Page 122 of Requiem of Sin

Tolya chuckles as he strokes his stubbled jaw with a conciliatory shrug. But all fun and games end when he turns his attention to Clara.

She, for her part, looks like she’s seen a ghost.

“Tol, this is?—”

“I know who this is.”

I shouldn’t be as surprised as I am. Tolya hasn’t seen Clara since she was a child, so I figured he’d need a quick introduction to click the two pieces together.

He points a finger at her face. “You may not sound like him, but you look like him.”

Ah.

It’s always about family. And I hate to admit it, but my brother is right—she does carry some of Greg Everett’s features in her face.

Tolya sighs and leans back on the bench. “So, little girl. What can I do for you? I’ve already given you my whole fucking life, my freedom, any chance of living like a normal goddamn human being. What’s left that you want?”

Every word is dripping with the venom any falsely accused man would feel against the prosecution’s star witness. I’d probably say the same damn thing in his shoes.

Still… I’m not loving the tone.

“Actually, it’s about what she can do for you.” I step in after a beat of Clara’s silence.

“Oh?” Tolya’s brow arches. His gaze slides over her body a little too slowly for my liking.

“And your case.”

“Hm.” He grunts and folds his arms across his broad chest, finally shifting his gaze to me. I want to ask about the new tattoos darkening his biceps, but now is not the time. “What about my case?”

I nudge Clara under the table so she’d actually speak up for once. But all she does is shiver and lower her wide-eyed stare to the table. I resist the urge to roll my own eyes and lean forward. “We may be able to get an actual appeal for dismissal. Clara can recant her testimony.”

Tolya scoffs. “Which part?”

I frown. “All of it.”

“Can’t lie in an appeal. Perjury and all that.”

“She lied when she testified against you.” I’m practically leaning across the table; he’s not making any fucking sense. “Now that she’s on our side?—”

“She didn’t lie.”

I freeze. Partly because I’m not sure I heard what I think I just heard. But mostly because my blood’s run cold. “What?”

Tolya stares at Clara without blinking. “You didn’t lie. Did you,malyshka?”

Clara shivers again. Then, still staring at the table, slowly shakes her head.

“The fuck?” I narrow my eyes first at her, then him. “She said you were in that warehouse where Little was killed. You were nowhere near it.”

“That’s what my lawyer assumed. And what you assumed.” Tolya shrugs a shoulder. “It seemed like a good idea not to correct anyone.” Now, he’s the one glaring at Clara. “Untilyoushowed up.”

Clara winces. And, for the first time since we’ve sat down, she speaks. “I’m sorry.”

Tolya barks out a cold laugh. “Sorry? You’re sorry? No, no,malyshka. I’m the one who’s fucking sorry.” When she doesn’t look up at him, he slams his fist on the table, making her and the guards jump in surprise.

I wave them off before they come over. After a tense moment, they ease and return to their idle watch.

“Look at me,” Tolya snarls. “Show some goddamn respect. You owe me that fucking much.”

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