Page 81 of House of Lies
Would I stop fighting my feelings? Would I fight for Kaz? I don’t know.
“I don’t believe God concerns himself much with men like Kaz, but I still pray he will be all right.”
I have nothing more to say, so I fall silent. I return my gaze to the passing cityscape outside the window. Vanya stays silent.
CHAPTER 55
Kaz
It’s well past midnight when we arrive at the house, one of Dedushka’s safe houses. He gave me the address after some searching. He doesn’t seem very sane these days. The house stands in solitude amidst the woods, its rich brown color contrasting with the dark trim around the windows and door. Its imposing two-story structure lacks a driveway, but the porch catches my attention with its line of rocking chairs facing the alluring view of the surrounding woods.
We’ve lost three men—two of them shot in the room, and another one. I press Dmitri’s shirt against my wound as I step through the heavy oak door, noticing the upside-down M as the head knocker. The house’s interior is impressive, boasting hardwood floors and black paneling covering the walls. The furniture comprises dark, grand pieces with intricate carvings and detailed designs. I approach the living room, where a large stone fireplace immediately catches my eye. Exhausted, I collapse onto the black leather couch just as Vanya enters.
“What the hell happened to you?”
“I got shot,” I state the obvious. “Bring me something to remove the bullet and patch myself up.”
“Do you want me to call the doctor?”
“Can’t. No one else needs to know about this place.” I reply. Vanya nods and leaves to find a first-aid kit. Soon enough, he returns.
“Thanks,” I say as he hands me a bottle of whiskey. “Where’s Caelia?”
“She’s handcuffed to the bed,” he responds while I remove my shirt.
“For fuck’s sake, Vanya!”
“I wasn’t in the mood to chase her through the woods. Don’t worry, she’s fine. She also thinks I don’t speak English and talked my ear off,” he says. I laugh, feeling the ache in my body intensify. “Now, lie down.”
Taking a sip of whiskey, I stretch out on the couch. “Did she say anything interesting?”
“No, just boring stuff. She doesn’t think we should have left you alone. She misses you now that you stopped talking to her,” Vanya reveals. His words puzzle me. Why would Caelia confide in him while refusing to speak with me? “It’s good that we killed Ludovic, but we should have tortured him a thousand times worse.”
“Why?” I narrow my eyes at him as he disinfects the tweezers and clamps scissors, preparing to tend to my wound. I hiss in pain when he probes my injury, searching for the bullet.
“It’s not my place. She shared those things with me in confidence, you know?” Vanya grins.
“The Ivan doesn’t speak English confidence?” I question.
“Exactly.”
“What did she tell you?” I ask, realizing that Vanya is purposely being less careful with the tweezers in his hand.
“Mattia watched as Ludovic raped her multiple times.” My fists clench, and my jaw tightens as I think of all the men who hurt her. I vow to find each and every one of them and make them pay for their actions, assuming they aren’t already dead. I will make them feel the pain that Caelia endured. My heart pounds in my chest, and my hands tremble with rage. That she told Vanya, a stranger, while refusing to trust me with this information infuriates me. “We will get every single one of them.”
“Tomorrow morning, we’ll return to Moscow. It’s not safe for her here,” I decide.
“You need to talk to her,” Vanya insists. This is a strange request coming from him. I try not to provoke him. I’m uncertain why Caelia opened up to him when she refused to speak with me.
“You think I haven’t tried?”
“Stop moving so much. Try harder, Kaz. Just fucking try, all right?”
“Are you warming up to her?” I smirk.
“Hell no! I think she’s been through enough and deserves to know that someone is on her side, even if that someone is a sick bastard.”
I can tell he’s lying. I don’t know what else Caelia told him, but his attitude toward her has changed. I had doubts when I asked Vanya to protect her instead of Domenico, knowing she would feel more comfortable with her Italian friend. But he will stay here, and she won’t have anyone back home. She must make friends if she doesn’t want to lose her sanity. I’m not Mattia. Despite my threats, I will not strip away everything from her and confine her to a room. I won’t forbid my employees from speaking with her.