Luna Park date and Radimir’s offer. It might be my last chance to free myself from Taras. Why could Radimir not just accept my son? Would he be leaving soon?
Taras entered the kitchen through the back door with a cold blast of air and stepped toward me.
“Never at home anymore are you, Varinka?”
I pulled my robe tighter around me. “Do you ever knock?”
“I pay the rent here, last I checked.” He slid one hand down the side of my neck.
I lit a cigarette. “I have to get Max to school. He’s already late. And you smell like an opium den.” I’d smelled that scent on villagers back in Malinov, sweet and unmistakable, like a flower on fire.
I set my cigarette in the ashtray, a lazy trail of smoke rising to the ceiling.
“You and your mamka can’t just live here for free.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“With your new friend. Has you smoking now?” Taras came from behind, pulled a pair of dark gray manacles from somewhere and enclosed my wrist in one cuff.
I pulled at the metal, but he held it tight. How heavy it was. “This isn’t funny, Taras. Let me go.”
He closed the other end onto the table leg and walked away for a moment.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Just making sure the key is well hidden.”
“You can’t keep me here forever. Someday I’ll just leave.”
Taras shrugged. “I’ll just find you.”
“Not if I get enough of a head start. Where did these handcuffs come from?”
“I need them in my line of work. They’re the strongest made, adjustable for any wrist size and pure steel.”
He slid one hand under the lapel of my robe, across my breast. He kissed the scar of the burn on my cheek and ran his lips down the side of my face, his beard scratching the skin along my jaw.
“You’re hurting me.”
Taras murmured, lips close to my ear, “That Streshnayva daughter is here.”
A chill ran down my arms. “In Paris?”
“Has been hanging around.”
“Here?” A sick feeling clawed at my belly. Sofya? Come for Max?
“I put a message in the newspaper they all read but she didn’t bite. If you could spy on her for me it might help us both.”
“So you can hurt her?”
“I could use your help. She’s all over the place.”
“Do your own dirty work, Taras.”
Taras trailed his lips down the side of my neck. “Come now, Inka. Afraid your new boyfriend will think less of you? And just so you know, Vladi’s been in touch. Asking if the boy has been taken care of.”
A shiver ran through me. “Tell Vladi whatever you have to. Max is staying right here.”
Taras opened the front of my robe. “Then you need to make it worth my while. Admit it. You’d like to. Tonight.”
Max watched us with a steady gaze and my cheeks burned.
“The boy—” I said, pushing Taras away with my free hand.
I turned in my seat to find Mamka standing near the icebox, a crochet needle in her hand.
“Get away from her, Taras,” Mamka said.
I tried to stand, but the handcuff held me back.
She waved the needle at him. “Unlock her.”
Taras stepped to the icebox and pulled out a glass bottle of milk. “Who said you could come home during the day, old woman?”
“I live here.”
He waved her off. “Go sleep at that dress shop.”
Mamka stepped closer to Taras. “Give me the key.”
Taras walked away from her and I closed my robe best I could with one hand.
“How could you?” Mamka asked. “Animals know better.”
“I’m sorry, Mam—”
“It is the very worst sin. Plus, that child sees everything you both do. You should pray for forgiveness.”
Taras laughed.
Mamka came to me and tied my robe shut. “Someday you’ll feel the consequences, Taras.”
Taras stepped to the back door. “And you should pray you’ll find the key or that kid will be late for school.”
“I wish my husband never brought you into our house.”
Taras bent to Mamka’s face. “He bought me, old woman. Guess you need to feel the consequences.”
Taras left and slammed the door shut behind him as Mamka tore the kitchen apart in search of the key.
Max stood from his play and stepped to Mamka. “The key is in the flour.”
“Good boy,” she said, then dug her hand into the flour bag and extracted it, her arm covered in white to the elbow. She unlocked me, pulled me up to standing, and I pocketed the heavy cuffs and key.
“Get dressed,” she said. “I have something to show you.”