Page 69 of I’m The Worst

I slide off the seat, and my boots crunch into the snow. I hug my jacket tighter and follow him toward the building. Savva and his men are already disappearing inside.

The interior is freezing. Dust hangs thick in the air. A small office sits to the left, a large open warehouse space to the right. Old metal shelves line the walls. A single desk in the corner is covered in scattered papers.

Unease slithers up my spine.

“What is this place?”

“A shithole,” Savva repeats with a groan, kicking a wooden crate apart for firewood.

I take a step forward, eyeing the dark corners. “Are we safe here?”

Wolff nods toward Savva. “We’re in the back.”

He leads me down a narrow hallway with cracked, peeling walls and stops at the last door. Pushing it open, he motions me inside.

It’s a small room with an old cot against the wall. A tiny sink and toilet in the corner. He drops his bag on the floor.

“Stay in here.”

“You’re not staying with me?”

He turns and walks out, shutting the door behind him.

I sigh and sit on the cot. The old springs creak loudly under my weight. Pulling my knees to my chest, I wrap my arms around them, trying not to let my mind wander again.

It doesn’t work.

The feeling of being closed in presses down on me. My stomach twists and skin buzzes with anxiety.

I stand, walk to the door, and hesitate with my hand hovering over the knob. I open it anyway.

And nearly trip over Wolff.

He’s sitting on the floor right outside the door, back against the wall, knife flipping slowly between his fingers.

“Jesus!” I stumble back. “What are you doing?”

He looks up at me, eyes dark and cold. “I told you to stay in the room.”

“I was just— Why are you sitting out here?”

“Get. Back. Inside.”

I glare at him and cross my arms. “I’m not staying in there by myself. It’s creepy.”

Stepping out, I slide down the wall beside him, ignoring the way he stiffens.

“Move your ass.”

I don’t move. I pull my knees in and look around. The others are in the warehouse, talking in low voices. Viktor glances over and gives me a small smile.

I see Wolff’s face out of the corner of my eye.

“Viktor is nice. You don’t have to scowl at him like that.”

“You don’t know shit about him.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s been nice to me. Unlike someone I know.”