This is the beginning of "No Mercy" I've rewritten this a few times so the sneak peaks that some of you might have gotten on the FB page may or may not have been changed by the bases of it is still the same. As I've stated in the past "Just Say Yes" was "Phase 1" it was dark, twisted, and full of lemony smut goodness but "No Mercy" is "Phase 2" IT WILL BE DARK, IT WILL BE TWISTED, and there will be smut 'eventually' this next phase is going to take all of us to a much darker place then ever before.

There will be a time jump but I'll prepare you for that in the next chapter which will be posted soon-ish.
Chapter Two will visit 3 Characters from the story.

Anyway, grab your tissues, and get ready for an emotional rollercoaster.

ALSO MERRY CHRISTMAS! But if don't celebrate Christmas then I hope you enjoy the holidays regardless.

XOXO. Your twisted FunkoFictionSlut.

No Mercy

Ibrahim Mazur

…48 Hours Later…

Nothing prepared me for what I would see when I walked into the sterile room. The medical examiner Dr. Cassandra Wilkins had told us before entering the room that identifying the body was unnecessary as the state of the corpse was not in any state to be identified due to being burnt beyond recognition and the only way of identifying the body would be through DNA.

The results of the test came back earlier this morning and instead of receiving the news in the comfort of my own home I was forced to drive 40 minutes across town in the pouring rain and stand in the same room with my daughter's corpse because both Janine and Dimitri insisted that they wanted to be with her when the results came back.

Despite all the evidence that said otherwise Janine and Dimitri held onto hope that Rosemarie was still alive. Rosemarie. Even just thinking her name felt like a hot poker to my stomach… I clenched my fist in the pocket of my coat and held my head up high. I would not show weakness. I needed to be strong for Janine and Dimitri, my son but most importantly, my Little Girl. My Rosemarie.

My focus shifted to the three metal slabs in the center of the room all three were covered with a white sheet with a clipboard sitting on top of them. One of the Three was my daughter. "Ibrahim." Janine's voice broke as she choked on my name. "I'm not sure I can do this."

For the first time in 48 hours I looked at Janine and it felt as if I was staring at a stranger. The legend that was Janine Hathaway was nowhere to be seen and in her place was a tired, pale, woman on the verge of being completely and utterly destroyed. It hit me for the first time since this nightmare begun that I wasn't alone in it… Yes, Dimitri had lost his fiancé but that wasn't the same as losing a child… Selfishly I had let myself believe that I was alone in that.

Sometimes I forgot that the legendary Guardian Janine Hathaway was also the mother of my child.

Comfort Her. Hold Her. Do something! A voice urged inside my head but for the life of me I couldn't force arms to move nor could I will words of comfort to form. Instead I walked further into the room pulling Janine along with me.

I glanced to my left to check on Dimitri and found him staring at the three tables. Which one is she? Dimitri glanced over at me his eyes red and blank of any emotion… Except for one. It was hidden for now but I could see it beginning to seep through the cracks. Vengeance. It was the deadliest of emotions and capable of destroying not just it's host but also the lives of those around him.

I'd experienced my fair share of Vengeance both having served and received it.

I'd once killed a man's entire family because I was blinded by Vengeance. I deeply regretted my actions on that day not just because 3 years later that same man whose family I destroyed reemerged fueled by his own Vengeance hired a team of assassin Guardian's to kill my mother and hunted down my frightened 9-year-old daughter through the forest.

I did not claim to be a good man so I did not complain when bad things happened to me so long as it didn't affect my daughter. My philosophy is if you do bad things you must take responsibility when bad things happen to you in return. It's karma restoring the balance. Esma Mazur had succeeded in teaching me that much growing up.

I had to admit the thought of watching Dimitri reap vengeance upon those responsible for THIS was appealing. I could already see the devastation that'd be left behind and I'd gladly light the match to watch it go BOOM but that is the last thing Rosemarie would want.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mazur…" Neither Janine nor I bothered to correct Dr. Wilkins as she stood next to the body closest to the door. "…Mr. Belikov…"

"Just. Say. It." Dimitri's tone was flat and emotionless his Russian accent thick. "It's her?"

"I'm very sorry for your loss." I closed my eyes as Janine began sobbing burying her face in my chest. Automatically my arms wrapped around her tiny body as I stared at the sheet covering my Little Girls Unidentifiable body. Dimitri walked forward standing next to slab lifting his hand to the sheet. "Mr. Belikov- I wouldn't do that."

Ignoring Dr. Wilkins Dimitri lifted the sheet off her face. Janine moved to look at our daughter's body but I refused to let her move another inch. "No. You don't need to see." I whispered holding the back of her head yet I couldn't stop myself from looking at the burnt corpse that didn't look anything like my child. I forced myself to look away instead focusing on Pavel who stood by the door. Tears were running down his face as he stared at Rosemarie's body. "I'll make them pay. I promise."

Janine nodded her head against my chest before she straightened and looked me directly in the eye as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. The Janine Hathaway standing in front of me was not a version of her that I recognized this version was dark, angry, and full of vengeance. "No Mercy."

"No Mercy."

…Later That Night…

"Ibrahim?" Janine questioned poking her head inside my office. "Do you mind if I join you?" I didn't bother looking up from the photo frame in my hand as I gestured for Janine to help herself. "When was that taken?"

"Rosemarie's first day at Vladimir Academy." I lifted the glass of scotch in my other hand taking a large mouthful emptying the glass. "She'd spent the entire week crying and refusing to co-operate but the moment the gates opened and we drove through it was like she'd become an entirely different child."

"What do you think changed?"

"I'm not entirely sure."

"I should have been there more." Janine whispered taking the glass from my hand and refilling it. "Maybe-"

"The maybe's will only drive you mad."

"Losing a child will drive you mad." Janine corrected handing me the glass. "Rosemarie was lucky to have you, Ibrahim. You did an amazing job raising our daughter- I'm sorry for doubting you all those years ago. I was wrong."

"The legendary Janine Hathaway finally admits to being 'wrong'." I chuckled bitterly as I sat the photo on the coffee table. "I never thought I'd see the day but then I never thought I'd outlive my only child either."

"Ibrahim." Janine placed her hand on my shoulder. "It's not your fault."

Then whose fault is it?

"Sir? Dimitri Belikov just drove up to the house." Mikhail said appearing in the doorway of my office. As I forced myself to look at him I saw the puffy red signs of crying. There wasn't a single person in this damn house that wasn't crying – with the exception of one – me.

I hadn't shed a single tear. I was simply numb inside and I couldn't feel anything but emptiness. My Rosemarie, my Little Girl, my only child was g.o.n.e. Nothing would ever bring her back and I had to live with that for the rest of my life.

Not even a minute later Dimitri Belikov stormed into the office looking worse for wear. His hair had fallen out of it's ponytail, his clothes were crumpled, and his hands and knuckles were covered in cuts with dry blood. "Do you have a plan?"

"I do."

"I want in."

That is the last thing Rosemarie would want. "No."

"Abe." Dimitri's tone took on a dangerous note as he met my gaze. "Don't."

I stood from the lounge knowing this wasn't going to be easy for Dimitri. "You're the son I never wanted and the man I always dreamt my daughter would marry. You completed each other. And my heart breaks for you, Son. But I know my daughter and Rose wouldn't want you to get caught up in vengeance. She'd want you to live."

"ROSE DOESN'T HAVE A FUCKING SAY!" Dimitri shouted taking two steps and closing the distance between us. "She's Dead… All that's left is vengeance, Ibrahim. Either we take it together or I take it alone. Either way there will be bloodshed."

"Even if it's your own?"

"My only reason to live is lying on a metal slab in the morgue… All I have is vengeance and if I die trying to get it at least I'll be with her."

"Are you truly that selfish, Dimitri Belikov? If so you're surely not the man I thought you were… And if that's the case I'm glad my daughter didn't live to see it-" I wasn't able to finish the sentence before Dimitri's fist connected with my jaw sending me flying into my desk. His fist connected twice more before Pavel pulled him off of me.

The look on Dimitri's face when his eyes landed on Pavel was as if something snapped within him. Dimitri attacked Pavel and the two men fought punching each other in the face but Pavel was able to get to his feet and land two punches to Dimitri's jaw keeping him down. "STAY DOWN!" Pavel shouted at him his fists shaking and bleeding as Dimitri spat blood at him struggling to get to his feet. "I loved her too."

Dimitri chuckled though there was a nasty undertone. "She never loved you."

Pavel stared at Dimitri nodding his head. "She did love me, Dimitri, but she chose you. I waited too long to tell her how I felt and when I did she still chose you. I'm entirely sure why… I don't care… But if you loved her as much as she loved you don't go down that path."

…Morning of The Funeral…

"Daddy?" I smiled at the tiny voice whispering in my ear her tiny hands shaking my shoulder. "Daddy? Are you awake?"

"No."

"Daddy! Don't lie!" Rose whined crawling across my stomach. "Open your eyes." I opened one eye fighting a smile as I saw her tiny little face hovering above mine. Her nose inches from mine as her eyes stared directly into mine. "Hi!"

I chuckled shaking my head as I wrapped my arms around her tiny body crushing her to my chest as I placed kisses all over her face. Her giggles filled the room and her arms and feet were flinging in every direction. The sound of her giggles would forever be ingrained into my memory.

"Daddy! Stop! Please!" Rose giggled slapping my arm. "I give up." I smiled releasing my grip on her as she snuggled into my chest resting her head on my bare chest. "I can hear your heart- Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"Do you love me?"

I kissed the top of her head. "More than you know."

Rose lifted her head looking up at me with a bright smile. "I love you too, Daddy. You're the best, Daddy, in the whole wide world."

"Good."

"Can I have ice-cream for breakfast?" I threw my head back laughing shaking my head as I slid out of bed holding Rose in my arms. "Is that a no?"

"Yes, that's a 'no' but nice try." I chuckled sitting her down on the edge of the bed messing with her curls. "Go wait in the kitchen I'll cook us pancakes."

"Dad?" Suddenly her voice wasn't so child like and when I turned back to the bed the 5 year-old girl that had been sitting in her pink pajamas was all grown up and wearing black jeans, boots, t-shirt, and a leather biker jacket with her hair sitting around her like a halo. "It's not your fault, Daddy."

"Little Girl…"

"I made my choice." Rosemarie smiled standing from the edge of the bed coming to stand in front of me, suddenly; I wasn't wearing pajamas but a black suit and tie. Rosemarie lifted her hands to my tie straightening the tie. "Perfect. Now you're ready."

"Ready for what…?"

"Christ. Ibrahim? It's time to wake up." Janine whispered slapping the side of my face. At first when I opened my eyes all I saw was Rosemarie until Janine's red hair fell around her face. "How much did you have to drink?"

"Not enough." I forced myself off the couch as Janine straightened my suit. Knock. Knock. Both Janine and I looked in the direction of the open office doors to find a stranger in a 10 thousand dollar suit standing in the doorway. "Who the hell are you?"

"My name is Marcel Thomas. I'm a lawyer." Marcel Thomas introduced himself stepping further into the office shutting the doors behind him. "I was shocked to hear of Rosemarie's death. I'd only just spoken to her that Friday. You're Ibrahim Mazur? Rosemarie's father?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry for your loss." Marcel apologized. "In the event of Ms. Mazur's death I was instructed to personally deliver this letter to you… From Ms. Mazur herself."

I stared at the white envelope seeing Rose's handwriting on the cover. Old Man. I picked up the empty glass on the coffee table and walked back to the bar refilling my glass. "What do you think is in it?"

"Open it." I handed it to her as I poured myself another drink.

28th of September 2016 (Date Letter Was Written)

Writing this letter is proving more difficult than I expected it to be.

I don't need to tell you what it means if you're reading this and I also know it'd be a waste of ink to ask you not to seek vengeance for my death.

Instead, I'm going to give you my blessing.

I hope you kill every last one of them and without the mercy of a quick and painless death.

One of us might as well enjoy it.

However, I have one request. Don't involve Dimitri in your mission for vengeance. I don't want him going down that path. I don't care what you have to do protect him even if it's from himself.

Also, tell Janine that I love her. I'd have written a letter but it proved even harder then writing this letter to you. I couldn't figure out where to begin and where to end.

Thank you for being such a wonderful father.

I'm proud to be the daughter of Ibrahim Mazur and Janine Hathaway – I hope you're both as proud to be my parents. Thank you for everything.

I love you, Daddy.

P.s. I'll always be your little girl.

Rosemarie.

Dimitri Belikov

Memories of Rose began to suffocate me as I pushed through the front door of my apartment. I couldn't breathe, or focus on anything, memories replayed in my mind like a television changing channels. I couldn't keep up with all of them but none of those memories would ever wipe the memory of seeing her burnt corpse lying on that metal slab.

I made my way to the kitchen sink turning on the tap splashing water on my face. "Please. Let this be a nightmare." I pleaded hearing the pathetic tone in my voice. I stared blankly at the running water as it slipped through my fingers. Please. Wake. Up. I turned off the tap and braced myself against the kitchen bench fisting my hands on top of the marble stone.

"Is this real?" It didn't feel real yet it felt too real.

This was a sick joke. This couldn't be real? Roza isn't- no- I can't accept this. My knees gave out beneath me and I sat on the floor of my kitchen resting my head back against the bench. Every time I closed my eyes I saw the burnt corpse on the cold metal slab. It was so small – like her – but there was no trace left that resembled her.

I couldn't imagine her face on the corpse. God. The smell. I didn't want to think about it yet the memories played on a continuous loop inside my head. I'm unsure of how much time passed but I felt the moment it happened – The realization that this was real and not just a nightmare.

In that same moment it felt as if my heart had just been torn from my chest. This. Was. Real. The love of my life was dead. The future we'd planned together was no longer an option. It was just a dream of what could have been.

My stomach began to flip and my head began to spin. I stood from the floor hunched over the kitchen sink as I lost the remaining contents of my stomach. I hadn't eaten much since this nightmare began.

I closed my eyes and let myself fall back to the kitchen floor. I felt numb and yet I felt too much. I buried my hands in my hair gasping for breathe- I felt as if I had a ton of bricks sitting on my chest stopping me from being able to breathe.

If I closed my eyes I could almost feel her next to me.

"Comrade. Breathe." Roza whispered wrapping her arms around my shoulders as her soft lips press into my temple as her right hand begins running through my hair. "I'm right here."

"I don't want to live without you."

"Don't be so dramatic, Comrade. You did just fine before." Roza's tone is light and humorous but there is nothing funny about the situation. "I love you."

"I love you-" I lifted my head looking at the empty space next to me. It might have been an illusion but I was able to breathe a little easier as I pushed myself to my feet. The numbness I'd felt just moments before had been replaced with a white-hot vengeance.

This entire apartment was filled with memories of Roza… It was too much. I grabbed the kitchen stool and with more strength then I needed I flung it across the room into the bookcase. The bookcase was filled with picture frames of my family, my friends, and the life Roza and I had created. Together. None of it meant anything without her.

I screamed at the top of my lungs and grabbed the bookcase mounted onto the wall. I tore it from it's hinges smashing it onto the ground. I stared at the picture of Roza at my feet and fell to my knees picking up the broken frame. "You did this."

I threw the frame across the room smashing it against the wall. I grabbed the baseball bat from above the couch and swung it into the glass coffee table shattering the glass before moving onto the plasma screen TV. I destroyed everything in my path until my knees gave way beneath me.

It was a lie… I grabbed the photograph of Roza and I taken in Paris at Amelia's home.

The sun was just beginning to set behind us and a soft wind was blowing through the covered patio and I was sitting on a wooden rocking chair enjoying a beer watching Christian and Amelia fight over the tongs for the BBQ. Roza walked out of the house smiling as she walked up to me sitting across my lap pressing her lips into the side of my neck. "What was that for?"

Roza smiled sliding her arms around my neck. "I love you, Dimitri Belikov." I raised my hand to her cheek brushing the loose strand behind her ear as I pulled her closer and pressed my lips to hers. "Mhmm."

I smiled against her lips as the sigh escape her lips. "I love you too."

Amelia had taken the photo at that exact moment and sent it to Roza after we got home. It was Roza's favorite photo of the two of us. It had been Roza's favorite.

"Holy Fuck." The sound of Jace's voice snapped me out of the memory. It wasn't his fault – Jace was innocent but seeing him in my apartment drove me mad. I lifted my gaze to his standing from the floor letting the frame fall from my hand and in three short steps I closed the distance between us. "Dimitri- Back off. I don't want to hurt you-"

I swung my fist out to hit him in the jaw but with a speed I didn't foresee and a skill I hadn't anticipated Jace dodged my attack and the next one, and the next one, and the one after that until all I was just throwing punches in the hopes that maybe – just maybe – he'd put me out of my misery. It seemed however that I had underestimated Jace Sherwood because within moments Jace had completely immobilised me pinning me to the floor on my stomach.

"What the fuck happened?" Jace questioned pinning me down among the broken glass and furniture. My apartment resembled a crime scene. "Dude- calm the fuck down! I do not want to hurt you. Tell me what the hell happened here?"

"Dimka? Holy Fuck! Get the hell off of him!" Ivan shouted pulling a gun on Ivan. For the briefest moment I wondered what the hell Ivan was doing with a gun. Jace released me and stepped back as I stumbled to my feet shoving him away before I punched Ivan in the face when he tried to touch me. Jace grabbed my arm and spun me around punching me in the face knocking me onto my ass. "Dude!"

"You're welcome." Jace snapped spitting blood onto the floor before taking the gun out of Ivan's hand. "Do you even know how to use this?"

"Yes." No. I didn't think I had it in me to find the situation amusing.

"The safety is on." Jace pointed out flicking the switch. "Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Ivan Zeklos. I'm Dimitri's brother- who the fuck are you?"

"You two are related?" Jace smirked raising an eyebrow. "What? Were you adopted?"

"We're not biological-"

"Clearly. You like my baby sister's Ken Doll." Jace chuckled shaking his head. "I'm Jace Sherwood. I'm Dimitri's neighbor."

"Right! You had a thing for Rose-"

"Do. Not. Say. Her. Name." I forced myself from the floor. "Can the two of you continue this love fest somewhere that isn't here?"

"I'm not leaving you like this." Ivan argued looking around the apartment. "You can't stay here."

"Both of you just get the fuck out of my apartment!"

"Dude! Calm. The. Fuck. Down." Jace snapped. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Did you two break-up? I'm sure you can fix it. That girl is crazy about you."

"Rose is Dead." I snapped at him watching as his face paled.

"When?"

"Sunday. It was confirmed this morning." Ivan explained placing his hand on my shoulder. "I came back as soon as I heard the news."

"I can't stay here."

"I've got Vodka." Jace stated stepping forward holding out his hand. "Let's get you a drink, Belikov."

I didn't have any fight left in me as my eyes landed on a photo taken in Baia. It was our first 'official' family photo with Roza. I was kneeling on the ground with my nephew Paul on my shoulders, and Roza was kneeling next to me with Zoya on her knee. The rest of the family gathered around us smiling for the photo.

Neither of us had wanted children at this stage in our lives – which worked out great – but it wasn't something we'd ruled out completely.

"Do you want kids?"

"No." Roza answered without hesitation. "It's not that I have anything against tiny humans – I'm just not the maternal type. I like the freedom. Do you think kids are something you might want in 10 years? Let's face it, Comrade. You're not getting any younger."

I chuckled pulling her tiny body against mine as I kissed her. "At this stage in life? No. I don't want children. I'm far too selfish to share you, plus, you're enough to handle – however – the thought of having a mini Rose isn't entirely unappealing."

"Why does it have to be a mini rose?" Rose scrunched up her nose. "If she's anything like me we're going to have our hands full."

I rolled my eyes though I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. "Why don't we save this discussion for another decade?"

"Thank God." Roza sighed shaking her head. "I could feel my ovaries beginning to shrivel." Roza looked up at me wrapping her arms around my neck. "If either of us changes our mind we'll discuss it. Until then we'll travel the world and fuck in every city, eat more bacon, and fuck like animals through the night. If I'm going to ruin my body for our hypothetical child I sure as fuck better have stories I can embarrass our hypothetical grandchildren with. Deal?"

"Deal." The woman really knew how to strike a deal.

Honestly. I couldn't see either Roza or I changing our minds. The two of us were far too selfish to ever bring a child into the world. I didn't even like sharing her with her friends and if I had my way I'd keep her chained to the bed. It's barbaric- but at least she'd still be alive.

Roza and I weren't afraid to discuss the future… Even if it meant having to talk about the heavy decisions like if we'd have children or quit our jobs and leave everything behind to travel. But none of those discussions mattered because that future no longer existed because the love of my life was lying on a metal slab in a morgue across town.

…The Next Morning…

The last thing I expected to find when I walked into Jace's living room the next morning was Karolina, Sonja, and Viktoria. My nephew Paul and niece Zoya were seated at the kitchen island having breakfast while Jace and Sonja worked side by side in the kitchen cutting fruit.

Ivan stood from the lounge when he saw me enter the room. "Dimka."

"Uncle!" Paul and Zoya both spun around on their kitchen stools. Paul ran across the room and jumped into my arms speaking a million miles an hour about his first trip in a big Jet but before I could ask anything I felt a tiny pair of hands tugging at my jean leg.

"Uncle!" I knelt down in front of my niece forcing a smile as she lifted her little hands and brushed my hair back out of my face. "I missed you! Where is Aunty Roe?"

It was an innocent question but it was a question that broke my heart. I looked towards Paul seeing the same curiosity – I glanced towards my sister's faces seeing by their tear stained cheeks that I wouldn't at least have to be the one to tell them.

"Zoya-"

"It's okay." I assured Karolina when she tried to distract the kids. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I lifted Zoya and carried her to the lounge sitting her next to Paul. I sat back on the couch between the two of them as Zoya crawled into my lap waiting patiently.

"Where is Aunt Roza, Uncle Dimka?" Paul questioned after a long pause before continuing. "Something bad happened didn't it?"

I took a deep breath as I looked at my nephew. "Aunty Roza was hurt protecting Miss Lissa…"

"Is Aunty hurt?" Zoya asked using a quiet tone.

I nodded brushing her curls out of her face. "Yeah."

"Is Aunty Roe an Angle now?"

"Yeah."

Zoya's eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip trembled. "I don't want Aunty Roe to be an Angle! Can't she come back?"

"I wish it worked like that." I wiped the tears as they fell down her cheeks. "I'd do anything to bring Aunty Roza back."

Zoya bit her bottom lip as she stared at me. "I'm going to miss Aunty Roe."

"We're all going to miss Aunty Roza." Mama Olena appeared behind me on the lounge. "Babushka and I would like to have a word with you across the hall."

"The whole family is here." I sighed shifting Zoya to sit next to Paul. I stood up looking at my mother gesturing for her to lead the way.

"Dimka." Viktoria stepped into my path tears rolling down her cheeks. "I-I'm really sorry."

I lifted my hands to Viktoria's face wiping her tears as they fell. I didn't have the words to comfort her so I simply kissed her forehead. "Thank you, Vika." I released her face and continued out the door with Mama Olena. I walked into my apartment to find almost everything back in it's originally place. Babushka was sitting at the kitchen bench with a cup of coffee.

Mama Olena walked up to the bench and picked up her own coffee cup before turning to look behind me at Karolina. I didn't bother asking questions as I walked over to the bar to grab a drink. I picked up a glass and then the bottle of vodka looking between the two deciding the glass wasn't necessary. "Vodka isn't going to solve anything."

"I couldn't agree more." I answered before taking a swing straight from the bottle. "But it's not everyday your fiancé is murdered either."

"Fiancé?" The tone in my mother's voice broke my already shattered heart. My grip tightened around the bottle as I swallowed the mouthful of vodka. Roza and I were going to FaceTime my family the night she was murdered. "When did that happen?"

"The night of Roza's birthday." I answered turning to face the three women in front of me. "We'd planned on telling you together."

Olena walked up to me taking the bottle from my hand sitting it on the bar. "Dimka- look at me, Son." Reluctantly I shifted my gaze to meet my mothers and all of a sudden I felt like a child again. "Dimka?"

"She's gone." I whispered staring into my mother's eyes. "I failed her."

"Don't." Olena cut me off forcing my chin up to look at her. "You didn't fail anybody! You're Dimitri Belikov. You will survive this. I promise."

"Does that Turkish prick have any leads on who's responsible?" Karolina questioned not bothering to hide her disgust for Roza's father. "It was most likely somebody he pissed off."

"That's a possibility." I wasn't going to disagree. "I'm looking at all possibilities… Roza had a list of enemies as long as my arm. As do I. If this was a personal attack it could have come from anywhere. However- Abe is refusing to let me in on his plans."

"Why?" Olena questioned sounding rather upset.

"Because it's what my daughter wants." Janine Hathaway spoke from the doorway of my apartment. It was hard to look at Janine and not see Roza standing in her place. The two were identical with the exception of Roza's exotic hair and skin colour. "I was running errands for tomorrow… Since I was in the area I thought I'd check on you and make sure you've got a suit and- I wanted to know if you'd like to say something at the church?"

"The funeral." It was a statement on my part as I stared at her. "Right- I've got a suit."

"Of course you do." Janine sighed glancing at my grandmother, mother, and sister.

"Janine… This is my Babushka Yeva Belikova and my mother Olena Belikova, and my oldest sister Karolina Belikova. This is Roza's mother Janine Hathaway."

"Roza was a very special woman… I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, Mrs. Belikova."

"Olena. Please. We're family."

"Thank you." Janine smiled touching her arm before turning me. "Before I go… Please don't be too hard on Ibrahim. I understand the need for vengeance. I do. And we'll get it. If it were Ibrahim's choice he'd have you at his side. He truly does look at you like a son. But there is nobody in this world that Ibrahim Mazur loved more than his daughter."

"If the roles were reversed what do you think Roza would do?" I questioned Janine watching as the corner of her mouth lifted as she met my gaze. "The love of my life was taken from me. I have nothing but respect and love from Ibrahim Mazur but I think he's forgotten who I am… I. Am. Dimitri. Fucking. Belikov. I have a reputation of making people disappear – I'm more dangerous than even Roza fully understood but she's gone now… So… What do I have left, Janine? If not vengeance?"

"You have your family." Janine answered. "That's more than either Ibrahim or I have."

"Roza was apart of our family." Karolina spoke for the first time since Janine joined us. "The people responsible will pay with blood. It's the Belikov way."

"And you agree with that?" Janine questioned looking at Mama Olena. "Even if it means you could lose your only son?"

Mama Olena met my gaze a look of deep sorrow and concern etched onto her aged face. Her eyes filled with tears as she turned her gaze back to Janine. "My son lost his soul-mate… Denying him vengeance for her death would cost me my son. The people responsible for that crime will pay the ultimate price. The god's demand it. It's the Belikov way."

…The Funeral…

"Belikov- I found this by your door this morning." Jace pulled out an envelope from his jacket as he slid into the driver's seat of the car. Yeva was in the passenger seat next to him and I was in the back with Olena and Sonja. "It's addressed to you."

The moment I saw the handwriting on the front I felt my heart stop beating. "Dimka? Are you alright?"

"Everything is fine." I swallowed the lump in my throat as I opened the letter. Inside were two pages written in Roza's horrific handwriting.

28th of September 2016.

Dear Comrade,

I hope you'll never have to read this letter but if you do then – there is no easy way to say this other then to come straight out and say it. I'm dead. I feel as if I should apologies, and I would, a thousand times if I thought it'd make a difference to you.

So- I'm not going to apologies, Comrade. Instead- I want to thank you for fighting for us and for making the last 8 and half months the greatest months of my life. Meeting you was the best thing to ever happen to me, Dimitri Belikov. I hope you know that.

This isn't how I wanted our story to end. In a perfect world we'd get married and travel the world. We'd buy a house in Baia and I'd restore that old gym in the town square. We'd grow old together and eventually we'd die but it wouldn't matter because we'd have lived a lifetime. Together.

Our first night in Baia I asked you to make a promise. Do you remember? It was unfair of me, Comrade. So, I'm releasing you from that promise. Don't put your life on hold. Live- take the time to grieve but then move on. Don't shut yourself off from the possibility of a future. Live life to the fullest, find love, or at the very least a great fuck.

You're the love of my life, Dimitri Belikov. But you're also my best friend, my soul mate, and the greatest man I have ever known. Please don't lose yourself in grief or get caught up in vengeance. There's a saying- before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves- please don't dig yourself a grave for me. I'm not worth it.

I love you, Comrade.

Thank you for everything.

Love Roza.

Forever.

"Dimitri?" I looked up at the sound of Vasilisa's voice and found myself in the church surrounded by guardian's who'd attended Rose's party. I ignored the looks of pity and focused on Lissa. It was easier said then done. I hadn't seen Lissa in a few days and I'd purposely ignored her phone calls and visits to the apartment. "I've been trying to call."

"I noticed." I answered not meaning to sound like such a dick but I was barely holding it together. Roza's letter had tipped me over the edge and I was suddenly so angry at her. Who the fuck did she think she was? What makes her think she has a say over anything I do?

I'm not worth it.

I couldn't understand how she didn't know that. Didn't she know how much she meant to me? Rosemarie Hathaway-Mazur was everything to me. The love of my life- my soul-mate -she was worth everything and I'd do anything to get her back.

But unless god himself revived her there was no getting my Roza back.

"Rose would want us to be there for each other."

"I can't."

"Dimitri-"

"Stop! Don't you get it, Vasilisa? I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to hold your hand and cry. I don't want to look at you! The love of my life is DEAD! And you're a constant reminder of her. Rose. Is. Dead. All I see when I look at you is her burnt body lying on a slab under a white sheet! Why? I'll tell you WHY because ONCE AGAIN Rose chose YOU! Over Me. And now she's dead."

As soon as the words were out of my mouth I regretted it. I didn't blame Lissa for Roza's death but it was easier to blame her then to blame myself.

"Back the fuck off, Belikov! What the fuck is wrong with you!" Christian shoved me away from Lissa as she turned to hide her face from me. "You don't think she's blaming herself enough! Rose was Lissa's best friend! Her sister! Rose was doing her job!"

The harps began playing and people moved along the aisle to their seats as the ceremony began and 20 minutes later the priest introduced me to the podium. "Just speak from the heart." The priest squeezed my arm as I reached the steps. "Good luck my son."

"Everyday- I wake up hoping that this is a nightmare. That I'll walk out of our bedroom and find Roza sitting on the couch drinking coffee while she waits for me to cook her breakfast. Bacon. The woman would live off bacon if I let her- if it meant getting her back I would. There aren't enough words in the world to describe how much I miss her- I keep waiting for it to get easier- but it only gets harder and harder. There are moments when I can't even breathe because it hurts so god damn much. The love of my life was ripped out of this world and taken from me. What do I have left? Vengeance- that's all I have left and nothing and nobody- will stand in my way because if you do I will cut through you and bath in your blood. It's the Belikov way."

As I finished my speech the back doors of the church swung open and 6 armed men stormed the church shooting at people. You'd think in a building with over 100 Guardian's the men would have come up with a better plan.

Instinctually- I sought out Vasilisa and Christian. I needed to know they were safe. Grant and Serena had already sprung into action and were rushing the entire Dragomir and Ozera family out of the building along with the rest of Roza's team hired to protect Liss and Chris.

They'd be safe.

Ivan and Jace were already getting my family out of the church allowing me to join in the fight at the back of the church. Janine and Abe were amongst the fighters along with Pavel and Mikhail Tanner. By the time I reached the back of the church more gunmen arrived and bodies and blood began to cover the entry of the church.

Two of the visiting Guardian's were dead but otherwise the rest of the bodies on the floor belonged to the gunmen. I looked up from the two dead men at my feet and found Yeva standing among the dead with a blade covered in blood.

"Yeva?"

"One Year."

I stared at Yeva knowing exactly what she was asking. "Yeva-"

"One. Year."

"I don't plan on dying."

"Either did Rose." Yeva spoke harshly. "One Year? By the end of it you'll have a clear mind and a plan of attack. I support your need for vengeance, Dimka. I do, but not at the cost of your life."

One Year? The impulsive side of me wanted to rebel and seek vengeance without a lead. The practical side- the trained guardian- knew that if I went in blind I'd get myself killed. It also understood that my target wasn't going to be easy to find- this attack wasn't supposed to be a show of force it was an insult to Roza, her family, and as far as I was concerned. Me.

One Year would give me time to grieve, plan, and research my target.

"Let's go home, Babushka."

...To Be Continued...

Well, I hope that was worth it. I was going to postpone this chapter and continue it on with the next 3 POV's but I figured as far as the word count went it wasn't too short and there was a decent cliffhanger. As I stated above the next chapter will be posted soon-ish and will visit 3 characters. Whom will they be? Vasilisa Dragomir, Ivan Zeklos, and Jace Sherwood.

I also need to warn you guys so you can mentally prepare yourself that "No Mercy" will be dark, twisted, and painful to read at certain times and you might not always agree with the direction I'm going to take it but understand that this is all apart of the process to reach the final phase or the next phase.

Despite what some of you might think I do care about my readers and I value every single one of you.

So thank you for sticking with me so far and I look forward to reading the reviews.

Xoxoxo. Merry Christmas.