My Russian Hero by Jacee Macguire

herself. She could tell something was on Sergei’s mind but refused to question him about it.
    He kissed her on the hand and stood from the table. “I must head home, Milaya moya.” He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Sleep well.” And then he was gone. Dani remained in the bar, sipping her whiskey sour, wondering how she could be so lucky to find such a hot man on her first day of vacation.
     

“The old law about an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind.”      
    - Martin Luther King Jr.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Dani and Zoe were dressed and ready to spend the morning checking out museums; one thing they hadn’t gotten around to during Sergei’s tour. Everything about their trip was turning out better than Dani could have expected or imagined. A knock sounded at the door as they were grabbing their purses.
    “Who could that be?” Zoe asked.
    Dani shrugged. “I have no idea. Sergei is busy until after lunch.”
    Zoe flipped the latch on the door and opened it. A uniformed delivery man stood there with a dozen of the most beautiful white roses either girl had ever seen and a small box. “Delivery for a Dani McCade.”
    “That’s me,” Dani said, wondering who the roses and package were from. Surely, Sergei hadn’t sent her something but nobody else knew she was here.
    “Sign here, please.” The delivery man held a clipboard and pen towards her.
    Dani quickly signed the paperwork. “Thank you.”
    The delivery man smiled and nodded. “Have a nice day.”
    Zoe and Dani eyed the package with curious looks each taking a moment to smell the gorgeous roses. Neither said a word for several minutes as they looked at the labels adhered to the box.
    “Well,” Zoe said, “maybe it’s a special gift from Sergei. He really seems to like you a lot. Open it! I’m dying to know what’s in the box.”
    “Maybe,” Dani said. “Grab my nail file from the bathroom counter. Let’s see what’s inside.”
    Zoe dashed into the bathroom, returning within seconds, anxious to see what Dani had received. “Here you go. Tear into it already. I’m dying here,” she said, bouncing up and down like a child.
    Dani laughed. “Give me a minute, will you?” She sliced the tape slowly, just to agitate her friend. She slowly removed the beautiful red ribbon – loving the way the material felt as it whisped through her fingers – and flipped the lid of the small box open. She pulled out layers of tissue paper, and then gasped.
    “No!” she yelled, shoving the tiny box across the table away from her, stumbling away from the box, knowing no matter how far away from it she got, it would never be far enough. Tears streamed down her face as the reality of the situation consumed her. He was back, and his twisted game had begun again.
    Zoe looked from her best friend to the little box on the table and then back to Dani, a confused look upon her face. “What is it? You’re freaking me out?”
    Dani could scarcely draw breath, her lungs tight, her throat burning as she sobbed and dry-heaved, collapsing in a panicked heap on the floor. She watched through tears as Zoe approached the box. “Don’t!” she shouted at her.
    “Oh my god! What the hell...” Zoe screeched, as she too backed away from the suddenly horrifying gift box.
    Dani sat on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest, breathing heavily as she wrapped her arms tight around her legs, rocking back and forth, the fear of the note settling around her like a storm cloud. She knew exactly what was coming; well, not exactly, but she had an idea and it wouldn’t be good.
    She looked at Zoe, saw her pale skin and wide eyes. She had seen the… gift, if you could call it that. Inside the innocent-looking box, nestled in tissue paper, sat a human eyeball. She knew from experience that it wasn’t fake. He didn’t do fake. It was real… and it had been removed from… someone. She also knew he wouldn’t keep that part secret. That was part of his game,