Debtor's War

"I want to buy her a room," I said. "How much?"

Hannah shook her head nervously, "I don't know."

"Yes you do. I'll pay double, make it happen."

"Miss Gerta won't like it."

Fuck that. An eerie sense of calm descended on me.

I pressed a solid silver crown into the girl's palm, "Silver or steel, she can take her pick. I need to talk to my sister."

Hannah blanched. She dropped a little curtsey and hurried off to fetch Madame.

Gerta wasn't smiling anymore. "Did you just fucking threaten me in my own house?"

My anger flared to match hers, I struggled to temper my reply. "Isn't my coin good enough for you?"

"Stojan, take this upstart shit bag outside, she's barred."

Despite his line of work he was a careful man. He positioned his bulk between us and the customers.

"With all due respect, can both of you calm down?"

She rounded on him with fire in her eyes. "Do your fucking job, cripple! I don't pay you for advice."

He lowered his voice, took a firm hold of her arm, and spoke calmly. "Your funeral, Gospodyni. Mine too, or maybe just toy for rats."

She shook him off her arm. He put his hand up in case she struck him but she didn't. She sized me up properly this time. This was the first chance I'd had to do the same to her.

"We good?" Stojan asked.

"Prick," she spat.

He slinked off closer to his spot by the door but kept his eye on us.

"Keep your shitty coin. What do you want with her?"

"Seriously? You think I'd hurt my sister?"

"She doesn't need your kind of trouble, none of us do."

"We obviously got off on the wrong foot, I'm sorry I got angry."

"Don't you ever threaten me or my girls again."

"I won't, I'm sorry."

Her tight lips softened a touch but her eyes remained pure flint. "Come. I'll show you upstairs. Stojan, bring her."

The big man hoisted Claudia up onto his shoulder and followed behind us. I knew that dreamy look on her face. She couldn't have walked if she'd tried.

I followed Madam Gerta, walking behind her up the stairs I got a good view of her fine leather shoes and the hem of her skirts and petticoats. And Stojan, older, muscular, submissive to her, devoted to her. I pictured him crawling beside her, face hooded, everything else on show. I knew I was on thin ice, I didn't know the rules of this game at all.