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‘Do you know that I was the first one to call you by the nickname solnyshko?’ he asks softly

I shake e of demeanor

He smiles ‘So no one told you the story Well, I called you that because I was at your birth and I saw your head—you were born with a full head of gold hair—appear out of that bitch’s cunt and, I swear, it looked like the sun coht So I called you little sun My little sun Until today you have been my perfect little sun You can ruin it all in one stroke’

‘I just—’

His powerful hands reach out suddenly and grip my shoulders I aht In an instant he pulls me forward until my face is only inches froar he smoked on the way home

‘Think about the people you care for, little sun They all depend on you to survive This one selfless act could mean so much for their future … existence’ He pauses and takes stock of the reaction I a its tongue to sense the vulnerability of its prey

I understand that he has left the most important words unsaid ‘Papa, I can’t—’

‘If you defy me, Tasha, you will leave me no choice Those you love the most will suffer the consequences’

I gasp at the unveiled threat ‘What are you saying?’

‘Who do you love most in this world, solnyshko?’

The loving nicknarotesque Baba, Ma to them I shake my head in disbelief

‘I’ll rub them out one by one’

His words are like a dagger tosense of helplessness I have to freeHe hter How can you threaten me like this, Papa?’

‘I do what is necessary to get what I want’

‘Only a monster could be so cruel,’ I cry tearfully

‘What do you know, you silly girl? You’re nothing more than a spoilt brat’

‘I’m not a spoilt brat’

His eyes flash with annoyance ‘No? You agreed to this alliance And now after you have turned everybody’s life upside down you have changed yourwill stop this alliance You should know I mean every hen I tell you no one you love is safe No one Unless you submit to my wish’

I open my mouth and my father lifts his hand and waves me away as if I have already taken up too much of his time