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Galina shrinks against my chest, seeking comfort. I wrap the blanket about her like I’m crafting a cocoon. This comforts her enough to prompt her to keep talking.
“A while back, I was dating this guy named Simon.”
I didn’t know about this. I’m flooded with a simmering fury. Not because I wasn’t aware, but because the idea that Galina might date someone, even before I knew her, cuts at my jealous side.
“If you had a bad dream about him, he couldn’t have been a great boyfriend.”
“He wasn’t.” She slumps further in my lap. “During the last year we were together, he became abusive. It got so awful, but I kept putting up with it. I thought, I guess, that he’d see the light and change. Well … he didn’t. One night, things escalated so much. Simon lost it.” She glances up, meeting my eyes with her own tear-filled ones. “He shoved me down the stairs.”
The growl that exits my clenched teeth sounds like the earth splitting in two. It’s awful enough that Galina’s sadness morphs into fear. Gripping her shoulders, my body wrapping around hers to protect her from any attack, past or present, I speak in a harsh tone. “Where is he now?”
“What? Why?”
“So I can kill him.”
“Arsen, no!” Galina pushes against my chest, creating space between us. “You can’t just kill him! That’s crazy!”
“He hurt you, Galina. I can’t pretend to be okay with that!”
“You’ll end up in prison!”
“No, I won’t,” I laugh darkly. “I know how to get it done without anyone knowing.”
“Arsen, no!” Her eyes widen as her chin wobbles. “He’s harmless now.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because …” She bites down on the corner of her lip guiltily. “Because he’s been stalking me for months. But he never gets close.”
“I’m going to kill him.”
“Arsen? Arsen! No!” She fights me as I set her on the bed, rising to my full height. “He’s had opportunities to hurt me and he hasn’t! Okay? He’s a creep, but he isn’t going to try anything. Especially not now. How would he, with these walls and your soldiers between us?”
I’ll have Mila find out where he is. Then she can eliminate him from the shadows. Or bring him to me so that I might teach him some manners before I end his pathetic life.
Galina blocks me, her arms held to the sides. “Please, don’t do this. I’m begging you.”
“Why?” I demand, looming over her. “How can you not want to see him cold in the ground?”
“Because pain doesn’t erase pain!”
I recoil like she slapped me. Galina stands tall and proud, her chin pushed out, her eyes narrowed as she dares me to push her aside. She’ll fight me tooth and nail if I try to walk past her. But she doesn’t have to. Her words alone have weakened me.
“If this is what you want, then I won’t touch him.”
She deflates with relief. “Thank you.”
“But I’m going to increase security at your studio.”
“Why there?” Her mood lifts. “Are you planning to let me return?”
Hesitating at her question, I keep my voice calm. “Eventually. But for now, it’s a precaution. He may try something crazy, even if you aren’t there. The guards will be made aware to keep an eye out not just for Yevgeniy but for anything suspicious. If he goes near there, I’ll know.”
She manages a small smile. It makes her look more tired, the bags under her eyes looking like slices of plums. “I can agree with that.”
Taking her hands, I tug her toward her bed. “Rest now. You need to sleep.”
“Hopefully I won’t have any more nightmares.”
