Hey Perverts - No Mercy will officially wrap up in the next post, and I promise that it'll be a HUGE, bloody, violent, vicious end that shows No Mercy. Quickly following the final instalment of this Chapter will be the epilogue that'll tie up any loose ends, and give you a look into the new life that Dimitri and Rose have made for themselves.
Dimitri Belikov
I was a selfish bastard... I could admit it. The moment those four words spilled from Leigh's mouth 'Lissa has been abducted' I wanted to jump from my wheelchair, throw Roza over my shoulder, and disappear into a cave. I couldn't do any of that, and my heart stopped as I watched as the woman I loved, and the woman I'd begun to believe lost to me, suddenly come back to life before my eyes.
This isn't how I imagined it'd happen... I wanted us to be safe, happy, and on the other side of this fucking mess. I wanted to be the reason she looked alive again, but instead, it was the very purpose that took her from me in the first place. Lissa. I loved Lissa, I really did, but how many times would I have to watch the woman I love priorities her life over our own?
After the news, I returned to the bedroom while Roza fell into Guardian mode. I couldn't stand being in this fucking chair any longer, ignoring the pain I forced myself to stand and collapsed against the chest of drawers. "Fuck!" I screamed putting everything into that one word. The physical agony, the frustration, and the fear of what would be waiting for us in Paris.
"Dimitri," Amelia rushed into the room to my side. "Sit down, please, you're going to hurt yourself."
"No!" I pushed away her arm as I forced myself to straighten. "I need to get dressed."
"You don't have to go," Even as Amelia said it, she knew that it was a pointless statement to make. "You need more time, Dimitri."
"I'm going!" I spat lifting my gaze to hers. "I won't lose her again," I held up my hand as she opened her mouth to tell me I wouldn't. "Please, if you want to help me, help me get dressed."
"You're both so damn stubborn," Amelia said with a defeated sigh, before turning and opening the drawers and started pulling out clothes.
"I'll help him get dressed," Roza said from the doorway. "Can I have a moment please?"
Amelia looked at me, nodded, and left the room quickly. Roza closed the door behind her and walked up to me shaking her head. "Amelia's right about a lot of things, if you tell her I said that I'll deny it, but she's right in saying that you need more time to heal."
"Are you going?" I knew the answer already.
"Yes," Roza answering picking up a sweatshirt. "I have to go,"
No, you don't. "I'm going with you,"
Sighing, Roza lifted the shirt over my head. "Dimitri."
"Lissa and Christian are my friends too," I flinched as I pushed my arm through the sleeves of the shirt. "I'm going with you, Roza. I might not be any use in the field, but I'll be damned if I stay here while you're out there."
"Okay," Roza raised her hand to my cheek. "Thank you, Dimitri."
I leaned into the warmth of her hand, closed my eyes, and covered her hand with my own as I pulled it to my lips. "Just, don't die, okay?" When I opened my eyes Roza had tears in her eyes. "I love you."
Tears filled her eyes, but she didn't say anything back.
...
A helicopter was waiting to take us to the Ozera' Estate after our private jet landed on the runway. Roza, Jace, and Addie had spent the entire flight hacking into Roza's database that she used to track the elite families movements and purchases.
Halfway into the flight, Jace looked up from his laptop fist pumping the air. "I'm in!"
Roza slid into the seat next to him with her laptop in her lap. "Good job, Jace, bring up the security footage."
"Got it," Jace leaned closer to his computer screen. "We're live, it looks like a beehive with all the security."
"A Dragomir was abducted," I reminded him. "The elite tend to close ranks when things like that happen."
"Can you get audio-" Roza paused staring at her screen wide-eyed, and hatred on her face. "Fucking bitch,"
"What is it?"
"Natalie Dashkov," Roza sneered. "I should've killed her,"
"Do you think she's behind Lissa's abduction?"
Roza paused thinking it over before nodding. "It makes sense, doesn't it? I did kill her father and uncle, and she went after the only person she could. Lissa' didn't know that Viktor was her stalker-"
"No, she wouldn't have." I agreed. "I did warn Grant and Serena before I left to hunt Victor myself... They'd have been caution of her but they wouldn't have perceived Natalie as a threat."
"And Lissa' would never turn away her grieving cousin," Roza added her eyes darkening to black with her rage. "If she is behind Lissa's abduction, I will kill her."
That's my girl, I found myself smiling despite the pain. "If Natalie does have Lissa' then finding her will be easier then I thought."
"A walk in the park," Roza's eyes refocused on the computer, and that's where her focus reminded for the rest of the flight. After the plane landed Matt, Jace, Addie, Amelia, Leigh, Roza, and I climbed into the helicopter.
I'd made a call before I joined the others.
Grant answered his phone on the third ring. "I have been trying to get a hold of you for months!"
"It's good to hear your voice too,"
"Lissa is missing-"
"I know, I'm in Paris, I've got a team with me. We're at the airport and we're flying to you via helicopter."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously, we'll be there in 30 minutes."
"I never thought I'd be so happy to see your ugly face." Grant chuckled though he seemed tired. "We've got to find her, Belikov."
"We will," I promised. "I'll see you soon."
The helicopter ride went by surprisingly fast and before long we were descending into the backyard of the Ozea' Estate. Even from inside the helicopter I could see all the guardians gathered in the yard, on the porch, and gathered family who'd come outside to see what the fuss was.
Grant and Serena were waiting a few yards away... The doors opened and Roza' was the first person out of the helicopter. I couldn't help a grin as I watched the faces of Grant and Serna take her in. Jace and Matt helped me out of the helicopter and I walked towards the couple.
Roza' hadn't even stopped to say Hello' before she'd moved into the house. She'd go straight to Christian in the living room, where his and Lissa's family were gathered.
"You look like you just saw a ghost?" Despite the pain, I couldn't help a small chuckle. "You should see your faces." I walked past them gesturing for them to follow. "What do we know?"
Rose Hathaway
The moment the door opened' I was out of the helicopter. Grant and Serena barely had time to register that I was actually here before I'd moved past them and into the house ignoring the gaping mouths and whispers of gathered guardians and distant family members.
I'd been tracking Christian' through the house via the live security footage, and knew that was currently pacing the living room while his parents, and aunt sat trying to get him to sit still. Mr. Dragomir was seated on the sofa with a glass of wine, staring into nothing.
When I walked into the living room' the already quiet space fell even quieter, before it erupted into gasps and mutters in disbelief. I ignored them all finding the eyes of one of my best friends.
"Rose?" Christian had paused his pacing to stare at me in disbelief. Shock. Anger. Relief. "Am I dreaming, are you really standing in front of me?"
"Do you often dream of me, Ozera?" I teased despite the circumstances, I just couldn't help myself. I'd missed him. "I'd ask if you'd missed me, but of course you did."
Christian' crossed the room and pulled me into his arms. I flinched but ignored the pain as I returned his embrace. I held onto him as tightly as he held me and breathed in the scent that was purely Christian. "Where have you been? I- We thought you were dead?"
"It's a long story," I pulled back staring up into his blue eyes, and I reached out squeezing his arms. "I'll explain everything once we get our 'girls' home, okay, right now my friends I need a space to work out of."
Mr. Dragomir moved toward me. "Do you know who took my daughter?"
"I suspect it was Natalie Dashkov,"
"I knew it!" Christian sneered angrily. "The woman is fucking crazy!"
Grant, Serena, and Dimitri joined our circle. "Natalie arrived a few months ago, after the death of her father, from the very beginning things weren't adding up but she played the grieving daughter card really well, a little too well if you know what I mean," Serena explained. "She began manipulating Lissa' and playing on her insecurities."
"Such as?" Dimitri questioned.
"Little things at first, but then she tried to convinced Lissa' that Christian was being unfaithful. It worked, for a little while, but I think Lissa' started to see through Natalie's bullshit." Serena replied.
Christian sank onto a chair his head in his hands. "With the pregnancy hormones, and having to go off certain medications it made Liss' a little more paranoid than normal. She was vulnerable, I knew it, and I tried to protect her but she kept pushing me away."
I knelt in front of Christian' when his shoulders began to shake. "It's not your fault, Chris, none of us could've predicted this. I'm so sorry."
Christian lifted his gaze to mine. "You'll bring her home?"
"I will," I promised.
…24hrs later…
"Any progress?" I asked tiredly as Jace' leaned against the balcony beside me. "Coffee?"
"Nothing useful," Jace yawned taking the coffee mug. "Addie and Matt are still at it."
"You should get some sleep."
Jace scoffed into the coffee mug. "I will when you do."
I smiled turning to look at the man next to me. "Jace."
"Rose." Jace raised a brow challenging. "When was the last time you slept?"
"It's been a long time," I admitted not able to even remember. "I've been pretty preoccupied this past year."
"Fair point," Jace smiled holding out the coffee. "Where is Dimitri?"
"Asleep," I sipped the coffee. "I slipped a little extra somethin' into his gravy tonight." I winked earning a chuckle from Jace. "I've been meaning to thank you, Jace, for all that you've done for us, for me."
Jace fell quiet beside me as he looked out over the balcony. "I keep' having to ask myself if there is a limit," Jace admitted as I moved to leave. "To what I'm willing to give up, for you." I paused my heart racing faster as I let his words sink in. "When it comes to you, Rose, I don't think I have limits."
"Jace, no," I pleaded as I felt the warmth of his body press against my back. I felt his lips at my ear and I shivered in response.
"I know you'll never be mine," Jace whispered softly. "But that doesn't stop me from wishing it weren't true."
I turned to him placing a hand on his chest, and putting a little distance between us. "Dimitri is-"
"I know." Jace smiled. "You don't have to say it."
"How long have you felt this way,"
"From the moment I met you," Jace answered. "I've never let a suspect get away before, and I tried telling myself that it was just lust, maybe pity, that it was my relationship with Sonja and my friendship with Dimitri but it's more than that... It's you."
"I can't-"
"I know," Jace didn't sound too upset, just resigned. "You love the Russian."
I did, "I owe it to Dimitri to figure 'US' out."
"I understand,"
I turned to leave but stopped. "After this is done, you should leave."
"I will."
After I left Jace on the balcony I decided to check on Dimitri. He was asleep in the center of the king-sized bed with the sheet twisted in his legs, and his forehead drenched with sweat tiny protests escaping his lips.
I kicked off my boots, stripped down to my underwear, and crawled into bed next to him pressing myself against his arm and kissed his shoulder as I placed my hand over his chest. "I'm here."
"Roza,"
"Comrade." I lifted my head to look down at him. It was dark in the room but my night vision was just good enough that I could see his eyes wide, and searching for mine not calming until his hand found his eyes and mine adjusted to the darkness. "It was just a nightmare."
"Kiss me," Dimitri pleaded. "Please."
I cupped his face in my hand and traced my fingers along his cheek, jaw, and across his full lips as I leaned down and pressed my lips to his. Our lips parted, and I slid my tongue into his mouth deepening the kiss. It was one of the softest kisses we'd ever shared, but it pulled at my heart and brought me closer to him.
At this moment I could almost forget everything.
"Wow," Dimitri breathed against my lips, as we broke apart to breathe. "Now that was a kiss."
I pressed my lips against Dimitri's cheek and snuggled further down the mattress so that my head rested against his shoulder. "It was a nice kiss," I smiled as Dimitri's fingers began running through my hair. "That's nice too."
"What's the first thing you want to do once this is over?"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah," Dimitri's hand stilled. "Don't you think about the future?"
Not really, I sighed. "I guess the first thing I'd do is get a haircut." I smiled into his shoulder as Dimitri chuckled, then stiffened at the pain that quickly followed. I kissed his shoulder and squeezed his hand. "I miss the simple things, Comrade... Being able to have a bath without somebody trying to drown me, would be a luxury that I haven't had in a while."
Dimitri fell quiet his thumb stroking the back of my arm. "I want to visit my family,"
"That'd be nice too." I murmured sleepily and just as I fell into the darkness, the bedroom door banged up and Matt was standing in the doorway.
"WE FOUND THEM!"
Natalie Dashkov
It'd been a week since Lissa' and I left Paris... We'd made the 8hr drive to Milan, and arrived around lunchtime at the quaint little cottage I'd brought for us. The nursery was set up and the delivery room across the hall was being prepped by our Mid-Wife.
I'd gone into town earlier and done a little last minute shopping. Lissa' was going to flip when she saw what I brought... I know, it was a lot, but this was our first and I was going to spoil her. I folded the little pink onesie, and finished hanging up the little dresses, and placed the shoes on the rack.
"Ms Dashkov?" I turned at the sound of the Guardian's interruption. "Ms Dragomir is awake."
"Wonderful!" I skipped past the oaf and wondered into the Master bedroom where the love of my life sat amongst the pillows, cradling her swollen stomach. "Good morning, sleepy head!"
Lissa stared at me with a look of love and said. "I want to go home, Natalie. Now."
I giggled sitting on the side of the bed. "You are home, Silly! I brought this place for us, and our baby."
"Our baby," She repeated staring at me. "Natalie, please, you're not well. If you let me go, I promise to get you all the help you need. You've had some kind of mental break down because you're grieving-"
I patted her arm shaking my head. "I know, Lissa, this is hard for me too. I wish my daddy' was here. He always said that he couldn't wait to be a Grandpa..." I trailed off staring at her stomach. "...But he'll be here with us in spirit."
The Mid-Wife walked in then with a syringe. "What is that?" Lissa' asked cuddling further into the pillows. "Get away from me!" I stood from the bed allowing the Guardian's to hold her down. "NO! No! Please!"
After Lissa' got her medicine the Guardian's restrained her hands and feet. Lissa' was crying, sobs wracking her body, as she cried for me to let her go. "Shhh," I whispered crawling onto the bed to wipe the wet washer across her forehead. "I know it's scary, Liss, but you can do this, I'm here with you. It's you and me against the world."
"I want to go home," Lissa cried meeting my gaze. "I want my husband, I want Christian."
"You're such an ungrateful bitch!" I screamed kneeling over her as I grabbed a fistful of her hair. Lissa screamed out in pain, unable to get away as I forced her to kiss me. "You have no idea what I've been through for us to be together! I gave up everything for you! EVERYTHING! And that bitch, Rose, almost ruined everything! You are mine, Lissa, we belong together, you'll see."
Lissa's eyes filled with tears- suddenly she was screaming again. "ARHH! The baby!"
"It's time." The mid-wife clapped as she entered the room.
Lissa's eyes widened as she stared at the midwife, then at me with a look of fear and horror. "You induced me!"
"Our daughter is ready to come into the world-"
"SHE ISN'T YOUR DAUGHTER!" Lissa screamed before another scream tore from her throat as our daughter tried to make her way into the world. One of the larger men unbuckled Lissa' and picked her up into his arms as he carried her out of the room and into the delivery room.
Vasilisa Dragomir-Ozera
"That's it, Baby, one more BIG push!" Natalie cheered at my side squeezing my hand. "You're doing so well! That's my big girl-"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU CRAZY BITCH!" I screamed throwing my head back as I pushed through the pain. I swear to god, if that lunatic tells me to push once more, I'm going to strangle her with the umbilical cord.
"She's perfect," Natalie cooed as the Mid-Wife placed my baby into the lunatic's waiting arms. "So perfect, little one."
"Please," I cried only able to see the top of her head, and I couldn't help a smile as I saw the dark hair peeking out of the blanket. She'd have her daddy's colouring. "Let me hold her, please," I begged even as my eyes seemed to grow impossibly heavy. Something was seriously wrong.
"She's bleeding out," The midwife's voice raised in panic. "I've got to stop the bleeding, or she'll die."
Natalie didn't even look up as she walked towards' the door. "Let her, I got what I wanted."
Suddenly there was an explosion outside the room... Natalie's eyes widened as she spun around to the Guardian in the room. "What's happening?"
I'm sure the Guardian responded with an explanation, but I suddenly felt as if I was being pulled under water and everything began to blur together. The monitors around me began to go crazy- I heard Natalie screaming to get away from her.
"Give me the baby, Ms. Dashkov." A familiar voice ordered sounding entirely reasonable. "She's not breathing properly," The voice sounded urgent. "Look at her, she's struggling, you didn't clear her airways properly."
I felt a warm hand touch my face, and arm and my eyes fluttered open and I found myself staring into the wide panicked eyes of my best friend. Rose. "Hey, Rose."
"Hey, Liss." She cried stroking my forehead. "Stay with me,"
"My baby girl,"
"Amelia is going to take care of her,"
"Good," I drifted sleepily feeling myself slipping further away. "Look after her for me,"
Rose Hathaway
I released Lissa's arm as I moved to the end of the bed, my gun raised and pointed at Natalie's head. "Help Lissa," I ordered Amelia. "Give me the fucking baby, Natalie, now."
"You won't shoot me-" She screamed as I lowered the gun and pulled the trigger shooting her in the thigh. Serena swooped in and caught the baby as Natalie collapsed on the ground. I trusted Serena to look after Baby Ozera, while I had a little chat with Nat. "You crazy bitch,"
"I should've let you burn with your uncle," Natalie screamed and propelled herself at me. I pulled the trigger, and she dropped like a sack of rocks as I emptied the clip into her skull. When I turned back to the room to find Lissa' was being carried out on a stretcher. Amelia was barking orders into her phone, and Serena was cradling a screaming pink-cheeked Baby Ozera.
"Take the baby, Rose. I need to help Amelia," Serena handed Baby Ozera to me and rushed out the door. I blinked once, twice, and looked down at the newborn in my arms.
By the time I walked outside the helicopter was already in the air, and headed in the direction of the nearest hospital. Baby Ozera was still crying, but it was softer now. An SUV pulled up suddenly and the back door opened, and Christian rushed out looking up at the helicopter. "NOOO!"
Dimitri opened the back door of the SUV and looked directly at me. 'Is she alive' was the question in his eyes.
'I don't know' I walked towards them. "Christian?"
Christian stilled at the sound of my voice, and that of his newborn daughter's cries. Slowly, Christian turned to face me his eyes locked on my face as tears flowed from his eyes. "Is she alive?"
"Chris-"
"ANSWER THE QUESTION!"
"She was conscious when I got to her," I confessed. "Amelia is going to do everything she can." Christian's eyes fell to his daughter, and I held my breath unsure of what he'd do. "Do you want to hold her?"
"I don't know if I can."
"You can," Dimitri encouraged. "She needs you, Chris, you're her father." With shaking hands Christian held out his arms, and I transitioned Baby Ozera into her Daddy's arms. "Look at that, Man, poor kid looks like you."
The tears didn't stop flowing as he stared at his daughter. "She's beautiful,"
"Yeah, she is." I squeezed his arm. "Let's take her to meet her mom."
... End Is Near ...
Like I stated above' the next post will be the final instalment of No Mercy, followed by an Epilogue to tie up any loose ends.
Question: Are there any questions you guys want to be answered in the Epilogue?
