Polina’s jaw drops. “You’re not gonna let her out?”
“It’s better this way. She won’t stay in the basement forever. But for right now—”
“That’s inhuman!” she snaps. “And you are not inhuman, Uri.”
“I am when I have to be. You only know me as your brother. I am much more than just your brother, Polina.”
She shakes her head with disappointment. “Say whatever you want; I don’t believe you.”
“You don’t have to believe me. But you do have to trust me. I know what’s best—”
“Don’t!” Polly screams in a voice that I’ve never heard her use before. She sounds so damn sad all of a sudden. So damn angry. “Don’t tell me that you know what’s best for me. It’s a lie. It’s a fucking lie!”
“Polina—”
“I’m serious. That’s exactly what Dad said to me before they left on that stupid drive with Lev. I had to stay behind because I had soccer practice and he refused to let me miss it. Honor your commitments, Polina, he told me. You’ll thank me later. I know what’s best for you. It’s all fucking bullshit!”
I stare at her. “You’ve been keeping that in a long time.”
She sighs and runs her hands over her face as all the fight dissipates from her body just as suddenly as it appeared. “I didn’t mean to scream.”
“It’s okay. Screaming is healthy from time to time.”
“I’m fourteen years old. I know right from wrong, Uri. I know exactly who you are. Being pakhan doesn’t make you a villain. But keeping a woman locked in a basement against her will… that most certainly does.”
I bite back my own anger. “You don’t know the whole story.”
“Yes, I do. Alyssa told me.”
Goddammit.
“How long were you down there with her?”
“Long enough,” she retorts, crossing her hands over her chest. “What’s going on between the two of you?”
“Your new best friend didn’t fill you in?”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, real mature. You know I’m supposed to be the teenager here, right?”
“I’m not doing this right now. Go to your room, Polly.”
“You can’t just send me to my room when you don’t like the way the conversation is going. You’re not my father.”
I advance on her. “I’m the closest fucking thing you have to it. Alyssa is down there for her own safety and she will stay down there until the threat has passed. Now, go to your room.”
She sizes me up. Then her jaw tightens in a gesture that looks all too familiar—because I see it every time I look in the mirror. “Enjoy your food,” she snaps. Then she drops the plate right to the floor. It cracks and shatters, dough and porcelain flying in every direction.
Polina doesn’t stick around to see the mess. She storms off, leaving a trail of melancholy rage in her wake.
The moment she’s disappeared upstairs, I turn and go to the basement. Alyssa’s already got Lev.
I’m not gonna let her get to Polly, too.
53
ALYSSA
He storms in like a tornado, all rage and chaos and turmoil. I’m guessing Polly went and spilled the beans, because there’s no other reason for this visit. No other reason for that wild, unhinged look in his face.
I back up a little despite swearing internally that I was going to stand my ground this time. “For a man who says he doesn’t want anything to do with me, you sure come down here a lot.”
His eyes flare with azure flame and I bite my tongue. Why are you goading him? I tell myself Uri would never hurt me, but I’ve also never seen him look so angry.
He charges forward, forcing me against the far wall. He doesn’t stop until his body is an inch from mine and his nose is almost touching my own. “So I hear you met my sister,” he growls. His voice is deep and guttural. There’s definitely anger there… but there’s passion, too.
“You’re acting as though I conned her into coming down here,” I snap back. “She’s the one who followed Lev. That’s not my fault!”
“Maybe not, but shooting your mouth off about everything sure as hell is.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. You can keep me hostage here but I can’t talk about it? You get to treat me like shit but I can’t react to it? You get to push your way into my space and I can’t push—” I put my hands on his chest and shove. “—back!”