The Gang Girl

Chapter 19- Betting

"I can't keep following her. I almost got caught last week, I don't want to risk it, and I'm only just starting to win over your trust again as well, Nikolai." The voice hisses as I stand plastered to a wall around the corner from the hall where my stalker is having a whispered conversation with whoever it is they're working for, or with.

Gaining my father's trust, again?

You lose papa's trust and that's it. You're finished.

Fertig.

По завершении.

So how'd this person start regaining my father's trust?

Tell me your ways. My conscience hisses, smiling like the devil she is.

That's not creepy at all, wtf is wrong with you conscience.

I am you. So technically, wtf is wrong with you?

Bitch.

And don't I know it.

I tune back into the conversation at hand and notice that they've moved further down the hallway and that their conversation is a lot more muffled.

I almost stamp my heel in frustration but catch myself in time, remembering I'm standing on polished wood floors, not soft carpet that will muffle the sound of my heel tapping on the wood.

I slide closer to the edge of the corner and peer around it, but still all I see is the black outline of a person.

Well at least I know the gender, that tends to help. The person hangs up their call, and starts walking back up the hallway, in my general direction and I have to hightail it the hell out of there, lest I be caught and murdered in the most embarrassing place of all time: school.

***

"My little shadow stalker, yeah it's female. The gang that wants me would in no way, shape or form, send a female gang member after me." I tell dad when he gets home.

He just freezes and looks at me.

Odd.

"Just keep your eyes open Lexi," he tells me before walking out of my room, leaving me to my study.

Well then.

What is with everybody all of a sudden? It's almost like they're keeping something from me.

I huff and flop down, pushing my textbooks and computer out of the way. No one wants a faceful of paper and schoolwork. No one.

I roll over onto my back and look at the photos on the wall beside my bed and zone in on the one of mum.

2 weeks until my 20th birthday.

2 weeks until it's been a decade since I'd seen my mother.

2 weeks and one day until the day she disappeared.

2 weeks and one day until little 10 year old me came home and found bright red blood smeared along the sterile white walls in the kitchen, the hallway, down the stairs.

But they never found her. No body, no weapon, no phone calls to trace. My father ripped apart Miami to find her. And she never showed. Alive or dead.

Not when her children were crying.

Not when we graduated.

Not when Kaspar got into the best business school.

Not when Zakhar got a football scholarship.

Not when I went to Germany, not when I came home.

Not when I needed her the most.

Not when we needed her the most.

And papa. He was a wreck without his Lebenspartner

I let a single tear roll down my cheek, before brushing it away and tackling my books once more.

I'll think about her when the time is appropriate.

And now is not that time.

No, I still have another 2 weeks and one day before it's acceptable for me to break down and lose my shit.

***

"Lexi. Lexi, honey. Wake up, you'll miss dinner." Someone brushes the hair back from my face as I open my eyes and look up into the brilliant blue eyes staring down at me.

"You were crying in your sleep." Ivan whispers, pulling me into his arms.

I bury my head in the juncture between his neck and shoulder and just stay there, savouring the feeling of being warm and safe.

I let out a shuddering breath and he tightens his hold on me, letting me get myself together.

"You wanna talk about it?" He says into my hair.

"Just thinking about mum, I didn't even know I fell asleep," I say, my voice muffled by his shoulder.

"Do you want to go down or not? Almira cooked a roast."

As if in answer, my stomach rumbles and he chuckles a little and I give a small smile, before pulling out of his arms.

I plant a kiss on his lips before getting up from the bed and pulling him with me.

I open my bedroom door and get a faint whiff of the masterpiece our cook had created in her kitchen and walk faster down the hall, dragging Ivan with me.

He chuckles at me and instead of me dragging him down the hallway, he picks me up, throws me over his shoulder and walks down the stairs and into the dinning room, me giggling and squealing at him to put me down.

He deposits me in my chair and takes his seat beside me, smirking at me, eyes alight with mischief. I just roll my eyes at him and fix my attention on my family who were all staring at us with knowing smiles, Zakhar raising his eyebrows at me and mouthing 'yas gurl' at me. I poke my tongue out him and look to papa and Mikhail, who just give each other looks, dad's saying 'why are you always right?' And Mikhail's saying 'I told you so.'

I clear my throat.

"So, uh, can we eat, or are we just going to stare at this meal while it goes cold?"

Everyone immediately takes to their plate, still smiling and sharing knowing glances with those around the table. See, this is what happens when you grow up in a gang, everyone will wager on who you're going to end up with. And it looks like everyone's bet was on Ivan and me. 

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Translations

German: 

- Lebenspartner: Life Partner

- Fertig: Finished

Russian:

- По завершении: Fini