Page 16 of Kazimir

The door swung open, and a woman entered, carrying a tray. She was shorter than Amara, with a wild mess of copper hair and a patchwork of tattoos on her arms. She set the tray between us with the efficiency of someone used to serving people way scarier than me.

On it: a steak, mashed potatoes with a lake of gravy, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and a glass of water beaded with condensation. There were real forks and knives, clearly of high quality.

Kazimir gestured at the plate. “You look hungry. Eat.”

I hesitated, then took a forkful of potatoes. They were so good I almost moaned.

He watched me, but not in a cruel way. There was a strange patience to it. “Nobody comes to me with a need and leaves the same.”

I swallowed, almost choked, then laughed. “So this is like the Salvation Army? Do I get toys at Christmas too?”

“A full belly is the best I can do.”

I dug in. When I tried to cut the steak, my hands shook. Kazimir noticed, picked up the knife, and with quick efficiency had the meat divided into perfect, bite-sized pieces.

I should have been humiliated. Instead, I felt cared for in a way that made my throat tight.

“I’m not usually this pathetic,” I mumbled, spearing a piece.

He shrugged, as if he’d seen worse. “You are malnourished. No shame.”

I nodded. “Guess I’m lucky you don’t run a salad bar.”

He smiled for real that time, sharp and surprising.

Yuri watched everything from his post, but I could tell his mind was elsewhere—already tracking my mysterious stalker, or maybe weighing the threat I posed to Kazimir’s club.

I finished half the steak before I slowed. I’d never eaten anything so good, and it made my eyes water.

Kazimir poured more water into my glass. “Where do you sleep?”

“Efficiency apartment,” I said. “Month-to-month. No lease.” I shrugged. “It’s not much, but it’s the best I can do.”

“You are alone there?”

I nodded, then frowned. “Is that relevant?”

“Everything is relevant,” he said, but gently. “You are not safe, Devon. You were followed tonight. I bet you have been followed before.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “Probably. But nothing bad’s happened. I mean, until now.”

He shook his head. “You do not understand this city. It is not safe for people like you.”

I bristled. “People like me?”

He considered his words, as if weighing them on a hidden scale. “You are different. You know this.”

I looked down at the table. “I used to hope it was temporary. The amnesia, the weird feelings. But I’m starting to think I’m stuck.”

“You are not stuck,” Kazimir said. “You are… found.”

I nodded as a knot formed in my throat.

We fell into silence, but it was less awkward now. I ate the rest of the steak, mashed potatoes, and all the bacon. I left the asparagus. Kazimir raised an eyebrow.

“Why not the green?”

“It makes my pee stinky,” I said, deadpan.