Page 47 of Caged

“See?” His voice cracks. “That was my reaction, too! Kirill said the damn knife slipped because Daniil was fighting back.”

I want to cry.

My poor baby brother is being slowly chopped up and I’m over here ordering lattes and watching movies.

If I were me, I’d punch myself in the face for not hurrying.

Scrolling through the mirror app that I downloaded onto Nikolai’s phone, I weed through the pointless stuff.

Wait. What is this?

There’s a bunch of messages from a contact he has named “Donkey” who mentions the diamonds.

“I may have something. I’ll call you back.” I hang up before Tyler has a chance to answer.

Who the hell is Donkey?

Is he like a drug mule? A contact?

The details say that the diamonds are supposed to be at the Grand Stand, but doesn’t give a date.

Damn it!

I find the map location, but without a time, it’s useless information.

A slim waitress brings me a cup carrier with three drinks.

Thanking her, I carry them quickly to the car.

“Elena! I have hot chocolate!” I call into the house when I push into the door. Setting the drinks on the counter, I drop my bag on the table and go in search of her in her playroom.

Nikolai is squatting next to her, carefully smoothing a Band-Aid onto the back of her wrist.

“See? All better. This is why you don’t try to fly off of the bench, even with your fairy wings.” He speaks to her softly in Russian before wiping a tear from her cheek. “You’re my princess, but tough like a warrior. I’m proud you barely cried, even though I know it hurt.”

Oh, my heart.

I wish I had a father like him growing up. Kind, but firm. Supportive, but caring.

Instead, mine died before I was old enough to remember. And the men that my mother rolled through the house before she followed him to the grave weren’t exactly ‘dad’ material.

After she was gone, all Daniil had left was me.

I’m all he has now.

Nikolai glances up and sees me leaning against the door.

I’m sure I have a stupid smile on my face watching them.

Elena sees me, and jumps up and down. “Melissa! Want to see me fly?”

“No,” Nikolai and I say at the same time.

Her shoulders droop. “Okay.”

“Can you draw me a picture of you zooming across the sky? I brought you a hot chocolate for inspiration.” I give her a big stage wink.

Nikolai mouths “thank you” to me before standing.

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