Falsifier (To Dance with Danger Book 2) by Charlotte Brice

Author:Charlotte Brice [Brice, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charlotte Brice
Published: 2023-11-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter thirty

Porter

Freddie pulls up by the abandoned warehouse. I can just see the corner of the building Edward brought me to after I stabbed Vince. A warehouse graveyard is perfect for mafia interrogations, not for a home.

"I'll wait in the car, shall I?" Freddie mutters, like his only reason for remaining here is to stay clean.

Nico climbs out and walks slowly to the side of the building. The junk piled up makes it hard to get down the side, but Nico knows where to stand, and I follow his lead. I'd guess he made the mess here by piling junk around his route to deter others, rather than working out a way through the mess.

The end opens up into a garden area which has been reclaimed by weeds. Even the small caravan parked in the corner has surrendered to the plant life.

"This is Mama's home," Nico introduces, pulling the stiff door back on its hinges.

"Are you OK doing this now?" Yesterday he could hardly stand; I don’t want him overdoing it now. He shrugs and enters the van. I step inside, focusing on my expression so I don't show my repulsion.

It's as tidy as anyone can keep a run-down mouldy place like this. The front is made up as a bed, and there is a cooker with the door half off the hinges. The cup on the draining board is the cleanest thing in here. There are signs he cleans, with a rag, a toothbrush and an old debit card.

"I try keeping it clean, but I do not come here often enough."

"Well, I'm glad you don't live here."

"No. I live elsewhere."

"Elsewhere? Now there is a word for it." I can't hide my relief. "Is that what you call Gavriil's house."

"No. I call that Gavriil's house." Nico hands me an old metal tin. "That has all my things."

"Nico, where do you live? Where is Elsewhere?"

"It isn't much."

"I didn't grow up with much either," I sympathise with him.

"You may have come from little, but now you have lots. I come from nothing and still have nothing. Is less than nothing. I had use as speaker for Mum and Gavriil. Now is nothing."

"Now you have something. Me. And Knox."

"I ran from gas years ago, but not old enough to buy more so I live with none." Nico turns away from me.

"You ran out of gas?"

"Yes. Maybe only six month after my mum…" He turns away from me, but there is no need to feel embarrassed. I admire him for coping on his own at such a young age. I had so much in comparison, never any cause to really complain.

"That doesn’t matter now. Is there anything else you need?"

"Only a match. Only good thing we do is burn this down."

"I'll arrange a match."

Knox always said Gavriil was looking after him, and Nico says he goes there for showers and dinners, and sometimes when it is really cold, but he always sounds so happy about it. That is where our lives really differ. I had just enough of everything, but I was sad about it.

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