Hi you guys! Here is chapter 10, part 1, or as it is shown, 10.1. This will give you guys an approximate estimate of just how long the chapters are originally but thanks to you guys who have voted, they are divided, so a huge thanks to all of you have made your voice heard! It is because of you guys that there will be an update every two weeks, and there will be a constant update up until end of June because that how much is already done with the story. I am currently busy with chapter 16, but for you guys it will be chapter 21 by the time it gets posted :-)
I know have said this numerous times before, but I will say it again: this is a very long story as I am developing the characters, and because I am trying to keep this story as real as I can, things will not happen overnight, so yeah, Kai and Anastasia will meet but it is going to take time. Also, Kai's true emotions will start coming to light from now, whether good or bad, his true self will be depicted. And again, another warning that I have also given numerous times by now: this is a very dark fic and it contains a lot of dark themes that are not suitable for sensitive people, so you are reading this on your own risk.
Well, lastly I would like to give a very huge thanks to all my reviewers and those that are asking when will the next update be; it really means a lot to me that you guys are anxious to read the next chapter. I also thank each and every reader of this story because your support really means so much to me. Thank you.
On with the story, and enjoy!
Chapter 10.1 – Kai's demise: let the build up begin – Year 1
Most people would prefer to go their entire lives without seeing any type of brutality or intense violence against another human being, including murder, and should they ever happen to witness such a horrendous thing, it will stay with them for days on end, weeks, months and even years, and some may even have to go for psychological help, because they may suffer from horrible nightmares and visions that keep haunting them after witnessing such a horrible scene, whatever it may have been.
Now a days the human race is not built to see very horrible scenes, whereas in the olden times, brutality was considered a way of life, but as the human race has evolved, so has certain things evolved with it, things like what is considered inhumane and what not, what is against the law and what is not, hence why murder is against the law, and that is also why many does not condone it in any way, except maybe the death sentence, but only when that criminal has done unspeakable things to another human being.
Sure, the news is usually full of violence but at least everyone has a choice on whether they want to watch it or not. Many would prefer to live in a life where they are blind to the horrors of the full world, horrors like hunger, war, famine in certain countries, and animal abuse; they would much rather keep themselves busy with unnecessary gossip about celebrities, and in a way, protect themselves by doing this.
Should one witness a murder some hours ago, they would most probably be too petrified to leave their house or maybe even speak about it so suddenly, shock being the main reason for these actions. Fear, shock, disgust, nausea, all these are normal emotions being felt after witnessing another person being killed, but that is not the case with a certain young blonde haired woman at the moment. Just a couple of hours ago she had witnessed how four thugs got killed, and instead of sitting in a cold bath trying to overcome the immense shock, she is sitting with a cup of coffee on her balcony and just watching the residents of Moscow coming to life.
After Anastasia got home from the Goth party and her encounter with Bryan, she went straight to bed, excited no less, because she has found new courage of killing Kai, and she is certain that this Bryan is her answer and her solution to getting her revenge on Hiwatari. The fact that she had just witnessed four murders does not seem to bother her, much less the idea of getting associated with the guy that had just killed the four guys. Clearly it also does not bother Anastasia in the slightest to allow a murderer into her life, because her only goal is to kill Kai, no matter who she has to get involved with in order to get it done.
While still sitting on her comfortable chair with her legs pulled up to her chest and with the cup of coffee in one hand, the other hand holding a picture of Kai, Anastasia has a wicked smile on her face, the smile resulting from the thoughts of putting a few bullets into the head of the man in the picture. The piece of paper that Bryan had handed her is lying on her kitchen counter, the number that she is going to call in a few hours' time and hopefully meet up with him, that is, if he still wants to meet up with her, which she really hope he does; Bryan is her only way now to get to Kai.
It was pure fate that they had crossed paths. She will call the number after she has finished her coffee and had a proper breakfast. Hopefully Bryan will be awake at that time, despite it still being very early in the morning, and she has no idea at what time he may have went to sleep seeing as he was also awake at the same time as she was, and she can't recall seeing Bryan at the party, and neither was he dressed in the Goth attire so he was not at the party.
Anastasia makes herself even more comfortable in her chair after tossing the picture of Kai on to the small patio table next to her, drinking her coffee slowly and enjoying every moment of it while continuing to watch everyone come to life to start their new day.
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It is just past eleven AM and Anastasia is sitting on her couch, the phone in one hand and the piece of paper with Bryan's number in the other hand, and she is anxious as hell. The fact that she is about to contact a killer is not what makes her anxious; it is the fact that Bryan may have changed his mind in the last couple of hours, leaving her once again at a dead end, and she is really tired of ending up that way.
'Get a grip, Grekov; since when are you so pessimistic. Just call the guy, he might not even give you a direct answer now; he did say that we have to meet up, so maybe it is just to confirm the meeting place, so just dial the number already.'
Anastasia takes a deep breath and finally puts in the digits, and only releases her breath when she hears the dial tone. It rings for a few times before someone finally answers.
"Ice Bear Bar, morning."
Anastasia immediately frowns at that name, wondering whether it is the correct number that she had just dialled, but decides to still take a chance and ask for Bryan, or like he said, 'B'.
"Err, morning, sir. I am not sure whether I am at the right place, but I am looking for B."
"Just hold, missy."
Anastasia hears the man suddenly call a name which she cannot make out, but soon enough a deep voice answers her.
"Who is this?"
"Hi, Bryan, it is me, Anastasia Grekov; we met some time ago, actually, we met early this morning."
"If you have any plans for tonight, cancel them because we will meet at nine 'o clock sharp."
"Yeah sure, I have no plans; where will we meet?"
Bryan gives Anastasia the address which she quickly writes down, having no clue where it is but hearing the tone of Bryan's voice, she would rather not divulge that little piece of information; a GPS will most definitely find the place.
"Don't be late," and then Bryan just hangs up, that action immediately pissing off Anastasia.
"You rude unmannered bastard, you could at least have said good bye. I am seriously starting to doubt on whether this was such a good idea. Brawn bastard," Anastasia says to herself while she tosses the phone on to the far end of the couch, her temper still rising with how rude Bryan had just been with her.
"Don't be late," Anastasia mimics what Bryan had said in a mocking voice, "Don't worry, Bryan, I won't be late. I would not want to waste your precious time. Maybe this was not such a good idea, I mean the guy did kill four guys in a matter of a few minutes. What's not to say that he would not do the same to me? But then again, he could have killed me along with those other four guys, or worse, he could have kidnapped me and then have taken me to a secluded cabin somewhere in the frozen tundra of Russia, where he could have kept me as a sex slave, but he did not, and besides, I have a good feeling about this, and by now I have learned to trust my gut feelings because it has never been wrong, no matter how much my mind argues. There are just some things that cannot be argued with. Get a grip, Grekov, you are talking way too much with yourself now a days; soon you will be admitting yourself to the loony bin. Okay, seriously, stop talking!"
Anastasia starts to laugh at herself, which then turns out to be a hilarious laughing session, tears rolling down her face as she continues to laugh at herself because of her scolding herself like that, and after a few minutes passes with some more hilariousness, she finally gets a grip on herself, but still with a few chuckling sounds afterwards.
Anastasia remains sitting on the couch, just lost in her own thoughts. She looks at the clock on the wall and sees the time, twenty past eleven to be exact, and that means that there are still a good couple of hours left before her meeting with Bryan.
'Now what the hell am I going to do till then?'
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It is dark and cold, a miserable weather mood in Anastasia's opinion. She has just reached the place where she has to meet Bryan, and by the looks of it, it is a rundown bar where only the worst of the worst will dare to come and get a drink. There are a few trucks standing outside the bar, but even they give off a very unsettling vibe. The bar is situated on the outskirts of the city, far from proper civilisation, and it is almost an hour's drive from her penthouse. It's a good thing she did some research on where the place is, otherwise she most definitely would have been late now, not a good first impression with a guy like Bryan.
It is five minutes to nine, and after taking a deep breath and then releasing it, and then covering her head with the hood of her hooded jacket, she gets out of her truck and starts making her way towards the bar, her fur boots crunching underneath the snow as she walks towards the bar, her nerves becoming more and more shot with every step she takes.
When Anastasia enters the bar, it is just as she has expected: big burly guys, covered with tattoos, giving off the aura of very bad guys, standing all around the somewhat well-lit bar. She slowly makes her way towards the bar counter after spotting it, but to her surprise, not one of the guys takes notice of her, and she even spots two hugely built women that are involved in a game of darts with two other guys.
Anastasia reaches the bar counter but before she can ask the bartender for Bryan, someone firmly takes her by her right upper arm and whispers into her ear to come with him. She immediately recognises the unknown guy as Bryan, her whole body relaxing at that moment, knowing that now she is at least in the company of someone that she has already met.
Bryan leads her to a private booth where he allows her to take a seat first before taking a seat opposite her, Anastasia finally being able to take a good look at him, and she has to admit, that he is not bad looking at all, he has that rugged attractiveness that can make most women weak at the knees, and he has to be at least five years older than her, maybe even more; she will ask his age later on.
There is no doubt about the colour of his hair, it is lavender, and it just adds to his ruggedness; his hair is sleek and it is almost reaching his shoulder, and surprisingly enough, it fits him; she can't see him with any other style or type of hair right now. His eye colour is almost grey but she cannot be sure, maybe in the sunlight she will able to see the correct colour; his body looks even bigger than before, big muscular arms, definite chest, or as they are commonly known, Pecs, and she is almost certain that he has a toned stomach, completely ripped. He is dressed in all black, no jacket or coat on, making her think that he hangs out in this bar way too much, and that he has to be used to this extreme coldness by now. Over all, Bryan is a real catch; his attitude not so much.
"I see that you are on time, good for you."
"Good evening to you too, Bryan."
Bryan just snorts at that, not even acknowledging the greeting.
"So, Blondie, what is your plan?"
Anastasia is not impressed with that nickname at all, but chooses to ignore it for now; she can scold him later on that.
"What plan?"
"How do you plan on getting to Hiwatari in order to kill him."
"Well, I figured to just fight my way to him after you have taught me all that you know."
Bryan just looks at Anastasia with an expressionless face, slowly starting to shake his head from side to side.
'Unbelievable; she wants to get to the most dangerous mob boss, but she does not even have a plan of action. I am starting to think that I am seriously wasting my time here with this girl.'
"Are you serious about killing the guy or not?"
"Of course I am; how can you even ask that?"
"Because you don't even have a plan of action, and just for your information, you can't just fight your way to Hiwatari, not even with my skills. Not even I will be that stupid to attempt something like that."
"Then what do you suggest, o wise one."
"Drop the sarcasm, kid, or the deal is off."
"Sorry," is all Anastasia whispers and looks genuine with the apology, "What do you suggest then, Bryan?"
Bryan says nothing and instead signals for the bartender to come and take their orders.
"What can I get your lady friend, Bryan? I already know yours."
"I will just have a double shot of vodka on the rocks," that order leaving both men to just look at the blonde haired woman with a look of amusement on their faces.
"What? Don't be fooled by the appearance, boys. I finish a bottle every night, and I know how to handle my drink."
"Good to know; I will be back shortly with your drinks."
Bryan and Anastasia just nod their heads.
"I am still waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"Your plan, Bryan; what do you suggest I do in order to get to Hiwatari?"
"Let's just wait for the drinks, kid."
Anastasia says nothing and just leans back into her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. She looks around the bar some more to get a better picture of where Bryan clearly likes to spend his time seeing as the bartender already knows his drink.
There are various number plates, clearly from all over the world, put up against the wall behind the bar counter; there are various souvenirs, a few animal head trophies, something that is already pissing off Anastasia; there are funny pictures and figurines displayed all over the bar, and even a cockatoo parrot behind the bar, the bird looking quite happy with its environment while sitting on top of his cage instead of being inside; the music is not bad that is currently playing in the background, and overall the bar is very clean. Despite the crowd hanging in here, it looks like a cosy place where there are hardly any problems. So maybe the people in here might not be that bad, but they sure look like ex convicts or ex military men. Anastasia suddenly shudders with the idea of some of them even being ex mob members.
She quickly turns her attention to Bryan who is also just leisurely sitting in his seat, arms crossed over his chest. It is only then when Anastasia notices his tattoo on his left upper that is slightly peeking out from underneath his sleeve. She will never deny the fact that she will always have a weakness for guys with tattoos, they are just her kryptonite. Anastasia is so focused on looking at Bryan's tattoo that she does not notice that he is also checking her out, but only because the girl is constantly staring at him.
"See something you like, kid?" Bryan asks in an amusing tone, bringing Anastasia immediately out of her daze, the young woman quickly turning her attention away from Bryan's arm, and looking Bryan in his eyes.
"Sorry, but I just love tattoos on guys, and I am just trying to figure out what it is that is on your arm."
Bryan leans forward and rests his arms on the table top and then lifts the sleeve, he not missing the look in Anastasia's eyes as they just widen along with the smile on her face.
She can now clearly see the tattoo, the tattoo covering Bryan's entire upper arm. It is a beautiful portrait of an eagle, its wings open and its claws looking like it is about to attack something. Anastasia is so fascinated with the tattoo, that she does not even notice when their drinks arrive; only when the bartender walks away, does she loudly say thank you after him, he just waving his hand in return.
"That is one awesome tattoo; does it have any meaning?"
Bryan leans back in his seat while taking a sip of his drink before placing it back on to the table, and then looks at Anastasia once more, "It symbolises my freedom, that's all."
"That's kind of deep."
Anastasia is so curious to find out more about the story behind the tattoo, but she knows it is wrong to probe into someone's private life, so instead she decides to change the subject, bringing their attention back to Bryan's suggestions on 'the big plan'.
"Now that we have our drinks, what do you suggest I do to get to Hiwatari?"
Bryan just looks at Anastasia, wondering how she will react to what he is about to suggest. She might flip out completely, which will be a normal reaction anyway, but maybe it might also bring her to her senses, she finally realising that she has to forget about getting revenge on Kai, because it is just a suicide mission in his opinion.
"You will have to join his mob, become one of them."
It is a good thing Anastasia does not have vodka in her mouth right now, because she most definitely would have spit it out. Anastasia's jaw just drops, complete shock covering her face, "What...how...how can you even...are you out of your freaking mind?! How the hell can you even suggest something...something so...urgh! I can't even get my head around such a ludicrous idea!"
Anastasia grabs her drink and finishes it in one go, making it look like she had just downed water, Bryan just looking at her with a bored look on his face.
"That's the only way, kid. In order to get to a snake in its own habitat, you have to become a snake otherwise you will get killed. If you don't want to do it, then fine, I am not going to force you. In my opinion, I will be relieved if you forget about this idea of going after Hiwatari, because it is suicide."
Anastasia says nothing and just looks at her glass, Bryan seeing how she is seething with anger, he just looking at how her shoulders are rising up and down quite fast, indicating her chest is also rising like this. Figuring that the conversation is done, Bryan takes his glass and gets up to go and sit at the bar counter, but just as he is about to walk away from the booth, Anastasia stops him, but without calling out his name.
"Fine, I will do it," her voice stern and serious.
Bryan turns around and faces Anastasia, the blonde looking up from her glass and looking Bryan directly in the eyes, her eyes filled with so many emotions, and he just knows that she really is serious in killing Kai. Her eyes are filled with hate, and yet, at the same time they are filled with fire, a fire that seems to have intensified, and a fire that is not going to stop from burning anytime soon. Bryan no longer sees the blonde from earlier; instead, he now sees a tough and determined young woman, a woman he is sure he can transform into a mean killing kick ass machine, that is, if she can handle it.
Bryan goes back to the booth and takes his place across from Anastasia once more, the two still looking each other in the eye.
"I will become a snake, but I need your help.
"I will help you, kid, but it is not going to be easy. It is going to be hell, and it is going to take some time, and I don't mean months."
"I don't care; getting my revenge will be my fuel."
"I will have no mercy, kid, and just because you are a woman will make no difference to me. You will experience pain in places you did not even know you had in and on your body."
"Good, that is how I prefer it, and as for the pain, the pain will drive me more, it will remind me of all the pain that bastard has caused me, so it will keep me going."
Bryan takes another sip from his drink, while still keeping his eyes on Ana, the young woman not showing any sign of doubts about the journey that she is about to embark on.
"I am only going to ask you this one last time, kid: are you sure that you want to go down this road? Do you really want to get involved in that type of world, where blood and murder is a way of life? Do you realise that you will have to become a killer if you want to get to Kai?"
"I don't care; sacrifices have to be made for the greater good, it has been done many times in the past, and it will be done again. If that is the only way to ensure my way to Kai, then so be it."
Bryan leans back into his seat, placing his arms over his head while still looking at Anastasia, who has crossed her arms in front of her.
"Fine, kid, I can see that you are determined to do this, and I were actually hoping that you would drop everything once you hear that you have to join the dark side, but clearly luck is not on my side tonight. First things first, are you fit?"
"Not really, but I can get fit if you want me to."
"You have two months' time. You said that you have money to buy the gym equipment? I will give you a list of what to buy. The weapons and other things I will take care of."
"Weapons?"
"Yes, kid, knives, guns, that shit; how else do you want to fight? A human body can only take so much."
"Sure, no problem; so I take it my training will begin in two months' time?"
Bryan just nods his head lazily.
"I really appreciate all of this, Bryan; you have no idea what it means to me."
"We will see whether you will still feel the same way when the training starts, kid, and just a little warning: if you show any sign of weakness or any sign that I am wasting my time, I am out, and when I am gone, I am gone, got that?"
"Got it."
Anastasia also leans back into her comfortable chair, her eyes meeting Bryan's eyes, she suddenly just smirking at him, he not really understanding what she is smirking at, "What is it, kid?"
"What will your girlfriend say about you training another woman?"
"There is no girlfriend, kid, so don't worry about some deranged woman coming after you. And you, won't your boyfriend mind that you are going to be in the presence of another man, sweaty bodies constantly being in close contact?" Bryan now being the one that is smirking, and Anastasia's smirk is not faltering once.
"No boyfriend, so you don't have to worry about some deranged man coming after you," Anastasia mimicking Bryan's previous words, to which his smirk just broadens.
Just then a woman walks past the booth of the two occupants, she and Bryan immediately locking eyes, she just smiling at him while Bryan only nods his head at her, Anastasia not missing the little private encounter between the two.
"I thought you said you did not have a girlfriend."
"I don't."
Bryan turns his attention back to Anastasia after watching the woman make her way through a door that is situated behind the bar, Bryan seeing how Anastasia is still smirking at him.
"What, kid, for the second time."
"Nothing, only that I suddenly have the craving to have a few strong drinks and to have fun," the gleam in her eye confirming her sudden craving, to which Bryan just raises his glass as if to cheer her on.
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"Our first story for the day is about the scandal that is currently rocking the political world involving Minister Smirnov where he has been caught with two prostitutes inside of his hotel room while busy with visits to St Petersburg.
Minister Smirnov, who is rumoured to run for president in the upcoming elections for the presidential election has not delivered any comment since he had been caught three days ago, his offices saying that he will deliver his statement when he is ready. Rumours are that he is currently in a secluded location with his wife of 33 years, and with their children and grandchildren, as this is a shock to the whole family. His offices have also asked that everyone please respect their privacy during this difficult time.
Photos have already been made public where the Minister can be seen getting very comfortable with two unknown ladies inside of the hot tub that is situated on the balcony of his hotel room, the two ladies now known as two highly paid escorts within the sex trade business. Surveillance can also show that all three occupants were naked while being in the hot tub. One of the prostitutes have been questioned, and she had revealed that they have made a sex tape which she will release in her own time, although authorities have obtained a warrant demanding her to hand it over to the authority.
In the meantime, Minister Smirnov has also withdrawn from the upcoming race of running for president, and he will most likely also withdraw from his position as Minister. It is still..."
The TV goes quiet as it is turned off, Tala being the one that had just switched off the TV, he sitting in the main study of the Feniks manor, with Mr Kournikova.
"Well done, Mr Ivanov. I do not regret it for one moment coming to you guys for help with this little situation. I expect the others to also be this flawless?"
"Of course, Mr Kournikova," Tala says with a sly smile on his face, "The Chernyy Feniks only delivers the best; we do have a reputation to think of, you know."
Mr Kournikova holds his glass of vodka up so that he can clink his glass with Tala's glass.
"Mr Hiwatari will assassinate the first family in about two days' time, so please watch the news."
"I cannot wait; I am curious, Mr Ivanov, have you already planned everyone's downfall on the list?"
"More or less. You did give us a year's time, although there is still ten months left, but there is no need to rush into these types of things, seeing as it will raise suspicions, and that is not something that we would want now, is it?"
"Of course not. All I can say is a job well done so far, Mr Ivanov. Just one more question: was it difficult to orchestrate the whole thing with Smirnov?"
"Not at all; you will be surprised with what you can get away with if you pay enough money to certain people. And it was not like he had refused the two ladies, neither was he drugged, so it was a scandal that he actually brought onto himself if one looks at it from a normal point of view. We, of course know better, but no one is going to talk now, right."
"I am looking forward to the downfall of the others; it feels like my fifth birthday all over again. Well anyway, if you would excuse me, Mr Ivanov, I have to be on my way, to go and give my moral support to Mr Smirnov, and his family," the corrupt man says with a smirk while getting up, Tala following suit.
"Do what you must, Mr Kournikova. We will keep you updated with our progress."
"Good; please send my regards to Mr Hiwatari, and have a good day, Mr Ivanov."
"Same to you, Mr Kournikova."
Tala walks with the corrupt minister to the door before seeing him off and then heading back to the main study.
Two months have already gone by since the corrupt politician came to Tala and Kai with this task, and although they still have about ten months left to complete it, they are not worried at all. The first person on the list has been taken care of, meaning there are still twelve left. Kai has already scouted the three families that he has to kill, the areas where they live, their routines, and he has everything planned out up to the last detail. He and Tala has already planned most of the ways to take out the other names on the list, some include death, accidents, scandals, fraud scandals, anything that will ensure that they are removed from the campaigns of wanting to run for president.
There are overall seven different political parties that have selected a few candidates from each party that will run for president, and the 10 that Kournikova has selected as his targets, are the 10 that he knows for a fact will be very strong contenders, and he does not want that because he wants to be the strongest contender in order to ensure his victory in the end elections, and in the end, result in him being elected as the new president of Russia, because he has various plans for the future of the country, and unfortunately it does not all include legal and fair plans.
The three families that have to be assassinated are somewhat more of a personal matter to Kournikova, he wanting to send a message to a few of his enemies that thinks that they can threaten him, and get away with it. He wants everyone to know that he is a powerful man and that he will become more powerful, so they all should think twice of wanting to cross him.
Mr Smirnov's downfall was Tala's plan, he hiring the two prostitutes, who are also working for The Chernyy Feniks, and the surveillance was also orchestrated with the help of a few bribes.
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It is just past six AM, the sun already up but the temperatures are still below freezing point. In a quiet suburban area somewhere in Moscow, a family of 4 is getting ready for the day that lies ahead. Behind the house in the back yard, it is just bushes, the family being in touch with nature constantly.
In the summertime this bushy area is green and full of life, the various birds singing in the morning and the small little animals running around and looking for food. However, right now the bushy area looks dead and the branches of the dead trees are covered with snow. This bushy area also has various jogging trials for the fit people of the suburb who love to jog in the morning, and despite this area covered with snow right now, there are still a few brave souls that takes on the icy jogging session in the morning, these healthy joggers saying that it is a much better wakeup call than a strong cup of hot coffee.
This bushy area may seem quiet now but that is not the case at all as a man with two different tones of hair is laying comfortably on his stomach right now, his sniper rifle on its stand while its owner is scanning the house from the backyard of the house of the family of 4, watching the movements of the family as they get ready for the day, all of them completely unaware of their movements being watched.
Kai is looking through the telescope with his right eye while casually having a cigarette in his mouth, the cold breeze slightly ruffling his hair. He is dressed in camouflage wear to blend in with the environment. Kai is about 400 metres away from the house, and 400 metres is an excellent distance for him to fire his rifle, along with its silencer, and the bushes is not a problem for him at all.
Kai has arrived some time ago, taking his time in setting up his sniper gun, getting ready for the first family on the list that he has to assassinate. Kai takes another drag from his cigarette and for a few seconds he removes his eye from the telescope to blow out the smoke, before taking up his position behind the gun once more. He has decided to take this family out in their own house seeing as he can blend in easily in between the bushes.
The house is a cosy two-storey house and the backyard looks like it can be a very cosy place in the warmer months, but right now it looks like the rest of the frozen landscapes of Moscow: dead and dull. Kai can spot a few toys lying scattered around the yard, toys that clearly belong to a toddler as it is various huge plastic trucks.
'Too bad the kid won't get to play with them anymore,' is all Kai thinks on the toys, the fact that he is about to kill a 2 year old boy not bothering him in the slightest.
He can clearly see the father and mother in the kitchen, along with their toddler. The father is sitting at the table, reading his newspaper while casually laughing with his wife, whom is feeding their two year old son. So far Kai cannot spot the teenage daughter, thinking that she is still in her bedroom getting ready for school or something.
Kai continues watching the family's doings through his telescope when he hears the snap of a twig behind him. He quickly turns around and looks straight up into the face of male jogger, both men surprised by each other's presence. Kai has not been expecting anyone to jog in this cold weather this morning, despite already having spotted the various jogging trials, but he was certain that no one would be this stupid enough to go and jog in this harsh weather.
The jogger just looks at Kai, and then he spots the rifle on the stand, and quickly comes to a conclusion of what is going on.
"What are you doing with the gun?"
Kai does not even bother to answer the jogger; instead, he just pulls his hand gun from the back of him, also equipped with a silencer, and shoots the jogger right between his eyes, his body making a thud as it hits the ground. Kai just gives the dead jogger one glance before turning his attention back onto his targets. The jogger just lays there with eyes wide open, blood covering the ground where his head had just landed; the poor jogger did not even get a chance to run for safety. Within a blink of an eye, his life was taken, like it meant absolutely nothing, well, for Kai it does not mean anything.
Kai removes the cigarette from between his lips as it is almost done, and presses the last piece into the ground before removing another one from his packet and placing it between his lips to light it.
Adrenaline has started to pump through Kai's body as the time to take out the targets are getting closer and closer. He lives for these moments, these special moments where he gets to look through a telescope of one of his sniper rifles, focusing it on a target. It is a shame that he gets to do it so little, because he can see himself doing this type of thing every day.
The whole thing is just so exhilarating for the young mob boss, from setting up the gun to spotting the targets and then focusing on them, from cocking the gun and finally pulling the trigger, hitting the target dead on, watching them drop dead after just one bullet to the head, and yes, Kai loves a perfect head shot, it always ensuring that the person is dead. He has had a few targets that he had to take out in a public place, and just the panic of all the people around the dead person just added to the explosive and fast rush that was coursing through his body.
He lives for the kill, and it is just too bad that he has so much other stuff that he has to take care of, otherwise he would have become a full time hit man. He was just all too happy on the inside when Kournikova had said that these three families have to be assassinated, and it was a celebration when he saw that there are women and children involved, and Kai knows by now that Tala does not kill women and children; all the better for him.
After taking a few deep drags from his cigarette, Kai looks at his watch and sees the time, knowing that he has to hurry with this job because he has an early meeting at the office and it is still a long way that he has to drive back to Hiwatari manor in order to get ready for the meeting.
Kai looks through his telescope once more and focuses it on the father, and after being certain that he is focused completely on the man's head, he cocks his gun. Just one effortless pull of the trigger is all it takes to get a perfect head shot, Kai watching through his telescope how the man just falls forward onto the kitchen table. Kai turns his focus to the woman and he looks on as she looks shocked at her husband, Kai clearly seeing how she starts to scream upon the blood running from her husband's head.
Another pull of the trigger, and she too falls to the floor, another perfect head shot. Kai turns his focus to the small boy who is just playing with his food, completely oblivious to what is going on around him at the moment. Kai once again pulls the trigger and another head shot is all it takes to kill the two year old infant. The glass of the window had hardly shattered when the bullets flew right through the window; all that is left are three small holes, small cracks appearing all around the three holes.
'Now the teenage brat; where are you, girl?' Kai thinks to himself while casually taking another drag from his cigarette.
A few minutes passes by before Kai finally spots the teenage girl making her way into the kitchen, Kai watching as she rushes to the bodies of her parents.
'Perfect,' is all Kai thinks with a smirk while he pulls the trigger, another perfect head shot, killing the last family member, the teenage girl also dropping to the floor of the kitchen.
Kai relaxes and sits up straight, stretching the muscles of his arms and back, cracking his neck from side to side. He gathers his cigarettes buds and the empty bullet casings, and throws them all into a small plastic bag. He starts taking his rifle apart and carefully places it in its suitcase, and without even looking at the house or the jogger one last time, Kai gets up and makes his way through the bushes towards an old rundown car that is parked quite some distance away. The car he had obtained for just this mission, not wanting to use his own cars. The car will now be destroyed after it has been dropped off at the Feniks manor.
Adrenaline is rushing through Kai's body as he makes his way back to Hiwatari manor, the young man not really in the mood for the meeting right now. He is in the mood for something way more fun right now, and it involves a naked woman on her back, her nails digging into his skin as he slams into her over and over again, but unfortunately for him, the meeting is more important than any woman right now, as he has a lot riding on this meeting, so he will just have to wait till after the meeting to get a woman on her back. Maybe then he will have two reasons to celebrate, and that means that whoever he gets his way with later on, will beg him to stop because he will be too much for that woman. He has no intention of going easy on any woman right now.
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The sun is setting and the temperatures have already dropped, despite it slowly starting to become spring already. Bryan had just arrived at the Grekov household after he followed Anastasia in his black jacked-up 1971 Chevrolet Cheyenne, it being one of his most prized possessions. He follows Anastasia into the house and gently places his two bags in the kitchen, already picking up on the 'homey' environment of the household, despite him and Anastasia being the only two occupants in the house right now. She had informed him just after they had met that she lives in the city centre in a penthouse that she had inherited from her brother, but for the duration of her training, they both will live in this house.
He did not want to stay in the house at first, but after some consideration, and a few very successful debates and reasoning from the young blonde, he had no choice but to give in, so from now on, this will be his residence.
"So, what do you want to do first, see your room or eat?"
"Room," is all Bryan says, he not being a guy that loves to chit chat, especially with young kids, and in his eyes, Anastasia is still a kid. Anastasia just nods her head and goes to help pick up one of Bryan's bags, but he beats her to it, Anastasia saying nothing in the process.
Bryan follows her and quickly scans the area as they walk through the dining room heading to the stairs, and just like the kitchen, the dining room also has a welcoming effect on him, although he is not sure what is giving him that effect; he will investigate it later on.
The two start to ascend the stairs and Bryan sees the various pictures that are up against the wall, immediately recognising Anastasia's murdered family members. There are a few other people that he does not recognise, but takes them as other family members, or just friends.
The last two months while Anastasia had exercised to get fit, he had started his own little investigation into the Grekov murders, reading up on how they were murdered. Kai did a job well done in covering his tracks, but that is what he is good at after all. The slitting of the throats sure sounds like Kai's work, but the thing that Bryan just cannot understand is how come Anastasia is still alive? Sure, she has explained to him that she was in America at the time of the murders, but that has never stopped Kai before, so why is she still alive? There is no way Kai could not have known about her because Kai is no idiot; he does his homework thoroughly and even in these photos one can clearly see that Anastasia is a part of the family, so why did Kai not go after her as well?
The two finally reach the second floor and his room is the one on the right, and he is quite surprised by the size of it when he walks in. The colour scheme is light blue with a dark brown, a surprising good colour scheme in his opinion. There is a king size bed, a very comfortable bed and he can already see himself doing some serious sleeping on it. There is a dresser, a desk with a computer, two bed stands on each side of the bed with a lamp on each, an en-suite bathroom, a walk in closet, and even a broad and comfortable window sill where he can sit if he wants to look out of the window.
"I hope it's alright for all of your needs; if you want another room, just say the word, and we can go and see the other rooms."
"No, it's fine," is all Bryan says.
"Okay, good; my room is the last one on the left. If you'd like, I will let you get settled in and then show you the rest of the house, especially the area that has all of the gym equipment in."
Bryan places his luggage onto the comfortable bluish-grey carpet, Anastasia seeing this as a sign that he wants to unpack, but just as she is about to walk out and close the door, Bryan stops her, "The tour and the rest of the stuff will have to wait. Get dressed warmly; we are going out. There is something you have to see before we start with anything else."
Unsure of what else to say, Anastasia just nods her head and then leaves to get dressed, and not long after that, she is sitting next to Bryan in his truck, the two driving in silence to whatever destination Bryan has in mind.
The last two months had been quite hectic for the young Grekov woman, mostly on her body. Two months to get fit is a very short time for anyone; most people take like six months, even a year, to get fit, but she had to do it in two months. That alone has already shown her that Bryan is a no nonsense guy, and that he is a hard worker. But she has done it, or at least, she is fitter than she was before. She had exercised every day and only allowed herself a day off every second week.
Every morning she would get up at five; then she would fix herself a protein drink and then go for a jog, increasing it with half a mile every third day, a very brutal and dangerous thing to do to her body, but she had no choice. After the jog she would then take a shower and then head out to the gym where she spent about three hours in the morning, doing all types of exercises; then she would have brunch, getting in all of the necessary nutrients and then she would give herself a break, but in that break she usually had to organise all types of stuff, like purchasing the various gym equipment, spend some time with her cousins so that they don't get suspicious, and after all of her errands had been finished, she would go back to the gym and spend another three to four hours exercising. Then in the evening, she would jog some more, and usually by eight at night, she was already in bed, her body being completely drained from energy.
Anastasia and Bryan did not really have much contact over the past two months, only when he would call to ask her how she is progressing. She hardly knows the guy, but still she feels very comfortable and trusting with him; the fact that she has invited him to come and stay with her is saying a lot. All she really knows about him is that he is nine years older than her, so it is no wonder he calls her kid. She does not know anything about his professional life, like what type of work he does, if he even works. For some reason, she just cannot imagine Bryan sitting in an office all day; he is way too rugged for such an occupation. A dangerous work suits him best, or the military, because he has the body and the attitude for it.
Bryan really is a huge guy, very muscular and Anastasia is almost certain that he will be able to do lifts with her body, and she alone is not a short woman. Bryan carries himself with so much dignity, this being somewhat alluring to the young woman. A strong man that gives off a strong aura and attitude can really do strange things to a woman's thoughts and hormones, as Anastasia has come to learn, despite just talking to Bryan mostly over the phone. His voice gives off a very strong tone, along with that deep masculinity within his voice, and even that is very alluring to Anastasia, but she dares not voice this to anyone; it is going to be her own dirty little secret, and just hers alone.
Anastasia is certain that overtime she and Bryan will become more comfortable with each other, and then hopefully they will be able to talk more. He has warned her a few times already that the path she is about to take is a dangerous and a very dark road, and that she will be exposed to things that will give her nightmares for years to come. Bryan probably thought that it would scare her enough for her to back out of it, but she is not one to give up easily. She is certain that it all will be worth it in the end.
It is already dark, and they have been driving for quite some time.
'At least the radio is on,' Anastasia thinks to herself while looking out of the window.
Just then she starts to take notice of their surroundings, and she does not like it one bit. She does not even know this part of Moscow, and with good reason too because it does not look like your regular friendly neighbourhood. She looks over at Bryan who only has one hand on the steering wheel but he is just focused on the road in front of them, that he does not even spare her a glance.
"Err, Bryan, where are we going?"
"Like I said, kid, I want to show you something. We are almost there."
And sure enough, the truck comes to a standstill underneath an old bridge, but in the distance Anastasia can a see a train station, and the train is already waiting for the passengers to get on. Bryan gets out of the truck without saying anything and Anastasia follows suit. After locking the truck, Bryan starts to head for the train, Anastasia right behind him. She notices that they are heading for the very small building where the train is currently at. Bryan purchases two tickets and then heads for the train, Anastasia still right behind him. The train only has two carts, excluding the locomotive, and there are hardly any passengers in the carts. The two get in, each taking a separate seat seeing as there is more than enough space for everyone, and within minutes, the train is off.
The ride is almost half an hour long until it finally comes to a stop, and the moment Anastasia and Bryan gets off, a dreadful feeling comes over Anastasia, and she does not like it. She did not even know that a place like this exists in her home city, and she would have preferred it this way. She hears the train take off, noticing that she and Bryan is the only two that had gotten off.
Anastasia looks around, seeing a few cars in the distance but it does not look like someone lives in this area. She keeps looking around when she suddenly feels how Bryan takes her gently by her right upper arm and pulls her closer to him so that their bodies are almost pressed up against each other, and then she notices his hold on her arm. Anastasia does not understand this gesture but does not ask, not wanting to offend Bryan in any way. She immediately feels the heat being radiated off of his body, despite both of them wearing thick jackets.
There are hardly any street lamps on, but she can clearly see that they are making their way towards a very huge, old looking warehouse. She hears a few men laugh in the distance, fear quickly consuming her entire being as her entire body stiffens, Bryan noticing this.
"Don't worry, kid; I won't let anything happen to you," his voice sounding soft and caring as he says it.
"Okay," and somehow after hearing that, Anastasia starts to feel much safer and calmer about everything.
The two enter the building and then walks straight to a very old rusty door, Bryan knocking on the door in a sequence: two knocks then a pause and then tree knocks, before the small window halfway up the door slides open, and an angry looking man looks at them.
"Black widow," is all Bryan says before the door is opened, and he and Anastasia are allowed in.
The immediate overwhelming smell of smoke bombards Anastasia's nose, almost causing her to puke. Anastasia can see a long hallway in front of them, the lighting very bad and it is in this hallway that they are currently walking in, heading for another door at the end, and still Bryan has not divulged anything to her, but for some unknown reason she trusts him, and she knows that he will not allow any harm to come to her.
They finally reach the door, but before Bryan opens it, he turns to Anastasia, looking very serious, "You will stay close by my side at all times, got it?"
"Yeah, sure. What is this place, Bryan?"
"This is just a taste of what you will experience if you get involved in the world of organised crime. Behind this door are some very bad people, horrible people, people who love to see blood of others get spilled. You have to see this so that you know what you are getting yourself into. If, after this, you want to back out of our deal, I will not stop you; the choice is yours. Remember, stay by my side at all times."
With only a nod from Anastasia, Bryan opens the door and that is when she hears the screaming and cheering of people, both men and women. She sees the many people, many waving money notes in their hands, screaming at something that is situated much deeper into the room. Bryan leaves Anastasia's side, the young woman almost going into a panic mode until she feels Bryan come stand right behind her, placing his hands firmly on her hips, pulling her very close to him, and slowly starts to lead her through the crowd towards whatever the people are screaming at.
Despite the young woman being scared, her body just cannot help but react to Bryan's touch, his big manly hands on her hips and her body pressed up against his, her mind starts to wander to other areas which involves a bed, two naked bodies and messed up bedding. She places her gloved hands on top his hands and their fingers entwine, Bryan's grip on her hands becoming firmer.
'Get your head out of the gutter, Grekov! Good Lord! You are like a hormonal teenage boy!' she scolds herself within her mind after realising what she is actually thinking of, instead of concentrating on what is going on at the moment.
They take a few feet more before they reach the centre of attention, and immediately Anastasia's thoughts of her and Bryan in bed disappear in an instant, all thanks to what is currently happening right in front of her. She stops dead in her tracks, feeling Bryan pull her even closer to him until she is pressed completely against his body, but not even that can take her mind off of what she is seeing at this very moment.
There, right in front of her, is a cage containing two men, both covered in blood and one of them are looking like he is about to faint. Just then the two men attack each other once more, blood being splattered all over the floor of the cage, Anastasia seeing it clearly as she and Bryan are right in front of the cage. The people continue to cheer for whoever they had placed their bets on. Anastasia looks on in horror at how brutal the men are hitting each other, but after a few more punches, the one guy finally hits the floor, the one that had looked like he was about to faint. The winner raises his arms and walks around all victorious inside the cage, showing off his strength and being very cocky about his victory. Anastasia is completely appalled by the scene, unable to comprehend of how people can enjoy something like this, so cruel and so animalistic. She had always thought that things like these only happen in the movies, but right now she is experiencing it firsthand.
Anastasia makes to turn around, thinking that the fight is over but Bryan stops her, whispering into her ear that it is not over, so she reluctantly turns back around to face the cage once more, and that is when she sees that the door to the cage being opened, and that a man with a chainsaw comes walking in, handing the chainsaw to the winner who takes the chainsaw with a sadistic and malice grin on his face which resembles that of a maniac.
The winner of the fight starts up the chainsaw, walking over to the guy that had just lost the match and while the crowd starts to cheer even louder out of sheer happiness, he starts to decapitate the man with the chainsaw, leaving the people that had placed their bets on the winner, ecstatic. Anastasia does not witness the decapitation as she had turned her head away the moment she realised what is about to happen, but she can still hear the saw cut though the flesh.
Bryan's grip on Anastasia becomes even firmer just to indicate to her that he is still there and that she will be fine. Not long after that, the chainsaw stops, meaning only one thing: the loser has been decapitated. Anastasia cannot bring herself to witness the horror and just keeps her head away from the cage. She is starting to feel very sick and very nauseous, and luckily for her, Bryan takes notice of this.
"Come on, kid; let's go," is all he whispers into her hear with his deep and masculine voice.
Bryan leads them through the crowds back to the entrance, down the hallway and out of the door, and finally they are back in the open air. Anastasia says nothing; the only noise coming from her is that of a silent sniffing. Bryan knows that what he had done was very cruel, but she has to face reality of what she is about to get herself into. He was a part of that world for a very long time and he has seen some horrible things, he has done unspeakable things, and he has done many of them by Kai's side, and that is why he wants Anastasia to know what she is getting herself into.
In the world of The Chernyy Feniks mob, things are worse, way worse than what the young blonde had just witnessed now. He is really hoping that she will let this crazy idea go of wanting to get revenge on Kai; Bryan has been hoping for it the past two months, but he has just not been that lucky. Hopefully tonight might have changed her mind. He hardly knows her but he does not want anyone to get involved in that type of life because it is dark, dangerous, horrible and cruel, and clearly Anastasia does not belong in such a world.
The train ride back to the station is quick but this time Bryan remains seated next to Anastasia, the blonde holding her head low, not once looking in Bryan's direction. The ride back home is exactly the same, with the occasional sniffing coming from Anastasia.
They finally reach home and both head for the kitchen after climbing out of Bryan's truck and heads in to the house. Anastasia heads straight for the alcohol cabinet where she removes a full bottle of vodka, and just as she is about to open it to start drinking from it, Bryan takes the bottle from her, causing her to glare at him with fury in her eyes.
"Give me back my bottle, now."
"No; you don't need this."
"Give me back my bottle!"
Anastasia tries to grab it, but Bryan being 6'7, makes it impossible for her to get it, especially since he is holding it in the air.
"Fine! Then I will get another bottle!"
Anastasia goes back to the alcohol cabinet to retrieve another bottle of vodka, but Bryan stops her in her tracks by grabbing her by her left arm, turning her to face him, she once again glaring at him.
"You had to see that stuff because you will see way worse once you get involved in Kai's world, and many of it will take place by your hands. Do you still want to get involved with all of that dark shit?!"
Anastasia's eyes just narrows, but she still glares at Bryan, while saying nothing.
While still holding her, he keeps on talking, hoping that he can make her understand that what she is about to get involved with is dangerous, very, very dangerous.
"If you thought that what you saw tonight was bad, you have no idea what they do in the mob; there is no room for mercy, pity, sympathy, or any other emotions for that fact. You had to see this, kid. You had to see what is going to happen when you get involved in a world where everyone is blood thirsty. I am sure that your family would not have wanted you to get involved with such dark things."
Anastasia yanks her arm from Bryan's hold, still glaring at him with hate and fury.
"You don't know shit!" is all she says while her voice drips with venom.
"Fine; I am out of here; good luck with your revenge, and don't let me know how it went because I am not interested," and without saying anything else, Bryan turns around, and leaves the kitchen.
Anastasia is still seething with anger and shock all mixed up over what she had seen earlier, her body trembling with anger. She hardly focuses on what Bryan had said; all she could manage to hear was something of not interested. She looks at the bottle of vodka on the counter and then she looks at where Bryan had disappeared to, contemplating with herself on what is more important now: down the bottle of vodka, or go and look for Bryan.
With a deep sign, she decides on the latter, and then heads for the stairs, but just as she is about to ascend them, Bryan comes down with his bags, and for some reason, this sight alone causes some form of hurt on the inside of Anastasia. Bryan walks right past her without even looking at her, leaving her utterly confused.
"Where are you going? I thought that you are going to stay here while you help me train."
Bryan says nothing and just keeps on walking, and just as he is about to reach the backdoor that leads to the garage where his truck is parked, Anastasia runs to him, grabbing him by his arm.
"Bryan, please, where are you going? You can't just leave."
The lavender haired man does not even look at Anastasia, his grip on his bags tightening, he feeling how his temper is about to explode. He remains silent while Anastasia still has her hold on him.
"Please, don't leave; look, I am really sorry for how I had acted just now and for saying that you don't know shit, but you have to understand, it was all just so overwhelming for me. I had no idea that we lived in such a cruel world."
Still no response is coming from Bryan.
"I am begging you, please don't go. I appreciate that you showed me what is going on, I really do, but for one who is not use to seeing such brutality, it is a hard pill to swallow."
"You are weak, kid," is all Bryan says without looking at Anastasia.
She is a little taken back by that but decides to remain calm, maybe he has more to say.
"I don't tolerate weakness and I have already told you that. Acting childish is showing weakness, and you can't have any form of weakness if you want to get involved in Kai's world, and yes, you still have to get involved with the mob to get to him. This was the first and the last time that you had acted this way," Bryan says and finally turns around, looking at Anastasia with a very serious look in his eyes and on his face, "got it?"
Anastasia releases her hold on Bryan and just nods her head, his tone of voice showing her that he is dead serious.
"If, after witnessing that killing from earlier, you still want to get involved with the mob, I will help you up until the very end, but heed this warning, kid: if you ever show me any form of disrespect or act like a selfish little brat again, you can struggle all on your own."
"I promise, and thank you for giving me a second chance. I will not screw it up, I promise."
"Good; I am going to take my stuff back upstairs and then we are leaving for dinner."
Anastasia cannot help but smile at that, just nodding her head in approval.
'Wow, I dodged a bullet there; the guy sure is temperamental, but I will take that any time of any day, as long as it gets me to Kai in the end. Your days are numbered Kai Hiwatari. The build up to your death has just begun.'
I hope that you guys have enjoyed it, and that you like Bryan in this story. Anyway, I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. The next chapter will be up by the 31st of January, and it will be a bit shorter than this chapter but it will still be action packed.
Take care you guys and lots of love!