Page 136 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

“It’s useless, Anika, I changed the passcode,” Mikko’s voice rang out above the eerie quiet. It’d only be a matter of time before one of her neighbors called the police to report a disturbance.

“What?”

“Your gun safe.”

“How the fuck did you do that?”

“My obsessive tendencies eventually pay off.” A glimmer of something else flashed across his eyes, his hair tousled and his chest heaving. It was almost as if he was vouching for a younger version of himself too.

“Shoot me then, “ she crossed her arms, “get it over with.”

“I have a better idea,malyshka.” He waved the gun, motioning for her to walk. “Let’s take this back downstairs, shall we?”

Her spine was ramrod straight, her senses on high alert, but there was nothing she could do at this very moment.

Cooperate, assess, then act,her brain chanted.

“Eager to check back in on Levi?” she goaded. The soles of her feet stung with each step, her arm felt inflamed from the flesh wound, and her brain felt swollen inside her skull. Shock was the only thing keeping her pain at bay and her body in motion.

“Despite his shortcomings, he’s more helpful to me alive than dead,” Mikko said, falling into step behind her. The press of his gun to her back had her thoughts scattering.

“Makes one of us,” she muttered dryly.

“Even after all this, you cling to your sarcasm. How cute.” He prodded her when she hesitated at the top of the steps.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Her feet touched the first tread and within a few short seconds she stood in her dark foyer.

“Cristiano visited your mom,” Mikko said, the words sitting like a rock in her gut. “She was all too eager to welcome a new face. Barbara too.” They walked past the living room, Levi’s sleeping form still sprawled out where they left it. The small victory of it all was overshadowed by Mikko’s presence at her back and his filthy words. “Seems like they need to up their security measures, wouldn’t you say?”

“Fuck off,” Anika snapped, the frames in her hallway the only witness to her humiliation.

“Imagine my surprise when I learned who your parents are…or were.” He continued, uncaring for whatever she had to say. Shuffling into the kitchen, she tried to stay silent, not wanting to fall into his poorly set traps. She failed.

“You know nothing of them—”

“You know, I’d agree, except I can guarantee your father would be disappointed in you for throwing a brick through someone’s window, Anika.”

“Don’t you eventhinkabout him—”

“Do you really think killing me will make you feel better? That it’ll erase what my father did?” Mikko interrupted again.

“Killing Alek would’ve made everything better, but he had to go and die before I could draw out his torture.” Venom dripped from her words. “You’re the next best thing,malysh.”

“Seems like we’re perfect for each other then, one hunting the other in an endless cycle.”

“You’re a freak. Comparing us to each other demeans my work.” Anika picked at the dark nail polish on her fingers, flakes of dried blood coming off with it.

Mikko huffed, pushing her toward the kitchen counter with the alcoholic concoctions. “You mean murder? It demeans your murders?”

“Semantics.”

“So pouring yourself a drink from these ingredients here won’t be a problem? I mean, it’s just semantics after all. Anyone could accidentally overdose on violets.”

“What are you getting at, Mikko?” The countertop was cold beneathher dirty hands. “Spit it out.”