I woke up sweating. I was breathing heavily. I shrieked when I saw Alexei at the door, leaning against it. His eyebrows were raised and I ran to the bathroom. I vomited and felt silent tears on my face.
I didn't want to face Alexei when I got out. He was sitting on the bed.
"Why didn't you sleep on the bed?"
I shrugged. I didn't want to respond that I used to sleep on a couch and I can't support sleeping on a bed. I didn't speak. He didn't speak either. I wanted to speak to my sons and Matteo. So I took a chance.
"Can I have a phone?" His eyebrows lifted but his stare stayed cold. "No."
I begged. "Please, I'll tell you, I'll tell you who I'm calling."
He didn't budge. "Continue."
"My brother Matteo. He was in on the plan, he knew I would die and he thinks I'm dead. I just want to reassure him."
He didn't hand me a phone. I was crying. I needed to use the phone. I couldn't survive one more day without hearing Nikolai and Matthew's voices. "I'll- I'll give you everything you need to know about the man who hired me. I'll cooperate. Just please."
He sighed and gave me a phone. "You have two minutes." I was smiling. I was smiling. I dial Matteo's number inside the phone. "Please pick up, please pick up." I heard a voice.
"Who is this?" I breathed with happiness. "Matteo, eu sunt Andreea. (Matteo, it's Andreea)" I heard a gasp on the other end. "Andreea, you're alive? Why are you speaking in Romanian?"
"Sunt in viața. Nu pot vorbi acum mult timp, dar nu pot veni acasă de ceva timp. Voi explica când m-a întorc. Ai putea să-i dai telefonul lui Nikolai (I am alive. I can't talk right now for long but I can't come home for some time. I'll explain when I get back. Just could you hand the phone to Nikolai) ?"
He gave the phone to Nikolai and when I heard his voice, a smile appeared on my lips. I had tears in my eyes. I felt Alexei's burning stare on me. It gave me a signal to talk fast.
"Nikolai, iubirea mea, nu mă voi întoarce acasă mult timp și vreau doar să spun că voi veni cât mai repede posibil. (Nikolai, my love, I won't be back home for a long time I just want to say that I will come as fast as possible)."
"Fii un băiat curajos și protejează-l pe Matthew. (Be a brave boy and protect Matthew."
"Do you promise?"
"Eu promit. (I promise)"
I ask him to give me the phone to Matthew because I can't take it anymore. Two minutes have passed and Alexei knew it so I quickly spoke.
"Nikolai vă va spune unde sunt. Vreau dor să spun că vă iubesc pe amândoi din toată inima mea și când mă voi întoarce, voi cumpara tot ce doriți voi doi. (Nikolai will tell you where I am. I just want to say I love you both with my whole heart and when I'm back, I'll buy whatever you two want.)".
I tell him goodbye and close the call, handing the phone back with the largest smile. I was sure my boys were safe as long as they stayed a secret. Before I sat on the couch, he grabbed my wrist. "Who are Nikolai and Matthew?" I widened my eyes and didn't say anything. "You said only Matteo."
"And you said I could talk to him if I told you who." He growled. "You were lying."
"So were you!"
I gasp as he pinned me to the wall, holding my neck. I was breathing heavily as he dropped me. I leaned my head against the wall. "Come, you will eat and then we will talk about your training and the man."
