Pakhan Zakrevsky nods a solemn greeting to Tolya and I when he walks into the courtyard. “If you have anything to say to him, do it now.”
It’s a rare favor given under these circumstances. We won’t take it for granted.
I step aside so Tolya can have the first say as the eldest. He walks over to where our father is on his knees, gagged and bound.
I’m not sure what I expect Tolya to say. Thank you? At least I’m out now?
No meaningful words are spoken. All he does is spit at the ground in front of Oleg, mutter a curse in Russian, and stalk back over to me.
Fair enough.
Between the two of us, I’ve always been the more talkative one.
“I’d say this is a surprise, but let’s be honest.” I crouch in front of Oleg so we can at least see each other eye to eye. Probably for the first and last t
