I wait a beat.
“Just kidding. Keep going.”
“Please, I only know of someone, but not a name.”
“Oh,” I perk up. “So you know someone.”
“Yes! Yes! Someone powerful! Someone with money and weapons and connections! But I don’t know his name - I’ve never met him! Dato keeps him hidden!”
“And that’s supposed to be fucking good enough for me?”
“It’s all I have!”
I sigh and look at Oksana. “Keep going. I want to see if she can handle the whole hand. You know, like fisting, but way less fun for everyone involved.”
“No!” Salome screams. “Please! He told you everything he knows!”
I just smile at her. “Maybe. But I’m having too much fun to stop now.”
The third finger comes off without a signal, and Tornike’s scream is weaker as he starts to fade. I walk over and slap his face lightly. “Come on, buddy. Stay with me. We’ve still got two more to go.”
Into the blender, followed by the sound of the blades and the pour, another glass of pink liquid is brought to Salome. She doesn't even fight this time when Nadia holds her head. She just drinks, vomits, and cries.
“You’re getting really good at this,” I tell her. “Practice makes perfect. Keep this up, and you’ll be a pro at taking things down your throat. Your husband would be proud.”
The fourth finger follows, and then the thumb. “Last one! Home stretch, folks,” I say as the thumb goes into the blender. Salome drinks it down and passes out in her own filth, her body finally going limp against the restraints. I look at Tornike’s hand - it’s just a bloody stump now, dripping rhythmically onto the concrete.
“So, who is backing Dato?”
“I don’t... know his name...” he whispers. “Someone... powerful... Dato respects him... That’s all... I swear...”
I study his face. “He’s telling the truth.”
“Which means,” I say, watching the relief flood his face for a split second, “that you’re completely fucking worthless to me.”
The relief disappears. I walk over to the corner where Davit is sitting. He looks up at me with wide eyes, and I give him a smile.
“Hello, Davit. Do you like games?”
He nods slowly. I hold out my hand. “Good. I have a really fun game for you. Come with me.”
“Don’t touch him!” Tornike’s voice is barely a whisper. “Don’t... my son...”
I ignore him. Davit takes my hand, and I walk him over to Paul. “Give me your gun.” Paul hands it over. I crouch down to Davit’s level and show him the weapon. "Do you know what this is?" I ask.
He nods slowly.
"Have you ever held one before?"
He shakes his head, his eyes glued to the metal.
"It's okay," I say, giving him a small smile. "I can teach you. I'll show you exactly how it works."
His eyes light up at that, a flicker of genuine interest cutting through the fear.
“Alexei, no!” Salome is conscious again. “No... please... he’s just a child...”
I hand Davit the gun. It’s heavy in his hands, but he holds it carefully. “Wow, you’re a natural. Do you want to help your daddy?”