Author's note: This chapter is rated Mature for language.
Chapter 6
CIA Agent Smith Jamison answered his mobile phone, "Jamison."
"Agent Jamison," Agent 47 said, "the rumor is you've been suggesting my name to your international contacts."
"You are the best; others should know that especially if they need your services."
"Word of mouth can only help me. So thank you."
For the first time in their relationship, he heard sincerity in Agent 47's voice, "You're welcome..Is that why you're calling me?"
"Nothing wrong with showing gratitude," his tone was dry.
He paused, "Ok. Since I have you on the line, I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?"
A sarcastic chuckle came from Agent Jamison, "I had to ask a US Marshal to put your Russian friend into WITSEC even though she isn't a witness. You're lucky that I'm married to that US Marshal and that her brother is a US attorney. And the last time I checked, Nika is alive and doing quite well. So yeah, you owe me."
Agent 47 thought about his words and knew they were true, "You're right. What do you want?"
"I have a friend, a LAPD detective. His witnesses are brother and sister, kids. The boy is twelve, the girl is thirteen. They saw a gangster gun down a 15-year-old kid just for the hell of it. He wasn't even a banger; he was just walking home from school," he thought of his son who was thirteen.
There was a hint of anger and lament in Agent Jamison's voice that Agent 47 had never heard before.
"Anyway," he cleared his throat, "the gangsters have made three attempts on the witnesses' lives. Both of their parents were killed, the father got shot in their home during a drive-by and the mother in front of the courthouse."
"Where are the witnesses now?"
"Living with a detective, the DA says there is not enough in the budget to place in witness protection and I already used my WITSEC favor on your Russian friend."
He nodded, "Who's the mark?"
"The gang's leader, Lupe Perez put out the hit on them. Believe it or not, she's a grandma and apparently, a cold hearted bitch. Taking her out won't be enough."
He realized what Agent Jamison was asking of him, "You want me to take out the entire gang?"
"I'm a realist, Agent 47. I just want you to take enough of them out until the witnesses can be placed in state WITSEC. Most of them hang around Lupe's home; I'll send you the file on them. Unless you think you're not up to it?"
"I'll do it," he felt offended that Agent Jamison would doubt his abilities.
"Of course you will…Thanks."
"You're welcome but I'll need a way to get into California unnoticed."
"There's a cargo plane leaving in a few hours. I'll send you the details."
"I'll be on it," he hung up the phone.
It would be the first time in months that he would be merely hours away from Nika. He knew that visiting her in person would be dangerous since there was still hit on his head but he still wanted to know how she was. Hearing about her well being from others wasn't enough for him.
In less than two weeks it would be Christmas and the Petrova household was preparing for the holiday by decorating the mansion while holiday music blasted from the stereo speakers. Trent, Bryce and Madison sang as they placed tinsel, wreathes, red ribbons and other decorations around the living room. The smell of cookies baking in the oven filled the air.
The sights, scents, and sounds that welcomed Nika when she walked down the stairs brought a big smile to her lips. It would be the first time since the death of her father and mother that she would be celebrating the holiday. She never imagined she would be doing so as a successful business woman and foster mother.
"Elaine, how much longer until the cookies are the done?" she asked her when she entered the kitchen.
"About fifteen minutes," Elaine replied. "I'm making three kinds, chocolate with white chocolate chips, regular chocolate chip and plain sugar cookies that everyone will decorate with frosting."
"Is there pink frosting?" Bryce called out from the living room.
"Yes, I made sure to buy it just for you, Bryce!" Elaine said back.
"Love you, Elaine!" He hollered back.
Nika and Elaine giggled.
"The tree is here!" Madison happily shouted out.
A moment later, Robert and the vineyard works carried in a fresh tree and erected it in northern right corner of the living room.
"She's a beauty," Robert said as they all gathered in front of the eight foot tree.
"She's going to be absolutely gorgeous after we get finished with her," Trent exclaimed as he opened up a box of ornaments.
"Come on, Karina. Help us decorate the tree," Madison urged her foster mother.
"I'm coming," Nika said before scooping left over cookie dough with her finger from Elaine's bowl. She licked the sweet chocolate dough from her finger.
Elaine lightly tapped her hand, "Don't do that again!"
"Ok mom!" she joked while walking out of the kitchen.
She rolled her eyes and laughed. Then she thought of how Nika reminded her of her late daughter.
As Madison hung an angel ornament on a branch she asked, "Karina, can Mai spend the holidays with us? She already asked the shelter's manager and she said it was ok. "
She remembered meeting Madison's friend from the previous week and said, "Well, your tutor said your grades are good, you've kept up with your chores..Ok! She can come."
"Really? Thank you," she hugged her.
Nika kissed her cheek, "The more the merrier..that's what people say, right?"
"Yes, sweetie," Trent nodded.
"Who's gonna put the angel on top?" Bryce asked as he held up the angel.
"It should be Madison," Nika suggested.
"No, it should be you, Karina. I mean..this is all because of you," Madison gestured to their home.
Her daughter's words touched her, Nika nodded, "Ok."
Trent took the angel from Bryce, "An angel for the angel," he kissed Karina's cheek and gave her the angel.
She lovingly stroked the side of his face before climbing up the step ladder and placing the snow angel on top of the tree. When she brought her feet back to floor she looked up at the Christmas tree.
Robert plugged in the lights.
They all stood in astonishment of the effervescent Christmas tree.
"It's soo pretty," Madison said with wide eyes.
"Beautiful," Trent stated.
"Perfect," Nika said before placing an arm around him and Madison.
"This is what Christmas is supposed to look like!" Bryce added.
"Just stunning. Everyone," Elaine called out, "the cookies are cooling off. Robert, is the camera ready?"
"Yes dear," he set the timer on the camera and went to join the others.
Everyone posed in front of the tree and smiled when they heard the camera's five-second warning beep.
A deep sigh came from Agent 47 when he read Lupe Perez's file and saw that her 23-year-old daughter Paulina and 4-year-old granddaughter Christiana lived with her. In same house where her gang sold drugs, guns and young women was where she also served as a doting grandmother. He had never judged any of his marks/victims but he was bothered by the fact that an innocent child was being raised in an immoral and criminal environment.
For most of his life, he had been a hitman but not once had he murdered a child. In the training facility where he was raised, he and his fellow assassins were instructed to only kill children if they were witnesses. He heard about ICO hitmen killing children without a care. It never occurred to him if he would be able to do it if given the chance. Then again, he had yet to find himself in a situation where it would have to be considered, until now.
With the exception of Nika, Whittier and Jenkins, murdering adults didn't trouble him at all. They were responsible and fully aware of their actions. Whether they were criminals or morally corrupt individuals, they were in control of their choices and lives. Children were innocent, harmless, helpless, and were merely the products of their circumstances or situation, not the masters of it.
He looked at the photo of Lupe's granddaughter with her big round brown eyes, so pure and bright. Beads of sweat formed on his head when he read that Lupe watched her granddaughter at night while her daughter attended nursing school. He had planned to carry out the hit late into the night.
A heavy weight gathered in his chest, it took him a moment to realize what it was; guilt. The feeling of remorse at just the mere thought of killing was new to him. He didn't take kindly to it much like the way Nika had made him feel pity for her. Both emotions were invisible barriers that he didn't know how to understand and overcome. It made it difficult for him from being able to do what he did best, kill.
Dressed in jeans and a sweater, Carl walked down the hallway to Nika's room and reluctantly knocked on her door.
A little confused, Nika stared at her chauffeur, "Carl, shouldn't you be at home by now?"
"I should be..but um..Something happened today when I brought Ms. Madison to pick up her friend Mai from the shelter," Carl said.
The hesitation in his voice concerned her, "What?"
"They had lunch at a taco place, near the shelter and you know how it's in a bad neighborhood. I saw an older guy talk to Madison. They had an argument but he started to back away when he saw me walked towards the girls. I made sure to show my gun in my holster…I think he was her pimp."
Her mouth dropped open, "Are you sure?"
"I worked in the LAPD for almost ten years, I know how they look like," he nodded his head. "I should have told you but Madison promised me not to."
Before she could gather her thoughts, she heard Ramon's voice come from the intercom by the bedroom door.
"Ms. Petrova, we seem to have problem at the front gate." Ramon said.
"What is it?" she asked.
"There is a man named Clarence Moore here, he claims to be Madison's father and wants to take her home," he told her in a doubtful tone of voice.
Nika felt the anger growing within her after hearing Ramon's words. She immediately put on sweat pants, boots and a coat.
"Carl, come with me."
"Whatever you say, Ms. Petrova," he followed his boss.
Every fiber of her being radiated with rage when she came to the front gate and saw a middle-aged white man wearing a suit and smug smirk. He reminded her of Belicoff. Despite what she felt, she remained calm when she stood in front of him.
Three of her security guards surrounded Clarence, Ramon was on his right, Brock on the left and Luke stood behind him. The pimp seemed unfazed by their presence.
"What is this father bullshit you're trying to pull?" Nika pointed at him.
"I am her daddy. I took care of her, fed her, and bought her nice-.." Clarence was cut off by Nika.
"You fucked her and then made her, a CHILD turn tricks for old perverts like you! You are a piece of shit! Now leave my property!" She stepped closer to him.
"Not until I leave with mine. MADISON get your ass out here right now! We made a deal bitch!"
"She's not going anywhere, especially with you!" Nika said before striking his throat with her fist. She used one of the self defense moves Agent 47had taught her.
As he began to choke he reached for his gun but was quickly apprehended by Ramon, Brock and Luke.
Ramon took his gun and searched him, "That's the only one he has," he emptied the magazine.
Luke and Brock held Clarence while Nika kicked him in the crotch and grabbed his face, "If you come near my daughter again, I will tear your ugly head off! Then I will take it to your neighborhood and show it to all the other asshole pimps so that they will know what will happen to them if they try to harm the people that I love! "
Ramon looked at his employer in shock but didn't disagree with her, "Do..do you want us to take care of him?" He eyed his fellow Navy SEALs holding the battered pimp.
For a fleeting moment she considered giving him the green light, "No..but make sure he will never be able to talk and walk again."
"Gladly," Ramon said with a nod.
"I'll drive," Carl said.
"Good, the sooner you get this sack of shit out of my sight..The better," Nika said before walking away.
Anger, disappointment, shock and sadness coursed through her veins as she made her way to Madison's bedroom. Her foster daughter was the first person to betray her since coming to the US but she was also the last person she expected it to come from.
When she threw open Madison's door, Mai tried to reason with her.
"Ms. Petrova please don't get mad at-.." Mai began to say before Nika interrupted her.
"Mai get out!" She growled in her Russian accent.
The petite 12-year-old Chinese girl quickly exited the room, "OK!"
A terrified Madison walked backwards and leaned against the wall when Nika came towards her.
"Karina, I-I.." Madison said with fearful wet eyes.
Her face was inches away from Madison's, "What the hell were you thinking?" She screamed and felt her chest heaving.
"I-I don't know.."
"You told him where we lived! If I didn't have security we would be in danger right now!"
"I know I didn't mean to do that!"
"How could you do this to me? I gave you a safe home with people that love and care about you and you do this to me? Why?" Hot tears began streaming down her face.
"Because he said that he'd kill you!" She blurted out.
"What?" Nika stepped back and felt some of the tension release from her body.
"He said that if I didn't come back to him tonight he'd kill you," she sobbed. "I couldn't let him..I love you."
A rueful sigh left her lips, "You should have told me," she quietly said.
"I know but I was afraid..I'm so sorry," she embraced Nika and cried on her shoulder.
Nika held her daughter's face, "Never be afraid to tell me what is going on, ok?" She continued speaking when Madison nodded, "I will protect you no matter what happens. That is what you do..when you love someone, understand?"
"Yes..I'm sorry that I did this to you."
She lovingly rubbed her back as she comforted Madison. Until that moment, she never understood what it meant to love someone so fiercely and unconditionally. A small part of her then realized why Agent 47 was so selflessly protective of her.
Paulina held Christiana's hand and guided her to the entrance of the McDonald's.
"Excuse me, Ms." A man gently bumped into her as he exited the fast food restaurant.
"It's ok," Paulina politely answered but didn't catch a glimpse of the man.
When she stood in line to order, an unfamiliar ring tone came from her purse. Confused, she answered the phone.
"Hi, this isn't my phone-.." She was cut off by Agent 47.
"Paulina Perez, don't hang up," he calmly told her.
The fact that he knew her name concerned Paulina, "How do you know my name…Who is this?"
"I just bumped into you," he watched her from his car.
"What do you want from me?" She took a step forward in the line and looked around trying to identify the caller.
"Look in the outer pocket of your purse, now."
She felt her heart jump when she saw a small envelope filled with one hundred dollar bills, "Oh my God."
"That's 5,000 dollars. There's 345,000 more in a bank account in your name at America's Pride bank. You will get it only if you do exactly what I tell you."
She was doubtful. "Why should I believe you? Are you the police?"
"This is the only chance you have to give little Christiana and your boyfriend Hector a better life, so I suggest that you trust me. To answer your other question, no."
His concerned tone assured her, "What do want me to do? It involves my mother, right? I only live with her..I'm not a part of her gang."
"I know you're not and yes. For the next three nights you will stay with Hector and his family."
"Why?"
"You and Christiana shouldn't witness what will take place this Thursday night in your mother's home."
"What if I don't help you?"
"Then instead of having the life you dream of..you won't have one at all. Neither will Christiana," he lied but didn't show it in his voice.
She took a moment to let his words sink in and looked at Christiana, "Ok..I'll do it. Is there anything else?"
"Thank you and yes. Only withdraw from the account after the police have informed you that the investigation is closed. It won't take long."
"I promise..I should ask what you're doing. But I think it's better if I don't."
"You're a smart woman, Paulina. Throw away this phone after I hang up."
"Hello?" She heard the dial tone. "Christiana, throw this away for mommy, ok?" She handed her daughter the phone and watched her throw it into a trash can.
Elonzo and his fellow HCC gangsters left Lupe's front porch when they saw three other HCC members approaching the house.
"Fernando, why the fuck are you coughing for?" Elonzo asked.
Agent 47 pressed the detonator causing the three coughing gangsters to explode instantly killing Elonzo and any nearby HCC members. A second later, the electricity in Lupe's house turned off.
Wearing night vision goggles, Agent 47 swiftly entered the house and shot the remaining gang members. He then shot Lupe when she tried to reach for her gun. She sat back in her leather recliner.
Lupe glared at Agent 47.
"Who the fuck are you?" She asked while holding her bloody arm.
Agent 47 aimed his AMT Hardballer at her and picked up her phone off the coffee table, "Call the hit off of Jamal and Tiana," he told her.
She laughed, "Are you fucking kidding me?"
He shot her in the knee and listened to her scream in agony, "No."
"Fine, but you won't get away-Shiiit!" She hollered when he shot her in the thigh.
"Now."
She dialed her mobile phone.
"Don't try to deceive me, I understand Spanish."
She called off the hit, told her son she was fine and then hung up, "It's done. How..how could you do this? I'm an old woman with a daughter and grandchild!"
He found it disgusting that she would choose to act maternal in order to save her life, "Your daughter handed you to me."
"No!"
"She's been spending her nights at Hector's for a reason."
Lupe eyes widen in shock then narrowed in rage, "That bitch! I'm gonna kill-.."
He shot her between the eyes, "No you won't."
Police sirens were blaring in the distance; he left well before the red and blue lights of the patrol officers' vehicles shone on Lupe's house.
A few days later he stood on a rooftop across from America's Pride bank watching an elated Paulina walk out holding a thick envelope. A brief grin passed through his lips. Even though he was pleased that Paulina listened to him, something seemed off. After a moment he realized what it was, he wasn't content like he was when he saw Nika's ecstatic face after she received the ownership papers for her vineyard.
Later that day he stood in front of cargo plane headed for Bogotá. Instead of immediately boarding the aircraft he hesitated. He thought of Nika, the sweet smell of her hair, the touch of her soft skin, her melodic laugh, luminous smile and mesmerizing eyes. She was only hours away from him but he knew how the great risk was if he dared to visit her and so, he boarded the plane.
The pink cotton dress easily slipped over Nika's slim figure. After she tied her chestnut locks into a ponytail she fixed her side swept bangs then put on her white designer raincoat and red rain boots. She grabbed her umbrella and was about to head out the door when she heard Ramon's voice on the intercom.
"Ms. Petrova, there is a man here to see you," he told her.
"Ramon I'm about to go to pick up Tiska and Lena from the vet. Who is there?"
"He says his name is Frank Holt and his ID confirms it."
She paused in disbelief and then she pressed the button below the intercom's television screen. Her heart stopped when she saw Agent 47's face on the screen.