Page 36 of Destroyer

Nico

Porterisveryproudof me when I tell him what I've achieved last night. He says I've punched my V card, and I have no idea what that is, but I smile and nod anyway.

"So, what are you getting Caeo for his birthday?" Porter changes the subject and I'm more out of the water than I was when we were having ‘the talk’ which came with ait quotes and hushed voices.

"Like a present?" I frown. "Not have I had money to buy this before."

"You've never been shopping before?"

"I go to corner store and be too young to buy vodka. And I go to the supermarket for food. I get money from Mrs Slayer."

"Knox's mum gives you cash?"

"Mrs Slayer has too many handbags and is happy with arrangements where they magic disappear. Russians always happy to pay paper money for real bags."

"So, we have to half inch one of her bags before we can go shopping?"

"What is half inch?"

"It means pinch."

"Then why not say pinch? It is less words."

"Do we need to steal Mrs Thayer's bags before we can buy a present? I'm not sure I'm happy with that side of the business."

"I have a card now. We can use that." I smile at how innocent Porter is. He is so naive.

"Come on. I'll get us a ride to the store." Porter heads out of the room to track down whoever is playing the role of security while Caeo plays mafia aid.

My stomach knots at the idea of finding something meaningful for Caeo. I never bought Gavriil anything, we didn't have the money to waste. The Russians always thought they were ripping me off by paying such small amounts for what were effectively unused designer bags, but I have an unlimited supply and only ever needed food and wood for a week. Giving them such bargains made me valuable to the Russians. I like having value to all the players in this game.

Being Porter's brother gives me value to Knox, and my extra activities give me value to Edward.

I have value to Gregory with my secret plan, as it gives him the revenge he wants.

The present will be a way of marking my value with Caeo.

"You're quiet." Porter announces his return and I lift my head to acknowledge him.

"What do I get Caeo?"

"You've known him longer than me. And you stay at his house."

That isn't much help for me but at least Porter will be with me.

I follow him to the car, then have to run back for my shoes. I am not used to taking them off in a house, but Porter insists it is a thing in a house like Knox's.

He doesn’t take me to the supermarket. We end up in the town centre. Rows of shops flank a crazy paved road, with side roads and covered areas. I've been here before, but never to go inside the shops, and certainly not with the two bodyguards that insist they must follow Porter everywhere. It's only window displays that show me what each shop sells.

There are lots of card shops, but I don't see the point of giving someone a piece of paper for their birthday. Porter drags me into the first shop over to the birthday cards.

"This is for birthdays because of the balloons?" I ponder.

"And because it says birthday. Can you read it?"

I can read basic cursive, not loop-d-loop writing. I do recognise the word Daddy on one card, with a picture of a plane flying through the clouds. "This I want."

"Daddy?" Porter giggles.

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