Page 205 of Eternal
If he wants to end me, he’ll have to wait.
And then I leave.
I move through my apartment in silence, the only sound is the rustling of clothes as I shove them into a bag. Every few seconds, my eyes flicker back to the bed. Tohim,there, still breathing, still alive.
I should leave him like this, I shouldn’t care, but I do and I hate myself for it.
I pull out my phone with one hand while my other reaches for the medical kit in the bathroom.
The line rings.
Once. Twice. Then a voice, “Voron.”
I exhale. “Sorry for calling.” My voice is steady, even if my hands aren’t. “I hope Viktor reached out to you.” I glance toward the bed again, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest. He looks different like this. Weaker. “I have information that might help.”
There’s a slight pause and a subtle shift, like he’s already making calculations. “It’s about them, isn’t it?” The way he says it, calm, certain, like he already knows… makes something coil tight in my stomach.
“Yes.”
No hesitation. “I’ll arrange a jet for you in the morning.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “I’ll be there.”
“Good.” A pause, and then, “I look forward to meeting you.”
The call ends and I toss the phone onto the counter and turn back to Damir.
I should leave now, walk out and never look back, but instead, I kneel beside the bed and open the medical kit. The bandage is soaked through, I peel it back carefully, watching the slow ooze of blood from the wound I put there.
My fingers hesitate before pressing a fresh gauze against his skin.
His breath stirs, but he doesn’t wake. I finish wrapping the wound and straighten up, staring down at him.
His hand is near mine.
I could touch him.I could?—
I swallow hard and take a step back.
“All men do is lie,” I murmur.
Then I grab the bag and walk out the door without looking back.
59
AZRA
“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane
Past
Running here feels good.
I love the complex, it’s filled with space and gardens and it’s also really clean.
I don’t know why, Alexei always said I have to be careful but no one would hurt me because I’m his baby.
The complex… It feels better than home these days, it’s safe.
