Page 165 of Dance of Madness

I spit the words venomously into the dim light of the basement.

“I’m proud of you,malyshka. Doing what the family needs you to do.”

“Of course, Papa. This is what we Kalishniks do. Besides, he means nothing to me. It’s all a means to an end.”

Nero grins again. “Well, I'll just leave this running, then.”

“I just admitted it!” I scream at him. “It was me, okay?!Itried to get you killed. I’m responsible for all of it. Now can I get out of this fucking cage?!”

The video starts to loop again.

“Are you ready for tonight?”

“Yes Papa, I’m ready.”

“You’ll make sure Nero is at the spot you agreed on?”

“Of course, Papa.”

A sob wracks my body as I drop back onto the cot. It doesn’t matter what I say. I’m already guilty in his eyes.

“I’m proud of you,malyshka. Doing what the family needs you to do.”

I jolt as my head snaps up. Nero’s already reaching for the basement door knob when I lurch to my feet.

“Wait!” I yell. “Rewind it!”

He turns to frown at me. “What?”

“The tape!”

“It’s on a loop. What the fuck for?”

“Just wait!” I blurt, my chest heaving as I stare at the TV screen.

It loops again, until it gets to the part where I tell my father about the location.

“I’m proud of you,malyshka,” my father says on screen. “Doing what the family needs you to do.”

“THERE!” I yell. “Rightthere! Proof that this is all bullshit!”

Nero looks at me half like he’s amused, half like he's questioning my sanity.

“Malyshka,” I choke out. “That’s Russian for baby girl.” My eyes lock with Nero’s. “My fathernevercalls memalyshka.He calls meSOLnyshka, for little sun.” I tug on a lock of my blonde hair. “Because of my hair?”

Nero stares at me. Then he looks to the screen. Then he looks back at me. My pulse races, a nervous laugh bubbling up from my throat.

“See?!” I blurt wildly. “See?! It’s fake! He’d never saymalyshka! He’d have saidsolnyshka!” I stab my finger at the TV. “It’s all a lie!”

Nero blinks, his green eyes slicing into me.

My lips curl slightly at the corners as a hopeful smile dares to peek out.

“I’d ration the rest of those pretzels. Might be a while before you get more food.”

My heart drops like a stone. The hopeful smile withers and dies on my lips.

Without another word, he turns, walks through the door, and locks it behind him.

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