Sorry, guys, I know it's been a while...what can I say? Life. But, I promise you all I haven't given up on this fic and to prove it I've got a little surprise for you all ;)
"Adrian, if you're trying to keep me hostage I can tell you now it's not going to work." He'd already made me two drinks, and was in the middle of mixing another. I was starting to question if he was trying to get me drunk to have his way with me. Though, if he was, he'd need something a lot stronger than screwdrivers. After a couple years of consistent drinking, and my few deplorable blackouts, it was safe to say my tolerance had grown immensely. Even still, I was nowhere near as dependent as he was. With just the few drinks he had made for himself, he managed to empty half a bottle of whiskey already.
He sighed exasperatedly.
"Are we really not going to talk about—"
"No, drop it!" My voice was mere decibels away from becoming shouting. He flinched slightly. If the glass between my fingers suffered anymore pressure, it was sure to shatter. I was tired of going in these circles with him. He'd ask about my episode, I wouldn't tell him, he'd change the subject, we'd talk for a little bit, and then it was back to what happened. Full circle. It was starting to cause pins and needles in my temples. Part of me wished I could confide in him. Adrian wasn't just my bed buddy. He had become one of my closest, and only, friends. But, his persistence was really pissing me off. For once, why couldn't he take a hint?
"I'm just worried about you, Rose. You don't know how scared I was seeing you like that and not knowing shit about how to help. I was terrified." His voice dropped barely above a whisper. I'd been trying hard not to look him the eye since we got our clothes back on, but the pain in his voice couldn't be ignored. I turned to meet his eyes and immediately regretted it. The anger I'd been feeling was smothered by guilt. I'd never seen someone look at me with such anguish and concern. I'd had people beg me for their lives before with similar looks, minus the concern, sure. But never was such emotion directed toward me. Even though I wasn't meant to care for Adrian romantically, and still stupidly allowed myself to start to, I couldn't deny that he was someone of importance to me. He was begging me to tell him something, anything, to reassure him that it was going to be alright. That I was going to be alright. Even if I had explained everything, I still wouldn't be able to give him that. With what I was about to do, I wasn't even sure myself that I could escape the shit storm coming this time.
I quickly looked away hoping he wouldn't see how much I was hiding from him. Hurting him hurt just as bad as hurting Lissa, but it's how it had to be.
That's all I seem to know how to do lately.
"I really need to go. I'll see you later, Adrian." I hastily grabbed my jacket and bolted toward the door. Thankfully, he didn't follow but something told me I'd be receiving quite a few texts from him later. Had I stayed a second longer, I feared I really might've just told him everything. Tears stung the back of my eyes. I used to love my job and working with my father. But now the older I got it just got more tiring. Before it was all about the adrenaline, the pride, the money, and the arrogance that came along with killing whoever was unfortunate enough to cross me. Now, I just wanted a simple, quiet morning life. I was never going to truly be able to live a normal life; have friends, find love, start a family... Who would want to stay around me knowing the things I've done?
I couldn't help but chuckle darkly to myself, twenty-four years old and already having a midlife crisis. What were the odds? But, I don't regret the people I've killed. They were trash polluting everywhere they went, and the world was better off without them.
Most of them. Don't get all righteous now.
I only wish it came with less of a cost.
Getting home was a lot shorter than the ride over, since I was in a hurry and took a shortcut. The time to call Baba and get this over with was now. It was getting late where he was, they were seven hours ahead in Antalya, but this was urgent. He could suffer losing some sleep.
I put Leon back in the "garage" and started the walk home. The closer I got to the building the more this heavy, sinking feeling set in the pit of my stomach. Something was wrong. I didn't know what, but I didn't like it. After spending so long learning how to sense people's intentions, predict their movements, and track them you develop this sixth sense almost. Mine hadn't failed me yet. Definitely turned out to be the worst day to have left without a weapon. Looking around, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Old lady walking her dog, couple on a stroll, group of girlfriends stumbling into their building, etc. Despite it being New York, my street was actually pretty quiet usually. Not surprising considering how much it cost to live in this area. That only meant whoever was here, knew what they were doing. And they weren't leaving without doing what they came to do.
If they think it's going to be easy they're in for one hell of a rude awakening.
My suspicions were confirmed when I got to my door, which was left cracked open. There was no light peeking from behind the door, so I could only assume they were hoping to get the drop on me. Rookie mistake. Luckily, my doors were always well hinged and oiled for this very reason. I slipped in without a sound. I knew my apartment well enough that getting around in the dark was child's play. I certainly didn't have eyes like Vahşi or anything like that, but I could get around well enough to avoid tripping over a chair and busting my ass. From what I could see, there was nothing out of place inside. No tables bumped, chair moved, pillows misaligned, nothing. Whoever was here was someone I knew. Someone who knew my place well enough to get around. Vahşi hated strangers, and men normally, so anyone who managed to break in would've had to deal with her first. I didn't smell blood coming from anywhere, so that was written off. Passing through the kitchen the faint, earthy smell of wood, flowers and cocoa caught my attention. A scent I knew all too well; Vintage Narcissus Wuyi Oolong was only one person I knew that was willing to waste $6,500 on tea.
"The polite thing to do is at least call before you break into someone's house." I called up the stairs. Pavel revealed himself coming out from my weapons room, most likely, and started down. A mug in his hand, and a smile on his lips. Some threat.
"With all due respect, you're the last person I'd take lessons of proper etiquette from." I ignored his remark, turning on the living room light and waved towards a seat on the couch across from me. Despite knowing there was no immediate danger, I couldn't find it in myself to relax. There was no point in wasting time, we both knew he wasn't here for a friendly visit. And frankly, I wasn't feeling real confident about what was meant to happen in the near future, so I was desperately hoping for a real plan update.
"I hope the old man sent you with more information than that pamphlet Sydney brought." The smile on his lips vanished as it fell into a hard line. It would be straight business from here on out.
"Well, Rosemarie, I'm afraid this is going to take more than just a file on recent sightings. Your father wishes to see you. Now. You have twenty minutes to pack a bag, I'll be waiting in the car downstairs." If my jaw clenched any harder I probably would've snapped it in two. He had some nerve. Five years. It's been five years since that asshole even thought of seeing his own daughter, and now suddenly I'm being summoned because his majesty asks of me. For a job.
"Fine. I'll be down." He left without a second glance, most likely sensing the inevitable uproar brewing within me. The second he was out I sight, a plate shattered against the wall. Thrown by me. Thankfully, he was long gone so he hadn't heard the disturbance. Or, he just knew better than to bother me when I clearly needed my own space. Either way, I was grateful. Vahşi then made her appearance, once again weaving herself through my legs. I bent down slightly opening my arms, which she gladly jumped into. Her body started to quiver as purrs rippled throughout her muscles. I snuggled her closer to my chest, letting her purring work its magic on my own tensed muscles. They loosened up and I was much more relaxed.
"How do you do it?" I asked pecking her on the nose. She meowed, licking my hand with her barbed tongue and returned to the floor. Making her way over to curl up on the couch, as if her work was done. I laughed. Who says cats don't love their owners?
Probably wasn't going to be gone any longer than a day or two, so it took me half the time he gave me to pack. Most of the time was spent coaxing Vahşi into her cage. Traveling wasn't exactly one of her favorite past times. Plus I highly doubted Lissa would've been open to me calling after a day of not speaking to ask her to feed my cat, even though she loved Vahşi dearly, and I had a feeling Adrian needed his own space right about now. And he was skeptical enough, so the last thing I needed was him sneaking around while I'm gone.
But, it's not like she was burdening me. The real reason I wanted to bring her along was because Abe isn't a real big fan of cats. Not sure if it's allergies or what, but he's sworn to keep far away from them. And the feeling was mutual for Vahşi, also not entirely sure why, so this was going to be an interesting visit for everyone. I smiled evilly to myself. We'll see how long he wants me to stay. I still remember the first time I took her to visit. Let's just say I'm pretty sure he had some pants to dispose of later that on day.
"Well, Baba, you don't have to worry anymore cause I've finally found someone to keep me company in New York."
Pavel, at the sight of our sudden addition, grimaced.
"You know how your father feels about...those." My smile only grew as I placed her behind my seat.
"Why, what ever do you mean? And it'd be completely irresponsible to leave my dear pet to starve while I'm gone on such short notice. I'm sure Baba will understand." He chuckled nervously.
"I swear I haven't seen two people that butt heads like you two since the last time I saw my ex-wife. I knew nothing about this."
—Δ—
I'd forgotten how beautiful home was. Antalya is a coastal city right on the southwestern edge of Turkey, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. We used to live in Instanbul when I was born, but the old man grew tired of all the buzz from tourists coming in and wanted to raise me in a more private area. He still owns the house we have there, but we liked living out here a lot more. Tourists still visit on account of the "Turquoise Coast" as they call it, because of how bright and blue the waters are, but nowhere near as much as Instanbul. And he managed to find a very nicely sized house right at the edge of a hill overlooking a beach. Also bought the land surrounding it for good measure. So, it was definitely private. A gorgeous house really, practically a mansion, with four floors and a basement. There were over ten bedrooms, six bathrooms, a huge dining room, spiral staircases, marble floors, and every other luxury you'd expect in a mansion. He even had a home theater built in. I remembered playing hide and seek for hours running throughout the vast halls and countless rooms, eating at a table that I once thought was endless, playing on the beach and watching the sun set over the ocean every night from my balcony. It was like a dream. But, now after living in my one bedroom loft comfortably, it all just seemed like a waste of space. Especially for one man. Though I had a feeling he stayed here because he couldn't bear to part with the place I was raised in. They home they raised me in. Together.
Pavel brought my bag in and I carried Vahşi. While it looked the same on the outside, it certainly didn't feel the same on the inside. Walking through the halls, and upstairs to my father's study I could feel how desolate our house had become. The day my mother died I lost both my parents. Despite how young I was when it happened, I could tell something changed within my father. Something died. He never really loved the same after that. It was like he only had so much left to give and the rest was kept locked away. Not that I blamed him. I was no better.
He sat away from the door in his office, which made it all the easier for me to sneak up behind him with Vahşi. After all these years retired from killing he had really lost his edge. Pavel was struggling to hold in his laughter behind me as I crept across the room to place her on gently on his desk. Glancing over his shoulder, I caught sight of the black and white photos he was studying sprawled across his lap. They were of Nathan, most likely his most recent location. I myself had to hold in my laughter as Vahşi skillfully iching her way closer and closer toward Baba, somehow avoiding the disastrous clutter on his desk. When she found the perfect position, she crouched down with her butt high in the air and pounced over his shoulder. Smack into his lap.
"Aman tanrim!" (Good God/Oh my God!) Any rust in his joints was soon forgotten as he catapulted out his chair, pictures coating every inch of the floor. Vahşi bolted back over to me before the old man could flatten her. At this point it was impossible to hold my laughter and I was on the floor crying from how hard I was laughing.
"You're-really-losing your touch, Old Man." I looked up, expecting to see even the smallest ghost of a smile, and was met with the hardest gaze I'd ever seen. Fear wasn't often a word I'd use when in the presence of my father, but right now it was pretty damn close to what I was feeling. His dark eyes were practically black, and there wasn't the slightest bit of warmth in his face. Five years is a good amount of time, but looking at him now you'd think it'd been ten. My father was always a very well kept together man; cleanly shaven, great hair, always in shape, expensively accessorized and eccentrically dressed. He could've easily been mistaken for a man half his age, but now he was one trip down the stairs away from the ER. He had lost a concerning amount of weight, hadn't shaven in what had to be months, and from the deep bags under his eyes anyone could tell he wasn't getting anywhere near a healthy amount of sleep. But, that wasn't what frightened me. It was his eyes. They were empty.
"Rosemarie," His lips a hard line, "When are you going to grow up? Did you forget I called you here on business? This isn't a game, we are about to go to war. I thought you could handle it, given all that I've taught you, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe I put too much faith in you. But what did I expect? You already allowed yourself to be compromised once, and ever since then I've sensed a hesitation in you. A reluctance. You've grown weak." My mouth went dry. Normally I would've spit a never ending number of harsh insults back at him and told him to go fuck himself, but I had none. Had I still been my old, adolescent self I just might've hit him. The fire that eternally drove me had extinguished. I hadn't felt so small since...well, I was small. He bent down to pick up the pictures scattered across the floor, without so much as a second glance my way.
"Rose, why don't you go unpack? Your father and I need to discuss boring business." I hadn't realized Pavel had returned until he was picking me up off the floor and escorting me out of the room. The sympathetic look he gave me said he'd heard more than enough to know I was all but okay. Pavel to the rescue once again, like always. I dropped Vahşi off in my room, making sure to close the door before she found anymore trouble, and decided to go for a run on the beach to clear my head. Living close to the bridge in New York was nice, but nothing compared to the real thing. There was no place more beautiful than home. Despite that sorry excuse for a man being here, it was my happy place. But, before heading out I found myself taking a detour.
I used to think it was creepy how he kept all her stuff here, like he was waiting for her ghost to come back or something. Now, I couldn't have been more relieved. He kept most of her stuff in their old room, but that wasn't really hers. Don't get me wrong my mom loved my dad, but there was really only one place in this house she could be herself.
Even amidst all the dust and darkness, the pigments were just as lively as the day she painted them. My mother loved painting. It was actually pretty funny since she was known as a hardass, and with my dad's line of work she didn't have much choice. But, when she painted it was like she was a completely different person. She was serene, passionate, and unbending. She was free. Even as young as I was, I could tell when she was with Abe she was guarded. As if there was something she had to protect herself from. Starting to think I was the only person who saw who she truly was, even if it was just for an instant...
"Mommy, I was looking for you." We were supposed to play hide-and-seek when she and dad were finished talking, but she never came to my room like she said she would. Instead, I find her halfway across the house. I ventured over on a whim, I didn't actually think there was anything here since we hardly used even half the space in this house. When I entered the room she seemed startled at first, but smiled. It was a brilliant smile that lit the entire room.
"What's all this?" The room wasn't very big, compared to the others in our oversized home, but it was filled wall to wall with paintings. All were different sizes and shapes, but held the same central theme. I couldn't recognize the place they were depicting, but it was clear each were within the same vicinity of one another.
"Oh, just...home." She picked me up in her arms and took me on a tour around the room. I'd seen paintings before, there were a few pretty expensive ones that decorated our walls, but none of them were as beautiful as these. Looking into each one was like looking out a window. I'd never been to this place in my life, but through the paintings it felt like I knew it so well. Glancing over at her, I saw her smile had fallen a little. There was something more pressing that caught my small mind's attention, however.
"But, we're home now. This is our home, with Baba. Right?" She chuckled, lightly stroking my cheek.
"Of course it is, Rose, but you know Baba and I both had our own homes before we met each other." This was news to me since we'd never talked anything about the past or our family or anything. It was just us here in this big house, isolated from the world.
"And, my home was beautiful. I didn't live in a big house like ours now, but I was just as happy and my parents loved me just as much as your father and I love you. I didn't get to see my father as much as you do, but when I did he taught me everything that makes me who I am. He was in the army and taught me how to fight, how to hunt, how to survive. But, most importantly, he taught me how to be strong. Never let anyone stifle you, Rosemarie. No one. Roses have thorns for a reason."
I never met that Janine again, it didn't help that she was killed soon after. That day her eyes were just as fiery as her unruly, red hair and I never forgot that expression. Even at such a young age it sparked something in me. I wanted to be just as strong, just as passionate, just as lethal as she was. There was so much I didn't know about her that I wanted to. After that whenever Baba was busy, and I was supposed to be studying with Pavel, I started following her around, and to say I was surprised by the new person I met would be an understatement. Around 5 o'clock every evening, right before it was time to cook dinner, she'd go out to the shed at the back of the house we used for storage. Or at least, what I thought was used for storage. She had her own personal training space inside complete with a punching bag, dummy targets, weapons rack, and plenty of equipment for strength training. Every day I followed her out there and watched her train, for what reason I didn't know. But by how intense and focused she was doing it, I could tell she loved it. She moved so fluidly and gracefully as if this was what she was born to do. Hathaway women truly were dangerous. She was the reason I started training and learning how to fight, but I never told her. I knew this was a secret she wanted well kept, and I respected that.
I only wish I could talk with her about it now...
I took one last, longing look around the room and finally composed myself. How could I let him get to me like that? Since when did I care what he thought of me? Or anyone else for that matter. There was one thing he was right about though, this was just another job I needed to do. But, when it was over, so was I. He'd have to find someone else to blindly do his dirty work.
I made my way back over to his office and bumped into Pavel just as he was exiting.
"Oh, Rose, I was just coming to get you." He offered me a small smile, but I wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. When I entered the room, my father was still sitting on the same high horse as when I'd left.
"Look here, Old Man, only reason I'm here is because of this job. I assumed you asked me here because you had some urgent information for us to discuss that wasn't safe being sent overseas, so here I am. Don't think for one second that I need you because I don't. You need me. But, if you'd like to take this job on your own be my guest. Obviously you don't or else I wouldn't be here. So, remember I've been doing this without Daddy holding my hand for a while and sure as shit don't need it now. So, be a good informant like you usually are, and stay the hell out of way. Whatever new information you have you can leave it at my door, or tell Pavel and we will go over the details. You and I have nothing else to discuss." Before leaving I reveled in his clenched jaw and outraged expression.
Hurts falling from that high, doesn't it?
Pavel gave me a stern look that said he'd be coming to scold me later, I shrugged it off. Old Man had it coming. On my way back to my room, I couldn't help but grin to myself. Maybe some good did still come out of this trip after all.
Dimitri POV
"You do understand what this means for us, don't you?" I'd been in Galina's office for hours while she went over her plan for finally taking down the serpent once and for all. Frankly, I did understand her vision, but it couldn't have been any less of a mistake in my eyes. Her plan was to play Nathan, that part I fully welcome, thus giving Zmey an opportunity to take him out and then we'd be free to retaliate when they least expected it. However, there were multiple holes in her plot. One, he's too smart to not know that killing one of our major American distributors would force us to respond. Two, starting this war would cause nothing less of a battle royale. Once people hear that Zmey and Galina are finally at odds, there's nothing stopping them from trying to take this as their opportunity to take one, if not both of them, out and rise to the top. If this was to be done, it needed to be done under the radar and not made some full spectacle. But, she never wanted my input on anything before, so I knew she wouldn't suddenly start wanting it now.
I don't know why I can't shake the feeling that she's not telling me everything...
"Yes, хозяин. I understand."(Boss). She smiled at my obedience and motioned for me to come to her. When I approached her desk she stood up and reached to cup my face with both hands.
"I can always count on you." I suppressed a gag as she kissed me on my cheek awfully close to the corner of my mouth. Back when she was living a semi-honest life, though now that I know her I'd say it was most likely a cover, Galina was my mentor at school. The older I got the more she seemed to have no problem blurring that line. Frankly, it was revolting. She never tried anything serious, thank God, but that made it no less inappropriate. Thankfully that was my dismissal, I all but ran from her office. And just my luck, the greatest pain in my ass was waiting outside.
"So, how'd it go?" From the Cheshire grin on his face it was obvious he already knew.
"Not now, Aleksei." The last thing I was in the mood for was his childish attempts at provoking me.
"You know, it wouldn't kill you to give that stick up your ass a break once in a while. I'm sure it could use a rest too, and that's exactly why I'm doing my best friend duty and taking you out for a drink. Hopefully some action too, God knows you could use it. How long has it been anyway? Since you and Tasha broke up." I took several deep breaths, pinching the bridge of my nose. I loved Aleksei like a brother, but he was really asking for it sometimes.
"First, I can think of countless reasons why that's none of your business. Second, I'll pass. And you should really lay off that bar, you know what happened last time. If you come to ask me about anymore rashes, you won't have to worry about getting them anymore. Or anyone else for that matter." He paled at my implication, but nodded in understanding.
"Fine. But, I will be stopping by later. I know when something is going on with you, and you of all people should know how much of a pain I can be when I want to be." He pulled me in for a hug, thankfully without another word, and went on his way. No matter how annoying he could be sometimes, I was happy to have him still in my life. He was the only family I really had left, seeing as he was Ivan's cousin. Still find it hard to believe they weren't brothers with how alike they were sometimes.
Normally, I'd go for a run to clear my head, or pace around my room till I had some kind of solution to my problem, but I was too tired for either of those. Aleksei was right about one thing, I needed a break. For now, I'd have to settle with reading. I hung my duster up by the door and grabbed the book off the nightstand. We weren't really allowed to go that far, so the old West was about the farthest I'd ever get. Plus, my books were one of the few things that kept me sane in this place. Since Galina kept us living in some very nicely furnished suites, complete with kitchen areas, living here was a little more bearable. But, no matter how much you spruce it up a cage is still a cage. And I grew tired of mine years ago.
I made the mistake of reading in bed and soon lost the battle with my fatigue.
The longer I walked the more I started to realize Mama might've been right about grabbing a coat before I left. Winter was still a little ways away, but the temperature had been dropping lower than usual lately. Tonight it was low enough to cause goosebumps along my arms and the hairs to stand up on the back of my neck. This was the last time I'd be leaving in the middle of the night cause Karolina was having rocky road ice cream and dill pickle cravings.
The closer I got to the house, however, I noticed something was off. Usually you could hear Paul screaming, Viktoria and Sonja arguing, and Karolina scolding them from down the block. Now, it couldn't be more silent. I started to think maybe they were sleeping, but Mama would never just go to bed knowing I was still out. Something was wrong. I dropped the grocery bag in my hand and sprinted towards the house. They were sure to leave the door open, so I could at least save time not having to fumble for my keys.
Of course, the door was locked.
"Mama! Karolina! Open the door!" All the lights were off so there wasn't much to be seen inside, but I had this strong unsettling feeling like there was someone else here. And I highly doubted they were lost and just so happened to stumble across our house. My heart was beating so wildly in my chest the sound was deafening. Each second that ticked by was making it harder to keep my composure. Any other situation I'd be checking the perimeter, calculating possible entry points, and looking for signs of intrusion just like we were taught, but this was my family and I didn't have time for proper protocol. I barely had time to think a straight thought. Only thing running through my mind was get in that house. Spotting a large rock a couple feet away from our porch, I found my way in. I quickly picked it up and was reeling back to throw it through the front window when I heard a sound that stopped my heart cold.
A gunshot rang through the house.
Two.
Three.
Then, a haunting scream I'd recognize anywhere. My mother's. Followed by another, and another until they all started to blend together into one shrill shriek of torment.
I had it right there, the rock in my hands ready to shatter the glass, but I couldn't move. Every muscle in my body was frozen, I could barely feel my own chest moving as I exhaled. Only thing I could do was stand there and listen to what could only be the slaughter of the people I loved more than anything in this world, and it was excruciating. My tears burned as they ran down my chilled cheeks. The more I desperately tried to move, the heavier and heavier my body got until I collapsed in a pitiful heap on the ground. The screams and gunfire kept echoing in my mind, splitting my skull. My breathing became erratic as I struggled, and failed, to keep my body under my own control. I was feeling so much all at once; confusion, anger, despair, hopelessness, and an overall aching as if my heart had been ripped from my chest. If I didn't get it together fast, I was going to lose consciousness.
"No, no. This isn't happening. It's not real, it's not real. I won't let this happen." I kept repeating to myself, hoping that if I said it enough it'd become truth.
"Is that really what you tell yourself?" A voice cooed silencing the screams. I didn't need to see her face to know exactly who she was, as if I could ever forget. Just to dig the knife in deeper, she tilted my chin up so we were face to face. Even amidst all the darkness, I saw her deep brown eyes boring into me clear as day. A smile that probably killed men all on its own taunting me. I wanted to look away, but she held me there. The longer I was trapped there in her eyes I started to see through them; images of my family all lying in their beds with a gun pointed between their eyes playing in my mind. It felt so real, I might as well have been the one pulling the trigger.
"You know just as well as I do that you can't save them. Not from me. You can barely save yourself." Before I could so much as blink, she pulled out a blade and cleanly severed one of the arteries in my neck. The last thing I saw before falling into nothingness was her loosely curled hair blowing in the wind.
I shot out of bed clutching at my throat trying to stop the blood loss. It took me a second to register that I wasn't bleeding out on the ground, but in fact still in bed at Galina's estate. No immediate threats here. The thought crossed my mind to call Mama, but I immediately dismissed it. I couldn't risk anyone finding them. Ever. But, it wasn't likely that anyone would seeing as I had them hidden away somewhere even I didn't know. They move locations every couple years, and I haven't spoken to them since their first move. Not that they wanted to speak to me anyway... They don't know what I do, but they know it's not very wholesome and that I'm the reason they can never live peacefully again. A small price, however. I was more than happy knowing they were safe from her.
And me.
Going back to sleep clearly wasn't an option, so it looked like I was going to be working overtime. Not like that was anything new. I stretched the leftover lethargy out of my muscles and was about to sit at my desk when—
"Dimitri! C'mon open up, don't make this hard." Damn.
Maybe if I'm quiet enough he'll go away.
"Don't make me get Tasha. Sure she'd be more than happy to—" Before he could finish that empty threat I was at the door shooting what could only be daggers. He shrunk back slightly, but still kept his smug smirk.
"The infamous Dimitri Belikov, man whose very name causes men to tremble in fear, is afraid of a blue eyed, black haired woman half his size. Sad. Now, you going to let this coffee get cold or what?" He coaxed offering me the steaming tumbler. From what I could smell it wasn't spiked, so I saw no harm in taking it. Lucky for him I urgently needed it.
"Whatever this is, make it quick. I have real work to do." He sighed shaking his head.
"You know one day, Belikov, you're going to meet someone who'll melt that icy heart of yours. I will be right there to say I told you so, and it's about damn time." I rolled my eyes and shut the door behind him. He stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed the files on my desk.
"Her again huh..." It was no mystery that I had something like what you'd call an archenemy. Here she was called Mavka; a female spirit said to entice young men to their deaths. Rosemarie Mazur, daughter of Zmey, had a track record longer than anyone even knew. Her head was up for a huge price ever since she escaped Galina, but no one dared to ever go after her. No one knew much about her except that she was said to be astoundingly beautiful, never missed her target, and was practically bred to kill. No one except me. We'd been playing this deadly cat and mouse game for as long as I could remember. I knew everything there was to know about her fighting styles, weapon preferences, disguises, and tactical maneuvers. Even her weaknesses. And she knew me just as well. We were so evenly matched that every time we crossed paths we'd get a hair short of killing the other. It was infuriating. Not only because I had years of experience on her and it hurt my pride a little to be bested by her, but because it was my fault she escaped from us in the first place. My shortcoming that cost my brother his life...
It went against my morals to kill a woman, but she was the exception.
"Considering she's number one on our priority list and is single handedly responsible for cutting down our personnel, yes. Her again." I growled, more so to myself than him. He took the file I'd just grabbed and pulled a chair over across from me.
"Look, Dimitri, you know I miss him too. More than anyone. And even more than that I want her to pay, but not at the price of your peace. I understand how important this is to you, but you can't let it wreck you. Look at you. When's the last time you had a good nights sleep? Or something to eat other than black bread and coffee?" As much I hated to admit it, it was possible he was right. Rose was always top of my list, but for the past year she's become the only thing on it. I spent most, if not all, hours of my day figuring out how to track her down. When I wasn't doing that I was either speaking with Galina, or training the new hired guns. And I couldn't deny that I hadn't been taking the best care of myself lately. But, I just couldn't bring myself to take a break. I owed it to Ivan.
"I can't rest while she's still out there. And this isn't some obsession, in case you forgot it's my assignment. Galina expects me to terminate her, and with how many times I continue to fail she's losing patience." He snorted.
"As if she'd get rid of you. You and I both know she'd keep you around as her personal plaything before that." I shuddered at the thought.
"Even so. This has to be done, and depending on how Galina's plan works out I might actually have her this time. It'll finally be over."
"Well, don't hold out on me now." Aleksei wasn't exactly a killer, but he definitely had enough knowledge of the business.
"Galina plans on using Nathan as bait to force Zmey into play. Obviously he'll send Rose to kill him, and being one of our most valuable—"
"Galina will have free reign to counter and potentially take him out." Still surprised me how quick he was without having any experience. If I was to ever need a partner, he'd be the first one I called.
"Exactly." His brows furrowed and I could practically see the gears turning in his head as he connected the same pieces together that I had earlier.
"But with the two of them fighting to be king of the hill, won't that just stir up the smaller competition? What's to stop them from intervening? Or worse banding together." That last thought actually hadn't occurred to me. What if the smaller operations decided to cooperate? There weren't a whole lot of them here in Russia specifically, but if they decided to storm the castle together we might have a serious problem. But, then again, what did I care? Matter of fact, that might just be the opening I've been looking for.
"Aleksei, you're a genius! That's exactly what we need." He looked at me as if I'd grown a third eye.
"Did I give you the wrong cup? There might've been a little something extra in there."
"No, listen, this could be our chance. While Galina sends me and Nathan out into play, I need you to send out anonymous messages to every dealer and illegal distributor we have on file. Rile them up, get them to organize and when they attack we make our move out of here. Galina will be too busy hiding, and she'll expect me to be on the front anyway. By the time it all ends we'll be long gone." He took a moment to process everything I just laid out. Frankly, this was probably the best chance we'd ever get at leaving this place. Aleksei and I were both forced into this life, we never had a choice. For years I've been waiting to finally get out from under Galina's thumb, and not just for me. There was one person in particular I needed to keep safe...so far, I've been failing miserably. But, if this works out we could be free. May not be able to live a completely normal life with my reputation, but it'd certainly be better than selling my soul. With how long it's been I'm not even sure how much I have left to salvage.
"Even if this works, and that's a big if, where do we go? And what about Rose?"
"I was thinking Europe. We have some status there, but not nearly as much as here and America. And as for Rose, I have to take her out when she moves to kill Nathan. It's the best place since she's coming to me. Otherwise, we'll most likely lose her." He stood up and started to pace for a little bit. I could understand his anxiousness. This was a huge gamble we were taking. I'm sure we were sharing similar thoughts.
What if they didn't take the bait?
What if we were spotted during our escape?
What if Galina caught word of our plan?
The last one wasn't that likely, but if it were to happen we'd certainly be put through a fate worse than death. If this was a monarchy, and it practically was, we were about to commit high treason. In the United Kingdom the penalty was life imprisonment, we could only hope to be so lucky. Me especially. There was a lot to lose, but I had faith in this plan. There wasn't much we personally had to do besides get the ball rolling, so as long as we made sure there was absolutely no way to trace it back to us we'd be fine. He was better off, I was the one with the hard part. Taking down Rose once and for all. This time, however, the odds were in my favor since she has no idea I'd be there. I have the advantage, and I wasn't going to let her slip through my fingers again.
"Galina isn't sending Nathan and I out until next week, so you have some time to get everything together. I'll send word as soon as Nathan is out of the picture, and when I do you send the messages out. Then, we just sit back and wait for everything else to fall into place." He shook his head, chuckling.
"Call me a fool, but alright. I'll do it. I'm trusting this plan. I'm trusting you. I sure hope you know what you're doing, Dimitri."
That makes two of us.
"Well, I've got work to do. Ill keep you updated. Get some real rest, I'm serious. You're going to need as much as you can get." He pulled me in for another hug, this one tighter than earlier. When he pulled back he placed his hand on my shoulder, which was amusing since I had a good couple inches in height on him.
"We got this." He smiled, and for a split second he was the spitting image of Ivan. They already looked a lot alike, same blonde hair and light brown eyes, but sometimes it was uncanny. And he acted so much like him; same charm, charisma, quick thinking, and unmatched ability to annoy anyone to death or themselves into a beating. It was still hard to believe they were only cousins.
I couldn't help but smile in return. Something I hadn't genuinely done in a long time.
When he left it was just her and I once again. Like always. These were the same pictures and files I'd seen time and time again, but each time felt just like the first. Just as disappointing, confusing, and infuriating. I've allowed her to get away with too much, but this time she would finally atone for what she's done. Maybe then I could finally get past it...and her.
Have you guessed the surprise? It's essentially two chapters in one, to make up for the long break I made this one twice as long as a regular chapter. Hopefully it's still as good. Now we've got Dimitri in the mix and Ivan's brother! Please let me know what you think of Aleksei, and the rest of the chapter. I'll update as soon and as often as I can. I promise the big confrontation is coming soon *rubs hands together menacingly*
Until next time and I hope everyone is having a good start to their week!
