AN: Many apologies for being absent. Assignments were starting and I had more than my fair share to take care of. Along the way I lost my writing mojo for a bit, but now it's back! Thank you for being patient with me, and thanks to good friends for their encouragement and help.
As always, comments/reviews are always appreciated. Enjoy!
Olivia waited until the next morning to track down her stolen panties. The thin white cotton peeked out from the back pocket of a pair of his fatigues. She snatched them quickly as if he were watching over her shoulder. At least he hadn't tried to hide them, but she never assumed he would. The haughty child in him probably enjoyed his little games, especially at her expense. Luckily he had slipped out before she even woke to make his coffee, and yet again he failed to disclose where he would disappear to this time, or for how long. This would have to be something to expect from him.
As she buttoned the blouse to her uniform, she began to wonder what other eccentricities made Kruger the man he was. Drake and Crowe had to know something about their boss, if not practically everything, but the chances of her getting the two of them alone for questioning were slim. And for the sake of sparing themselves from their boss's wrath, they would not be willing to share the mystery behind the man. Oh well. There would be more fun if she discovered him herself.
The Raven lurched as the mercenaries touched down on Austrian soil. Kruger peered out of the door to look over the stretch of mountain that loomed above the plains.
"Targets are moving, boss," Crowe spoke from the control panel.
Drake moved to Kruger's side and eyed the forest just a few feet away. "It's a miracle we still have their mark. There's nothin' but the wild out here."
"It figures." Their leader gave a grunt as he stepped into the overgrown field where the tall grass brushed at his waist. "Just how far off are they, boet?"
"At least 26K yards away, sir."
"There's a settlement that way," Drake recollected. "Nothing there but old mills and farm houses."
"Perfect place for a rat to hide."
The smell of pine and thick morning mist made Kruger's head spin, but it was a refreshing break from the day-to-day heavy dust cloud that hovered over Los Angeles. This could be a place he could see himself retiring to in year's time. As much as he took pride in his homeland, he'd be damned if he had to see another dusty savannah. And while a reserved lot awaited him on the torus, he refused to pitch himself in with the Elysians. He didn't belong with them; he needed to be with his boys, with other brutes, recounting old war stories and living in the natural wilderness that only Earth could offer. Something in the far corners of his mind wondered where Olivia would play into this future. Six feet under, more than likely. He felt the corner of his mouth smirk. Kruger did not plan on retiring for years to come, and his lifetime would surely outlive her own.
"Good thing we got the drop on these fucks back in Guyana, eh?" Crowe spoke from behind. They had enough common sense to keep their voices low. "I imagine these won't be like last time..."
"Probably not." Kruger glanced at the communicator on his wrist. A cluster of orange triangles was coming in closer the deeper they stalked through the woods. "Not even going to be the dealers."
"You sure 'bout that?"
"Yah. There's a system, ya know. They're not gonna be the type of guys to move as a clusterfuck."
"So what exactly are we dealin' with?" Drake waved his arm at a dewy spider web he happened to walk into.
"Couriers. The suppliers are out now, thanks to us." Their boss grinned and gestured to a clearing up ahead. Looking past the trunks of the tall pines they spied a green pasture and beyond it's fencing, a small mill. "After these dogs, the dealers."
Stalking along the very borders of the forest, the men managed to bypass the unkempt paddock and found themselves at the side of the mill. The structure was clearly in shambles, the watermill growing moss and sitting still with rusted bolts. The bed of the creek lay dry; more than enough proof this quaint little farm town was no more.
Checking the monitor along his wrist once more, Kruger counted out at least 11 targets waiting inside. Motioning for his boys to move in, they thundered past the door, kicking in the wood and storming through the cloud of dust and splinters. The group of couriers, though alarmed by the squadron, wasted no time in grabbing what they could to defend themselves. With both sides moving quick, scoping the mercenaries' new surroundings was not so easy, but from what Kruger's hawk-like eyes saw, his boys were using the territory to their advantage, dodging behind bales of hay and stacks of labeled crates. In less than a minute alone they had taken out at least 4 of the group, leaving the rest to scatter and return fire.
Kruger's attention tore away from the dead man under his feet as some poor son of a bitch tried to wrestle him to the ground but instead wound up on the sharp end of his blade. 6 down. One would have to be spared for information, and once he'd confess, he would be disposed of immediately.
At the sharp sting of a bullet grazing his thigh, Kruger hissed and turned, making for the gunman who dared to fire at him. From somewhere behind he could hear Drake whooping as he had taken down another. They were enjoying this, as they always enjoyed a victory. He crouched low to the ground, another shot nearly grazing him, and swept his arm and blade at the depression behind the man's knees, slicing veins and tendons and sending the man stumbling to the floorboards screaming in anguish. This would be the one he'd interrogate. Kicking the gun far from the boy's reach, Kruger looked across the room to find Crowe finishing off the last man while Drake nursed a gaping lesion along his forearm.
"Walk it off, Drakey," he laughed. "Wouldn't want the little rabbit seeing you act like such a puss now, would ye?"
It only took Kruger a second to realize what he said, and judging by the look on Drake's face, he also understood that the slip was inappropriate. The subject of Olivia had been off-limits since her friendly drunken kiss, and now he just fucked that up. But hell, why did it even matter? That angered him more than anything.
"Boss—" Crowe tried to ease the tension, but was quickly barked at to quiet down while Kruger got to business, pulling the young man up by the collar and throwing him back against a crate of drug cargo.
"You okay, son?" Crouching down to eye level, Kruger gave the injured a hearty pat on his dirty cheek. "You're bleeding out there, ya know?"
Crowe tossed Drake a roll of medical binding and helped his friend to his feet. They joined their boss to tower over the last man standing. They knew well enough that Kruger loved to toy around with whoever he pleased, as a predator should.
"Shit, that must sting something terrible, eh?" The merc slapped the bleeding man's knees and proceeded to prod a finger into the open wound. The man screamed while the other two swore under their breath and watched on. "But you and I both know you were asking for it, shootin' at me like that. Me and my boys here were hopin' you'd lend us a helping hand. Wanna tell me who's waiting for these?" Kruger gave the crate behind the man's head a hard clap.
"I don't know shit," he wheezed, clutching his bleeding knees as if that would piece them back together.
"A lot of people in this business say shit like that, boet. I know you know, and you'd do good to tell me."
"Fuck off..." He groaned at a sudden surge of pain.
Kruger snatched the arm holding the pit of his knee and gave a quick slice to the crook of his elbow. He bled profusely, crying and yelling a string of swears, watered down by his sniveling.
"I'm not going to play this game with you," Kruger spoke low, gruff, a sound that was only provoked when he was near the short end of his fuse. "Now fix that mouth of yours and tell me."
Drake and Crowe exchanged impatient looks, both wishing the little shit would confess already.
"Look, I don't know the guy's name, alright? All I know is we were supposed to get this shit to L.A."
Kruger stilled, and then turned to his men. They all seemed intrigued that this cartel was being led right under their noses.
"Good enough." Kruger gave Crowe a sharp nod before the other man shot a bullet at the young man's frontal lobe. The boy slumped back into the crates and bled into the wood. "We're headin' home, boys."
A dancer in a sequined gown ran past Olivia, muttering something about her pay. The redhead made her way down the velvet-walled hallway, weaving in and out of the shadows the pink lights overhead created one after another. Markus's office waited just ahead, and she hoped she wouldn't be interrupting anything. When she knocked, she paused for permission to enter before slipping inside. Markus waved a huff of smoke away and put out his cigarette, glancing up at her through the haze. He was still on call.
"Look I need to go, I've got someone waitin' on me. Sure." Without a goodbye Markus put away his phone and shook his head. "Nothin' but stress...Anyway, what's up?"
"Things are getting a little hectic out there," Olivia replied, wringing her apron. She hated asking for favors. "We could use your help if that's okay—"
"Sure, sure. I need to get away from all my calls, anyway."
The two walked side by side towards the double doors that led away from the rooms reserved for any of the more promiscuous patrons.
"So how's it been with the army man?"
At first Olivia was unsure of what he meant, but then the image clicked. "Oh, it's been..." she struggled with the appropriate words. "...It's been whatever."
"Sounds about right. Haven't fallen for the charm yet, have you?" Markus teased and held the door for her. The club music nearly drowned his voice.
"...Nah."
'Little liar.'
"Good, good. I'll handle the bar now so you can get back to your tables."
"Fun." Olivia felt for her pad and pen and scanned the room for any newcomers. A few of the construction crew from down the block had crowded one of her tables, ignoring the dancers on stage and chatting among one another. Probably just looking for a break and a few good drinks. Olivia moved her way around other servers and other busy tables to place their orders. Returning to the bar, her name was called out above the noise. Confused, she turned, eyes falling on the dark corner of the room. Kruger raised a bottle of beer and gestured for her to come over, and against the pleading of the little voice in the back of her head, she obeyed. When had he snuck in?
"Howzit, 'Livia?" he grinned and Drake and Crowe raised their bottles in greeting.
"It's fine. What do you need?"
"Whoa now, who said we needed anything? Maybe all we wanted was to pop in and say hello."
Fat chance. She wished he would cut the crap and let her get back to work, despite her finding him to be an almost welcomed distraction. "You need more drinks." She took note of their choice of beer and turned on her heels. "I'll be right back." Some part of her waited with bated breath to see if he'd snatch her back, make her stay and enjoy a drink with them. But he did not, and she walked away to the sound of Kruger ready to recount some story to the other two.
"You okay?" Markus must have picked up on the bubbling attitude brimming within her. She had such a terrible habit of wearing her emotions on her sleeve.
"Guess who's here?" she snipped, reaching behind the counter for a couple of drinks.
"Ah."
She honestly had no idea why she felt so tense to see him here. The panty snatching wasn't worthy of her copping an attitude with him. Maybe it was the atmosphere, the notion that he had come here for more than drinks. A man like him didn't come here to make chat and scram; a man like him came here to lose himself in the booze and showy women. And something about him eying one of the girls here set her on an edge she didn't want to admit to. She approached Kruger's table first, wanting to serve the trio and be done with it. Bad decision.
Olivia had been gone for at least a minute or two, and somehow in that time he had managed to wrangle himself a tiny blonde who giggled as he spoke and sat comfortably on his knee. She had seen this girl before on the stage, but she did not know her by name.
"There she is," he grinned wide and collected the drinks from Olivia's tray. "You're a doll."
With nothing to say, she turned and gave her attention to the table where the construction crew waited. As she passed around their glasses, she caught bits and pieces of Kruger trying to woo the woman who stared at him with starry eyes. "You look like you could use a man." Somehow over the bass of the music Olivia could practically hear him growl into the girl's ear. "Definitely takin' you home—"
That had been enough for her. Olivia didn't realize she had been storming through the club until she caught the sound of her heels clicking hard against the tiled floor. Reaching behind her, she hastily untied her apron with shaking hands. "Can I leave early?"
Markus looked up from the register. "What's wrong—"
"I don't care if you dock my pay but can I just...can I please just go?"
The bartender glanced over to the corner of the room. Hopefully he wouldn't think too much into this. "Sure. Go ahead, I can take it from here."
"Thank you."
Grabbing her bag, she didn't bother to stop and change out of her heels. She pushed herself through the back door and down out of the alley before turning down the street headed for home. She walked quickly, hands tight on the strap of her bag and eyes focused forward. The street lights were coming to life now, flickering above every other corner. Luckily she was not alone, but even if she were, she didn't care at this point. Her thoughts practically screamed for her to get home as soon as possible, away from noise and women and Kruger. But then again, even at home she wouldn't be able to be rid of him. If he did intend on bringing the blonde home, he'd be coming through the front door not too far behind.
Practically running up the flight of stairs, Olivia clawed through her bag for her keys, shaking just as terribly as she was before. After nearly dropping them, she unlocked the tumblers and threw herself through the front door, slamming it behind her. She nearly gave way right then and there, but she wanted—needed—to hide. Somewhere where she would be allowed to cry or conceal her frustration. Neglecting her bag of clean clothes, she slipped into the bathroom, locking the door and sliding back against the wood until she fell on her ass like the distraught mess she was.
'He's going to bring her home,' her thoughts spat bitterly. 'He's going to fuck her while you sit in here and listen.'
"Fuck," Olivia tore at her heels and threw them across the bathroom where they hit the wall and fell into the tub.
The woman was nothing like Olivia. From the soft curls of her blonde hair to her slim, peach-colored legs, she looked more like the type of girl a man like Kruger would throw into his bed. The spark of hope that maybe he'd claim her now felt like an extinguished flame that scrambled to cling to life. She sullenly wished someone would snuff the desperate hope out already to spare her the intolerable pinching pain within her chest. It took her a moment to fully realize what that pain meant, and she raised a hand to her eyes to wipe away the tears that were beginning to blur her vision. She released her bottom lip from between her teeth and allowed herself to take quick and shallow breaths, now on the very edge of crying in the most ugly way.
'He's going to bring more,' her thoughts came around again. 'And you'll be back in here again and again...if you don't do something about it.'
Olivia shook her head as if her own thoughts were another person in the room. "I c-can't. I'm not like that..."
'You could be. For once you could try, instead of crying on the floor like a dumb bitch.'
Before she could reply, the sound of the front door hitting the wall echoed across the apartment. Heavy steps and the petite clicking of heels followed, along with a hushed feminine voice and Kruger's sultry accent. Olivia couldn't make out a word of it, not that she wanted to. Then there was the heated sound of heavy kisses, harsh breathing, and the delighted squeaks of the little woman. Against her better judgment, she pressed her ear to the door and still her breath to hear. They were moving into his bedroom now, and the sound of falling clothes hit the floor. The quick sound of his belt being whipped from the loops of his fatigues made a sudden warm surge plow through her chest. The belt hit the floor, and then there was the creak of the mattress. Then a quiet murmur that was almost like listening to complete silence.
Just as Olivia began to wonder if he had strangled her instead, there came a loud slap, followed by a shrill cry. He slapped her, and for some reason, the idea made her pussy quiver from both shock and...excitement? She closed her eyes and continued to listen, mentally trading places with the woman in his bed. Her mind wandered, and she could picture herself under him, her own freckled cheek flushed and stinging after the backhanding. When the woman gasped, so did she. At the sound of Kruger's voice low and rumbling, Olivia felt her hand slowly unfasten her shorts and immediately shimmied them down her thick thighs. Her blouse was next, unbuttoned past the curve of her bra so she had enough room to slide under the cup and hold her breast.
'You're going to cum while he's with another woman,' the voice returned. 'Are you ashamed yet?'
"Yes."
Despite her shame, she pushed her free hand under the thin lace of her panties and found herself already terribly wet. She blushed, embarrassed that she had to eavesdrop on one of his liaisons just for a release. No going back now. In the other room, she could hear them already fucking, the sound of quick breaths and the woman's drawn out moans like fuzzy white noise in her brain. No sounds from Kruger, which she took note of. Maybe his voice was at such a low register now that no matter how hard she strained to hear it, it felt unattainable. Still, she squeezed her breast, whining when she thumbed her nipple, and kept her head to the door just in case he made a sound. The fingers rubbing slow circles around her clit were making her dizzy, and she would surely fall into a heavy sleep after this was all said and done.
Suddenly there was a low snarl, and Olivia's fingers stilled as Kruger began to speak up over the woman's terrible keening.
"Fuck you're a screamer, aren't ya?" The woman replied with another long moan. "Should shove my cock in that hot mouth of yours just to get ye to shut up." His breathing was stunting, but he continued on with the stamina Olivia knew he possessed.
"Y-Yes," the woman begged. "Give me your cock, I want it—"
'So do I...'
Somehow Olivia could practically hear the smug grin stretching across his face, as if he were also aware of the redhead's thoughts. "Nah. Don't think you deserve it."
Olivia abandoned trying to listen in on the couple and instead focused on finding her own orgasm. The warm wet tears sat in the corners of her eyes as she lied back along the floor, still kneading her breast and still rolling her fingertips in tight circles over and around her clit. All the filthy things she wanted Kruger to do to her raced through her mind, and just as she finally came in a sharp flash of white, she could have sworn his ghostly image hovered over her, watching her come undone with the most satisfied look. Breathing into her hand, urging her body to calm, she blinked his image away and waited for sleep to overtake her. She said a silent prayer for him to be gone when she would awake in the morning.
