Fractured Souls - Page 19

“Because I understand the need to deal with your shit yourself. And because I know how it feels to have people get rid of you.” The arm around my waist tightens. “I would never do that to anyone.”

“You’re holed up here with me. Don’t you need to go to work?”

“I had someone fill in for me. But I’ll have to go for a meeting with the pakhan tomorrow. I won’t be long.”

My body stiffens as panic rises in the pit of my stomach. It’s completely unnatural, the way I have become attached to him, but I can’t shake off the feeling of dread that forms from the idea of him not being nearby.

“Okay,” I whisper.

“Will you reconsider talking to the psychiatrist?”

I squeeze my lips together and shake my head. Pasha has been trying to convince me to talk with the mental health doctor since this morning. He said she has experience with cases like mine. I can’t do it. The thought of talking about it with anyone other than Pasha makes me sick.

“All right, mishka. Let’s give it a few more days.”

“Does it mean something? Mishka?”

“A bear cub.”

He calls me a bear cub. What a strange endearment. I turn my head to look at him. “Is it because I like clinging to you?”

“Yeah.” He lifts his hand as if he’s going to touch my face, but pulls back. “Let’s go to sleep.”

I nod and turn back to the wall, pretending I’m trying to sleep. I can’t get over the fact that he said yes when I asked him if I can stay instead of sending me back to my family. It was so outrageous, I was a 100 percent sure he’d refuse. He didn’t. And I still find it hard to believe that he agreed not to tell anyone who I am.

A light touch grazes the back of my head. I’m not sure what it is, but it seems like a kiss.

Chapter 6

“Is that girl still at your place?” Roman asks as soon as I enter his office.

“Yes.” I nod and take a seat next to Maxim.

“Good. You need to ask her how she got the drugs. Yuri still can’t locate the guy who supplied the pills, so your girl is our only lead.”

I meet my pakhan’s gaze and shake my head. “No.”

“No?” He widens his eyes at me.

“If she tells me something herself, I’ll let you know. But I’m not making her talk unless she wants to.”

“Why wouldn’t she?”

“Doc hasn’t told you?” I ask.

“Told me what? He said you found the girl, she overdosed, and you took her home.”

“She was sexually abused, Roman. I think the people who had her were running a prostitution ring.”

Roman stares at me, a muscle ticking in his jaw. The pen in his hands snaps in two. The topic of abused women has always been a sensitive subject where he’s concerned.

“Is the girl okay?” he asks through clenched teeth.

“She’s better.”

“Good. Don’t ask her anything.” He nods and turns his attention to Maxim. “What’s the issue with the Albanians you wanted to discuss?”

Maxim takes off his glasses and crosses his arms over his chest. “It seems like they have suddenly obtained a huge amount of money. One of Anton’s guys reported that he saw Dushku’s son-in-law spending an insane sum at one of the Cosa Nostra casinos.”