, Galina opened up the fridge quickly to withdraw all the meats and shut it as quickly as she could so that its brightness would not reveal her to anyone who might be watching. She might be paranoid but the 'what ifs' were becoming an obsession.

She fetched a sharp knife from the block under the counter and got to work. Forcing herself to concentrate on the task and lose herself in productivity was actual helpful. She had been making a stead slew of progress when she heard the sound of the back-door creaking and jumped. The knife felt onto the counter with a clang and Galina felt like her heart had leaped into her throat.

'Just Dmitri', she reminded herself, although she was still feeling a little shaky. Ignoring the knife, she reached for the box of plastic wrap set to her left on the counter. She was just about to pull out a sheet to cover a cut of meat when she heard voices that made her pause. There were at least three that she could detect, and they were all speaking in Russian, although from this distance she couldn't decipher what was being said. Dmitri clearly wasn't alone.

"Hello?" She called out partially to know who was standing in the back of her store, but mostly she wanted to announce her presence so they'd know they weren't alone. She didn't want them to think she was spying. She didn't want them to think anything much of her at all.

Nobody answered her call, but in another instant Dmitri walked in, leading Ganya and two huge men who Galina recognized but couldn't remember the names of. Nobody spoke to her, as Dmitri opened up the door of their walk-in freezer and the interior light illuminated them all.

Ganya turned his head and pierced Galina with his ice-blue eyes with an unreadable expression on his face. His focus on her made Galina actively recoil, backing up before she could stop herself. Ganya continued to stare her down seeming entirely unimpressed.

"Put that in," he finally instructed the two big goons behind him. Slightly relieved to at least have his attention momentarily off of her, Galina watched through wide eyes as Ganya motioned to the freezer and the two other men stepped inside. They were each carrying misshapen wrapped packages.

As the other men went to work unloading their bundles into the freezer, Dmitri skidded around them and made for his wife. He didn't look well. Even in the dim lighting, Galina could detect the shine in her husband's eyes and the way he was slightly trembling. She could only imagine that something truly horrific had occurred and what was happening right now didn't seem much better. The air felt thick with secrets and sins, and the thought of those dangerous men rummaging in her freezer, bringing in parcels she sincerely doubted were the produce order she'd placed with Neptune's the other day, was terrifying.

"What's in those?" Galina asked in Russian, whispering so that Ganya and his men couldn't hear her.

"You don't want to know," Dmitri mumbled back in shaky Russian. He looked as though he was about to cry. He cleared his throat.

"It's fine," he switched to English, trying to sound as reassuring as he possibly could. "This will make things right for us." However, his wife was not to be soothed.

"This doesn't feel right," she hissed back.

"We're fine. We'll work it out," Dmitri insisted, as the men behind him continued to unload more bundles under Ganya's watchful eye. "I promise."

With that, Dmitri left her side and went to follow the other men who were leaving without speaking a word. He passed Ganya, who seemed in less of a hurry to go then his comrades. The freezer door shut, wiping out the white light that had been shining on him. Yet, even in the darkness his shadowy figure was prominent.

Once again, he looked back over at her. Galina couldn't tell what he was thinking, but his stowy silence and his eyes on her made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She stood frozen in place, unsure of how to proceed. She didn't know if she should try to say something but before she could make up her mind, Ganya turned to follow his men. She was temporarily reprieved, but the chill she now felt was reminding her that safety was merely an illusion now and that she was in very hot water. Gripping the fabric of her green cardigan, Galina pulled it close as though that would warm and comfort her. She stood silently in the same spot for several long minutes until she was sure they were really gone. Then she bolted forward.

Her heart was pounding and her hand was shaking as she gripped the latch to pull open the freezer door. The cold hit her in the face and seemed to blow straight into her very bones. She didn't hesitate, for fear that she would lose her nerve. She completely believed her husband when he told her she didn't want to know, but ignorance was a bliss Galina didn't think she could afford. She needed to know what she was up against, and then maybe she could decide what to do about it. Leaving everything in her husband's hands suddenly seemed like the worst decision Galina could make. She felt like a sitting duck.

The bundles had been stored on the lowest shelf, the shelf's previous occupants had been jammed into other spaces without much care. Galina stepped into the freezer and crouched down to be on face level with the secretive parcels. She placed a hand atop the one closest to her, noting when she did that she was still wearing the gloves she'd put on to handle the meats and for which she was feeling gratified. The bundle felt soft to her surprise, it was packaged tightly, with duct tape wrapped securely around the entire thing. Galina scratched at the tape, as her eyes scanned over all the other items. They were all wrapped in the same material, but were in such various shapes that it was obvious they held different things. The one she was currently working on was broad and almost rectangular, but there were others that were long and skinny instead, and another that seemed more rounded.

"Don't touch that!" a voice yelled. Galina had just succeeded in pulling off the end of the duct tape and had been about to rip it up. Already feeling jumpy, she actually yelped at the sound when she had been so convinced she was now alone. She let go of the tape as though it were suddenly burning hot and whirled around.

"Don't do that!" she gasped, exhaling a breath of relief when she saw that it was only Dmitri behind her. He appeared to be alone now, but the twitch in his lips was maddening. Without warning he reached for her hand and yanked her roughly towards him. He pulled her out of the freezer and then slammed the door shut behind them.

"I told you not to touch them," Dmitri snapped.

"What is it?" Galina demanded. "What's going on?"

Dmitri shook his head and didn't answer. The hand gripping hers tightened even more exponentially until Galina was wriggling in his grasp, trying to free herself.

"Let go of me!" she demanded, continuing to attempt pulling her hand from his. "You're hurting me!" Dmitri looked down at their joined hands, his wife's red and squeezed with a force he hadn't realized he'd been using.

"Sorry," he muttered, as he let her go. Galina glared at him as she rubbed her reddened hand against her thigh through her skirt, trying to alleviate some of the sting.

"Dima, what is happening?" she asked hoarsely. "What are they making you do?"

Dmitri ran his twitching hand over his face and mouth. He was breathing as though he'd just run a race. His skin looked pale and sickly. His eyes shifted from side to side as he took a moment to collect himself. Galina stared expectantly back at him and waited for an answer she wouldn't let him deflect from giving.

"You have no idea the things men like that are capable of," Dmitri finally said. He sniffled as he tried and failed to fight back tears. Brushing them away with the back of his hand, he had to pause before continuing. "What they do and what I just saw. You have no idea, Galya."

"Well, then talk to me," Galina replied quietly. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited expectantly.

Dmitri sniffled. "Do you really want to know what's in there?" he asked seriously, and sucked in his breath when his wife slowly but determinedly nodded her head 'yes'.

"It's a body, Galina," he said flatly, saying the truth out loud made him feel like he had once again been doused with cold water. He'd been alternating between phases of numbness and stabbing pain since that morning.

"It's cut up," Dmitri continued. "Ganya made those two men you just saw chop the body up after they shot him so that it could be carried through the streets without arousing any suspicion. They killed him this morning."

"Why?" Galina gasped.

"I don't know, honey," Dmitri shook his head, he was actively sobbing now. "He must have crossed Ganya in some way. Ganya, is a man you don't want to get on the bad side of."

"But we are," Galina whispered, tears burning in the corners of her eyes.

"No," Dmitri shook his head. He reached out for his wife's hand and squeezed it, this time gently. "No, honey, we're okay. I promise you. Ganya is fine with us, so long as we keep doing what he says…"

"But we can't do this," Galina insisted. "He murdered a person. Dmitri, we have to do something. We should tell the police."

"Who do you think they'll blame?" Dmitri demanded. "The body is in our freezer. My fingerprints are on the body. Do you want me to go to prison? Forget prison, Ganya would kill us all at the first hint of betrayal. And you just touched the wrappings!"

"With gloves," Galina muttered, looking down at her hands and pulling them off of her hands so they were bare. She tossed them onto the counter and then looked over at him with glossy eyes. "So, we don't do anything?"

"There's nothing we can do," Dmitri reminded her. "Not unless you want us to find ourselves chopped up in some stranger's freezer somewhere. And the boys-"

"I know, I know," Galina stammered, turning away from him. Her arms wrapped around her body as though to hug herself. She took a couple quick breaths and then looked back at her husband in alarm.

"The boys!" she said frantically. "Maxim and Vasily are safe upstairs but Yuri went out, and I told him he could stay out until late."

"Galina, he's fine," Dmitri said quickly. "Don't think that way. You'll drive yourself crazy-"

"Well, then how am I supposed to think?" Galina asked back. "You tell me all this and I'm just supposed to pretend that it's fine, and just go about business as usual?"

"That's exactly what we have to do," Dmitri replied. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close until they were eye-to-eye. "Listen to me, Galya. There is nobody in this entire world that you can trust, besides me. I'm going to keep us safe. We're going to be fine. Ganya knows that he can trust me. I just need you to do the same."

"I do," Galina nodded her head. She knew she didn't have much choice not to anyway. Leaning forward she leaned her forehead against his chest momentarily. Then she looked back at her husband and brushed her lips against his. She wasn't kissing him right now because he was insisting on it, but because she wanted to. Such desire had become such an extinct concept to her but right now it felt oddly right. Dmitri was her husband and now he was officially her partner in crime.

Thank you for reading.