Part 7 (1/2)
The sweat clinging to his brow threatens to drop. He has more of it lining the base of his throat. He smells of smoke, like she remembers Hangar smelling when he came into her room one night, which feels so long ago.
”Twenty grand,” he says out loud to the others. ”That's it. I don't have to tell you she's also older than I had requested.”
Casey's stomach flutters with nerves, remembering how Anna had once told her she was ”old” and her own time had pa.s.sed. She hadn't understood her expression at the time. She doesn't understand it now, either. Casey is well aware she's only nearing twelve years old and by comparison to many she has seen throughout her time here, she's still young.
Viktor clears his throat and Casey jumps in place when she hears it. The large man with short black hair and crusty, chapped lips drops his finger from nearly touching her face, so she uses the opportunity to peer around him to aim her gaze at Viktor. It's a bold move to do such a thing, a challenge of sorts, but she's never felt so exposed in front of one of their guests.
Viktor's hands are resting on his desk. He looks eerily calm and collected. He's smiling, and it's a smile she doesn't trust because she's seen it before. This time, though, it's not aimed at her. He's angry.
”Twenty grand?” Viktor mockingly questions.
The man turns his body in the direction of Viktor's voice. ”Yes. Anything more would be ridiculous.”
”Ridiculous,” Viktor repeats in the same sarcastic tone.
”Yes,” the man counters as he pulls his unfitted sleeves down from underneath his jacket to cover his wrists. The suit he's wearing must be at least three sizes too small.
”Cilas!” Viktor yells, his voice bouncing off the walls between them.
The door opens immediately and Casey realizes Cilas must have been standing just outside of it-always on guard, as ever.
”Cilas, I'd like your opinion please,” Viktor starts and Cilas nods. ”Do you think Casey should have to wear her hair blonde for the rest of her adolescence?”
Anna clears her throat to gain Casey's attention. Casey looks in her direction and Anna smiles as her hand comes up, signaling her to take a seat in the same chair she was sitting in before the foul man ordered her to stand for his outwardly physical inspection.
Once seated, Casey looks to Cilas and finds him almost smirking at her. She doesn't understand the humor of the situation, but feels comfortable enough in her surroundings to cast a small one back.
Cilas shakes his head no, so Viktor continues. ”Do you think we should change the color of her skin? Tan her? Make her look a different origin, maybe?”
Cilas looks back to Viktor and shakes his head again.
”Look, I didn't mean any offense,” the fat man in a now even-sweatier suit placates as he holds his hands out in front of him. His back is to Casey, so she can't see his face pleading in anxiety and fear. ”I was only stating the obvious.”
Viktor picks up a file, the same one she saw him and Anna reviewing when she arrived. He tosses it on his desk near the man and advises, ”You were negotiating, Mr. Carlson. And not doing a proper job of it.”
”No, I was simply stating...”
”Simply stating what, exactly?”
The room goes tense with Viktor's question. The man standing in front of her moves to crack his neck, holding his own chin as he does.
Finally, pointing behind himself to Casey, he counters the offer with one better. ”Twenty-five grand. Cash. And I'll have it today. But that's my final offer. I didn't say I didn't want her...”
”Cilas,” Viktor calls again as Cilas straightens his posture, understanding the tone Viktor is using. ”Mr. Carlson here tells me he'll break my sweet Casey the first time he uses her.”
The words echo through Casey's mind again; after her run-in with Hangar, the meaning of his words aren't lost on her entirely. It's not lost to Cilas, either. His face, usually hardened in the anger of his life, changes. The menacing growl which comes from the back of his throat is clear with its intent.
Cilas is really mad, Casey thinks with her eyes growing wide.
”Can you please remove Mr. Carlson from Casey's view? She's been insulted almost as much as I have.”
”Wait... I don't...”
Before the man can apologize or take back words that shouldn't have been spoken, Cilas grabs him from behind. Casey cowers in her chair, realizing he's about to be hurt. Acting swiftly, though, using all of his strength, Cilas pushes him out the door as Anna moves to close it behind them. The loud scream of agony rips through the wooden door, filling Casey's ears. In response, she lets out a small whimper, which Anna hears from beside her.
Grabbing Casey's wrist, Anna squeezes while rea.s.suring, ”No, sweetheart. Don't be scared.”
”She's right,” Viktor confirms as he stands, straightens his suit, and walks toward them.
Anna stays by her side as Casey collects herself and sits up straight.
Talking to Anna, disregarding the fact that Casey's still sitting in the room, Viktor speaks as if she's not able to listen. ”Another one with no appreciation,” he says, clenching his teeth. ”If I don't find someone for her, I'll be forced to take her with me.”
Whispering softly, and with sincerity, Anna returns, ”Maybe that should happen regardless of whether you find someone or not.”
”Anna,” Viktor pleads, walking toward her and reaching to hold Anna's arms at her sides. He pulls her closer to him, and Casey realizes it's meant to be an intimate gesture. ”You must know by now I can't keep them all.”
Casey processes the information, but she has no way to translate it. She sits motionless in her chair, threading her fingers in and out of each other, taking in deep breaths and trying to remain quiet. It's surprising to hear the way Anna is able to talk to Viktor when they've forgotten she's there. She understands now, almost without a doubt, that Viktor loves Anna, possibly caring for her deeply. She finds herself envious of Anna for having that.
”We've discussed all this before, have we not?”
Sighing, Anna looks down to Casey in thought.
”There are others here who may be interested,” Anna voices, giving in but not looking at Viktor as she speaks. ”I believe there are others who could take care of her if you're...”
Viktor doesn't give Anna a chance to finish. ”You'd have me give her to one of these f.u.c.king animals?”
”Hoss' friend, Max,” Anna whispers. ”He likes her. He cares for her.”
Casey's heart rate increases hearing Anna refer to a man she hasn't seen in weeks, but she stays quiet.
”Ah,” Viktor returns, moving his eyes to Casey. ”The man in her pictures.”
Casey gasps a quiet breath hearing him all but admit to taking her pictures of Max. Her pictures. Those she drew. She can't express her renewed anger and she's not fluent with its feeling, but her skin warms and her cheeks jump quickly hearing him confirm what he's done.
”Yes. The pictures,” Anna replies.
”Another animal,” Viktor comments. ”I've not met him, but if he's running s.h.i.+t for this G.o.dforsaken club, I don't imagine he's got any money. As you know, Anna, this is a business. I don't do this for charity.”
Hearing Viktor's tone change and deny Anna's request, Casey looks up to watch as her friend's eyes close tightly.
Anna's soft response to Viktor is held to a low, agonizing whisper; an almost shameful way of remembering a secret which seems as though it wasn't meant to be said out loud. ”I was a charity case once. I was Casey's age when you found me. You kept me safe and made me a home, Viktor.”
As the quiet of the room hits, Casey watches Viktor lift a hand to Anna's face. She slouches low in her chair in hopes not to disrupt their subtle moment together.