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The girl changed her tone, and he suddenly felt sorry for her. He stopped and rubbed his forehead with his hand, then looked at her and asked, – and what do you think you will do next, run from him through the woods?

– I want to go back to America.

– Do you have your documents?

– I have only my internal passport with me, but my international passport I left at home.

He smirked faintly and added, – Well, it's for the best, you won't waste money on tickets. They will catch you at the airport as soon as you get there. So you don't have a lot of options.

She leaned back in her seat and stared at him intently. She smacked her tongue, and in a husky voice she said, – There is one win-win option.

– You look at me so strange, Nadia …

– I em… do not have a lot of money now, but in the near future, I assure you, will repay you in excess, if you agree to help me. And tell me your name, please.

– Spartacus, – replied the lad.

– Spartacus?

– Spartacus, – he repeated.

– Not an ordinary name for a country guy… but you're a bit different, though.

He grinned again and turned away. Then he spoke softly, – my father give me that name, after the hero of the book, that one. He liked the Thracian very much.

– I should read it, – Nadia said aloud her thought.

He glanced at her again, and after a pause, asked, – So what shall we do? It's late, – he glanced at his wristwatch.

– Spartacus, marry me?!

– What?

– Not for real, – she added as she leveled herself slightly in her seat, – and on credit.

– Today is a day full of oddities. Nadezhda, this plan is a failure. I can't help you that way, I'm sorry, – he replied, and turned his head to the side again.

– Well, look, I'll go to America and we'll get a divorce. My father will forgive me and I can thank you. I'll pay you a lot of money. You can get away from here, start a new life, – she lured him, – or do you want me to take you with me to America?!

– Or I'll just go to jail for complicity in fraud, – he added, not responding to her suggestions, – I'm sorry, that's out of the question.

She snickered quietly. The resentment wiped all interest from her and she immediately turned away, asking in a half-voiced voice, – How long is the drive to Krasnodar from your Rogosovka?

– It'll take about two hours on this jalopy.

– Would you be so kind as to wake me up when we get there?

Then she covered her eyes and took a comfortable position and closed her eyes.

Spartacus shook his head slightly and started the engine.

Towards the entrance of the city, he called out to her. She immediately turned her head in his direction.

– You hadn't slept?

– I was.

– Doesn't look like it. Okay, where do we go from here? It's already midnight, I have to go back.

– Do you know Krasnodar well?

– Not bad, – he answered.

– Then to some normal hotel, I have money, – she said and turned her head out the window again.

– Stop. What hotel?! Give me the address of your home, and don't be silly, – he ordered.

– I'm afraid we can't get there in your jalopy!

– Where? Leave Chicago now, okay?!

– My father lives in Moscow, I came here by train, – she answered. – And I'll leave the same way. Tomorrow, – her voice was barely audible by the end.

Spartacus pulled over to the curb and stopped. He got out of the car, slammed the door, and began swearing loudly, while banging the wheel of the car with his foot.

– Damn that goddamn stepfather! Well, I'll give you one!

The girl got up and opened her eyes and stared at the furious guy.

After a few minutes he came back and stared at her in silence. She felt as if he was about to drive his fist into her. She cringed and slowly covered her head with hands.

– You're so fool! – he whispered.

– I don't want to marry that idiot! He disgusts me!

– What does this have to do with other people? Your father will be here tomorrow. He will find you and with you, me! And do you know who will be the last? – Spartacus almost roared at her, and he turned away, pressed his lips, punching on the steering wheel. The UAZ responded at once, beeping.

– I didn't call you. And neither did those people who invited me to stay with them. Assholes. Took all the information out of me and locked me up in the barn.

Spartacus, clenched his teeth, began to think, quickly looking for a solution to the problem. Uncle Pasha would answer to the full, just to get him home! But what to do with the girl, and how to take the trouble away from himself, and from others? God! Why did he get mixed up with her? He should have stuck his nose where it didn't belong. That's a damned kindness!

He sighed heavily and took his old cell phone out of his pocket.

– What's the number, – he said, trying to be as quiet as possible without raising his eyes.

– Whose?

But the question that followed made him move his gaze to her. He was ready to beat her now.

– Your father's!

– I don't have his number. I can't remember his number by heart. And I lost my cell phone,– she answered, blushing.

– Are you kidding me? – The guy said, barely able to contain his rage.

– Honestly. And don't look for it, please! I don't want to live there! – With these words she covered her face with her hands and began to cry.

He was immediately affected by her crying. In his eyes she suddenly turned into a defenseless little six-year-old girl. He had learned to tolerate many things in his life, but not a woman's tears.

He threw his phone away, leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, cursing quietly again.

– I agree, – he muttered after a few minutes.

She immediately stopped crying and first through her fingers, then lowered her hands and looked at him. Quietly interrogating, – Agree to what?

– To be your husband.

– We'll stay in a hotel, and tomorrow morning we'll go to the registry office. How much money do you have with you? – He asked in a tired voice, starting the engine.