Part 26 (1/2)

This is a part of Hoss I don't recognize.

The man I've come to know is capable of anything, including carrying the heavy burden, which Hangar has given him to bear. No, this Hoss is beaten. He's a man who's been left on Earth when he wants nothing more than to be with his dead wife.

Turning to me, I see a difference in Viktor I hadn't noticed before. His eyes have grown soft, almost reminiscent. When he speaks, I'm left confused. ”Hangar touched Casey. He put his hands around her neck, Hoss. Why was he allowed near her?”

What the f.u.c.k?

”I don't know how he got to her,” Hoss pleads, raising his attention back to Viktor and me standing near the door. ”I truly have no idea. Maybe Dee Dee let him...”

Dee Dee had a key. Viktor knew this because I'd told him. I gave it back.

Viktor doesn't let Hoss continue his explanation. ”I wouldn't be standing here, ready to take his blood, had he not gone after Anna. Anna was never to be touched, and I made that clear my first day here, did I not?”

”You did,” Hoss begins, but doesn't stop. ”Anna will be fine.”

Hoss' reaction to Viktor's statement of Anna's condition was the wrong thing to say.

As he clutches the blade in the palm of his hand, Viktor takes quick steps in Hangar's direction, whose eyes widen in fear. His body jolts again, stepping back as far as he can while still bound at the wrist. Judging by the terror in Hangar's eyes as he screams through his gag, even he can see Viktor has uncharacteristically lost all self-control.

Hoss stands to his feet in attention. Cilas moves forward, bracing his hands on Hoss' shoulders to hold him in place. The air grows even thicker with tension.

The blade enters Hangar's gut in one smooth move. Viktor isn't a large man, but the power he just sent into the flesh of Hangar's body is a clear indication that his vengeance for Anna is racing through his body; thick and powerful, it sure as f.u.c.k won't be denied.

Hangar gasps for air through the scarf. The m.u.f.fled pleas are left unanswered as Viktor removes the blade then shoves it in once more, this time sending it piercing into Hangar's thigh. He's bleeding profusely, the rush of blood falling down his body after it seeps into his own torn clothes.

”Jesus Christ, I can't...” Hoss' usually strong presence, sometimes jovial and sometimes angered, shrinks.

”He dies today, my brother,” Viktor confirms.

”I know,” Hoss answers back. His eyes come to his son. Hangar is conscious, but his frame is still. ”I tried so hard with you, Hang. I did. I tried to make you somethin' you weren't. I loved your mother. She was everything...” His voice trails off and he looks to the ground in shame. ”f.u.c.k, but I always loved her.”

”I loved her, as well. She was my sister,” Viktor adds. ”And it pains me to think she's watching now. But it's time, Hoss. Time to end this.”

Hoss nods, keeping his focus to the floor. ”I know.”

Cleaning the blade of the knife with an old rag he picks up from the table, Viktor stands in front of Hangar in such a way you know he's admiring what his rage had caused him to do. ”The question I have for you, dear brother, is whose hands is he to die by?”

He's giving Hoss a choice?

Hoss' eyes come to mine, and the look of realization is completely lost on me. I'm confused and uncertain about the silent conversation being discussed between them.

”Max,” Hoss calls for my attention.

”Hoss,” I state back in response.

”Perhaps you'd like to watch as I reward someone for their loyalty?” Viktor asks Hoss directly.

Hoss breathes out again. At first, I believe this is only meant as a plea for me not to do Viktor's bidding.

I find my a.s.sumption was wrong.

”Marie,” Hoss whispers to himself and with it, I feel my pulse race.

”What about her?” I question. I don't understand what she has to do with anything.

”Tell him,” Viktor prods. The power of his demand weighs heavily as my mind is still lost in a sea of confusion.

”He loved her,” Hoss claims openly.

”Who?” I ask in return. ”What the f.u.c.k are you talking about?”

”Hangar loved her,” he says again, as if I know what it means.

With the statement sitting like a sinking s.h.i.+p in the center of the room, my eyes move to Hangar. The light in his eyes fades as the blood around his stab wounds thickens with each beat of his nearly dead heart.

”Hangar loved your sister,” Hoss finishes.

Addressing me, Viktor begins unraveling his advice as though I can concentrate on hearing it. ”This is the truth, my friend. It's what you said you were after all along. But knowing the truth, as you're about to, will change how you see your life and how you've come to accept it. You can't go back to being who you were once you know.”

Turning my glare to Viktor, I don't miss the fact I'm asking a criminal to give me his honest truth, whatever it may be. ”f.u.c.k your philosophy lesson, Mr. Koslov. Just tell me what the f.u.c.k is happening.”

Viktor nods. ”Ah,” he replies to my address. ”Back to formality,” he observes next. ”You came here not long ago to ensure the safety of Casey. Am I wrong?”

He's not wrong, but Casey has nothing to do with what's here and now.

”Yes, for Casey,” I state to clarify. ”Tell me what the f.u.c.k this has to do with Marie.”

”Don't you see?”

I'm beginning to, but I want it laid out. My eyes move to Hoss, who's now refusing to look at me, his glare set on Viktor. Next I look to Cilas, whose jaw is ticking as much as his hands are trembling. I don't understand Cilas' reaction, but I don't stop to try and understand.

Viktor continues. ”When Hangar saw your face show up here, he was stupid enough to brag to Hoss in front of me of what he had done to Marie all those years ago. He also didn't realize he was sealing his own fate. He hurt an innocent girl.”

”Come again?” I seethe with narrowed eyes.

Viktor continues without pause. ”I've hated Hangar since he was a child. Even before Ursa pa.s.sed, Hangar was a waste to this world.”

My mind reeling with only pieces of new information, I hiss, ”What the f.u.c.k?”

”Hangar is the one who killed Marie,” Hoss interrupts Viktor's word games. ”Hangar knew who you were. He hurt...”

”He shouldn't have touched my girls!” Viktor's voice explodes into the room. ”He's an animal, Hoss. You know this.”

Finally, reaching his breaking point, Hoss stands and points to Viktor. ”He's your blood! He's your sister's son.”

I take two steps toward Hoss, willing him to tell me it's a lie. I want him to tell me I haven't been here, in this s.h.i.+t hole, all the while being in the company of the man who killed my sister.