I tried I don't know how many times to reach someone, anyone, on my cell but got the same lifeless beep each time. Abe had the service cut to my phone.

Asshole.

I tried getting some answers from the pilot up front but the door was locked and he wasn't bothering to entertain the many many curse words and insults I threw at him. And there were many. As much as I hated to admit it, I was getting tired and the flesh wound on my shoulder was starting to stress and open up further. I was forced to sit down when the blood started to run down my arm.

"Well, is there anything you want to try that could be helpful or is your plan to just play statue during this whole kidnapping?" Belikov had been sitting in one of the seats next to me for a while now, eyes closed and chest heaving. I couldn't tell if it was from anger, frustration, or the bullet he took to the stomach. Probably all of the above. He called himself trying to stitch it up after we got on board but I could tell how bad a hack job it was without even looking. That was going to be a problem for him later, which would be my perfect chance to take him out and high tail it back to the states as soon as I could.

"...and you are absolutely NOT to kill each other..."

Pavel's voice rang through my head at the thought. But, how would they know? Really? Assuming there were no cameras on this plane, no form of cellular contact, and no kind of location tracking I could throw him out, break down the cockpit door and force the pilot into taking me home. Or tie him up and make him walk me through piloting myself. Can't be that hard.

"Try it and we're both dead." I held back a snort. Like he was really in any condition to take me. The sweat was already starting to build on his forehead giving away just how bad the damage really was.

"Oh? It's alive after all." He adjusted himself in his chair to sit up straight and I just faintly caught the slight wince in his brow.

"I don't like this anymore than you do. Trust me. But threatening the pilot and throwing a tantrum isn't going to help the situation either. Our best bet is to just wait for further instructions when we touch down and go from there." I wanted to deck him for that "tantrum" shot but decided to save all my energy for when he was the weakest. Not that I'd even need all of it.

"Whatever." As much as I'd rather drink bleach than admit he was right...I decided to take a breather while I could. Not that I had much of a choice. I grabbed the first aid kit from the overhead bin above me and wrapped my arm best I could with the limited supplies. Still hurt like a bitch but all we had were some low dosage pain killers. They'd have to do, but just to be sure I took about...six.

"You know they put dosage guides on those for a reason." I all but cackled. The same guy whotries to put a bullet in me every time we cross, is trying to give me pill popping warnings. Hysterical.

"Oh come now, hubby, don't tell me you're worried about little ole me." I made my eyes as Disney princessy as they could be and batted my eyelashes. I smirked watching him squirm in his seat. His eyes were sharper than any blade I'd ever wielded. His jaw clenched and I could only imagine the next words he was thinking of would be all but sweet.

Maybe this trip will be a little fun after all.

Finally we touched down in what I could only assume was our supposed honeymoon getaway in Switzerland since I'd never been. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't setting the mood for me though.

They had us holed up in a Swiss chalet, like a super fancy sloped cabin, that was perfectly perched on the side of a mountain overlooking a private slope and surrounded by snowy mountains thanks to the winter season. It was amazing. And that made my blood boil. What the fuck did they think this was? Some special getaway for two newlyweds? It's almost like they actually expect us to take this married shit seriously. And Abe knows damn well I've been dying for a vacation and goes and practically spits right in my face with this.

"There better be some fucking Oscar worthy explanation for this or someone's getting a bullet soon as we get back." The pilot finally made his appearance for all but a few seconds to toss us a Manila envelope and two duffel bags before swiftly high tailing it back onto the plane and taking off. He better not be getting a tip when he gets back.

The two bags he practically threw at us looked big enough for about a couple weeks stay. Much too long for my liking. The envelope was sealed and marked confidential which made me anxious but something told me this was meant only for our eyes to see. Inside were documents for each of us; passport, visa, and ID's along with some credit cards and a few assorted stacks of various European bills. I all but choked seeing the information they decided to put down for all of them.

Rosemarie Janine Belikov

Age 26

DOB: 03/21/1992

All of this...was exactly right. Obviously minus the surname. I couldn't even remember the last time I saw all of my actual personal information down on paper. I'd been using fake ID's and cards for as long as I could remember. And beyond that there were files on just about every person closest to me. Where they lived where they worked, who they were familiar with, etc. That just about added it up to Lisa and...Lisa but still. So, if all my stuff was legit I could only imagine...

Dimitri Belikov

Age 33

DOB: 12/03/1985

Along with Dimitri's files were a lot more profiles than mine. There were seven in total. Olena, Viktoria, Sonya, Karolina, Paul, Yeva and Zoya...

"So...you got quite the big family, huh? Three sisters? Must've been a looot of tea parties." He all but broke his neck with how fast he snapped it around.

"какого хрена?! Give me that." (What the hell). I barely had any time to react before he ripped the folder out of my hands. He looked everything over two, three, four times. And I'm sure even that still wasn't enough to confirm what he was seeing was real.

But, all that confusion and anger on his face was gone just as quick as it came and he threw the envelope back in my arms. Emotionless mask locked in place.

"Doesn't matter. And don't you ever speak of them again. Let's just get up the mountain and find out what exactly is going on." He tried his hardest to stay neutral but I could still see the throbbing vein pressed firmly against his forehead, and the stiffness in his jaw as he spoke. For once I decided not to poke the bear. I don't know if it was the jet lag or the stress from the realization of just how bad of a situation we were in setting in but I was all out of energy. One thing I knew for sure, if they needed this type of insurance for both of us to stay in line we were really all in this together.

"Fine." We each grabbed our respective bags and papers and started up towards the house. Thankfully it was a straight shot and the snow wasn't too high. It only got more and more beautiful up close. The chalet was split into two houses; one looming over the cliff and the other perched right beside it connected at a diagonal angle. It was a two story structure with balconies cradling all around the second floor. The bottom and foundational sidings were all brick and the rest of the house was built like a cabin with all wood planking, log siding and columns. From what I could see on the outside the living room was already going to be an issue because it was emphasized by giant windows that reached from the floor to the ceiling on the two corner walls and I doubt there was any drape in the world big enough to fit those. The rest of the house also had at least ten more windows split between all the rooms. Whoever this was built for clearly didn't understand or just didn't acknowledge the concept of privacy. Maybe that was just a Swiss thing.

The key to get in was clipped to my bag so I took an educated guess as to which of the many doors was the front door and let us in. Dimitri hesitated standing in the doorframe for a few minutes, meticulously eyeing the inside and the miles of snow surrounding us.

"You want to sleep out there and freeze your ass off be my guest, Dimitri. Be a hell of a weight off my blacklist." He scowled again at my use of his first name but stood firm. It was weird how naturally it felt for me to use his real name...almost like it was better to be more familiar. Nice to finally not have to worry about which one of us is going to hit the dirt first I guess. Obviously he didn't feel the same. Part of me was also curious to hear how my name would sound coming through his accent since he'd never spoken it to me.

"We're going to be stuck here together for a while and as much as I'd like to play murder house, we're not going to be worth shit if we don't stick together. Neither of our people want to start a war and I'm pretty sure if either one of us comes up dead, it's going to start armageddon." I could see the wheels turning in his head as he mulled over my words, but we both know I was right. After what felt like an eternity he finally stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Soon as it latched closed the lock clicking into place echoed through the living room only to be drowned out by the sudden ringing from the cellphone that was waiting for us on the side table. I barely took a step before he charged over and put it on speaker.

"Good, we're glad to see you both made it on time." My father's voice came crackling through the speaker.

"Where's Galina?" Dimitri demanded not taking his eyes off me. I dropped my bag in anticipation for a fight because everything burning in his eyes said if this was meant to be some kind of setup he would not hesitate to strike.

"I'm here, Сих пор." (Be still). Hearing her words he dropped his battle mood but was still very much on edge. Not to say I wasn't as well but at this point it didn't feel like we had any other choices but to comply. And if that's coming from ME you know it's serious. Also, I'd be lying if i said I wasn't starting to warm up to the idea of a ceasefire and nice Swiss alps vacation. Even if it was stuck here with the biggest tight ass in history, who I still very much wanted dead, but I could very easily pretend he wasn't in the picture.

Hopefully the bullet will do my work for me, and I can pretend like I had no idea whenever they come to get us and find is body.

"Now, both of you listen carefully because this will be the last time either of us will be speaking to you for the next few weeks unless it's a dire emergency. Someone out there is trying to dismantle both of our empires in one fell swoop. Whoever it is has infiltrated both of our businesses and they know that the biggest threat keeping them from taking us down is you two. So, they will stop at nothing until the both of you are dead. Whoever this is is smarter and more tactical than we could've imagined and we can only assume getting rid of you is the most basic phase of their plan. Until we know more information about who it could might be and smoke them out of the hole they're hiding in you two are to stay put, stay sharp and draw no attention to yourselves unless absolutely necessary. Are you still with me?"

"Yes." We both chimed in unison.

"Good. Now, I'm sure you've noticed the files we packed with both of you. You two are the only ones to have read them and you are free to do what you will with them. There are no copies. I'm sure you're smart enough to have figured out by now that those are insurance to make sure the both of you stick to the truce. And with the way things are looking right now...it might become indefinite. We will contact you as further developments come."

"And Dimitri, Помнишь, чему я учил тебя." (Remember what I taught you). I wasn't sure what the hell that was supposed to mean but it didn't sound like she was talking about zen life lessons.

With that they dropped the call leaving just the two of us...stuck in this pimped out honeymoon cabin together.

What could go wrong?

Dimitri POV

None of what was just shared with us was any good news to me. I don't know what Galina was thinking but she had to have some kind of background objective she was working on to get me out of here and get rid of Mazur. There was absolutely no way she expected me to just hole up in this house like we're on some luxury getaway. Not with her of all people.

But, as much as I wanted to put a bullet in her and take my chances getting back to Russia I wasn't one to disobey orders. Especially not when I had no security for what was to follow afterwards.

That and if I was completely honest with myself I was in no condition to fight her assuming that's what it was going to come to. I could only guess there were no firearms or weapons in this house aside from maybe a butter knife, so I'd have no choice but to take her on physically. I'd be a fool to think she wasn't aware of my injury so I was already looking at a huge disadvantage so my best bet would be to just keep my distance until I'm healed and come up with a plan in the meantime.

As much as I respect Galina I can't believe she agreed to give up all of my family's information what could she have been thinking? When all of this is over what's to stop Mazur from finding and slaughtering all of them to get to me? Granted her "family" was in there too but that would solve nothing to go after them. I'd still be left with nothing...again. My worst fears were very close to becoming a reality and it terrified me. I'd already lost one of the most important people in my life...I couldn't stand to lose them too.

"So, Dimka, how's about we finally get you loose for once and go out and find us some красивые женщины, eh?" I'd be lying if I said I hadn't missed him, but not enough to spare him a smack to the back of the head for calling me that. I turned to see my best friend since primary school; Ivan Zeklos. I'd know him since I was six and he has yet to show any signs of maturing past a prepubescence.

"Thanks, брат, but knowing the type of women you attract I don't have nearly enough antibiotics handy." He feigned pain clutching his hand over his chest.

"Ouch, Dimitri. You know one day you'll realize western books don't count as company. C'mon man I just got back from a week long job and you can't give me one night? Please." He stuck out his lip and gave me the best puppy dog eyes a 30 year old man could muster. It was not a good look for him. But, I was feeling guilty about not having spent any time with him since he got back so I figured I could spare him this one night. And something already told me I'd live to regret it.

"Fine. But, you better not drag me to that strip club you call an afternoon hobby, Ivan. I mean it." He nodded but I could already see the mischievous sparkle behind his eyes.

"Me? Never." Of course ten minutes later that's exactly where we ended up. One of the biggest and most popular clubs we had in town called Frostbite. He was going to pay for this tomorrow.

"Hey, Nikolai, long time no see." He greeted the bouncer at the door. Nikolai was a good friend of ours we knew him and his wife Sonya for a few years. She didn't work at the club she was a well renowned therapist here and for good reason she was amazing at her job. I'd been to see her a few complimentary times and it helped out a lot. Mikhail used to be a security guard for some big shot CEO and resigned because he was just an entitled rich kid. So, he decided to get a job here where he could do something meaningful instead and he protects all the women that work here. Since he started all the attacks and sexual harassment incidents have practically stopped completely.

"Hey, man! Same to you, how was your trip." They exchanged a hug and Ivan shrugged.

"Eh, you know work. Is my favorite here today?" Mikhail chuckled and winked.

"You know she is. Must've known you'd be back today."

"I better not keep her waiting then." You could hear the music blasting from outside and it only got worse inside. I never understood how people didn't go deaf in here. Especially the dancers, it was most intense on the stages.

It took no time for the "favorite" Ivan mentioned to come bouncing over to us.

"There he is! Started to think you forgot about me and found some fancy American girl." Celeste. Any guy would be blind not to see she was attractive. She had long honey blond hair that reached down to the clasp on her bustier and was always perfectly curled. She was slightly more built than the rest of the girls here having used to been a fitness instructor so she had some good muscle on her and a pretty impressive midsection. As far as everything else well...let's just say she made really good money here for her assets.

Her eyes were a deep amber color and they lit up the second she saw Ivan. The smile on her face nearly reached both ends of her high cheeks and Ivan returned it.

"American women are a little too...lean for my taste." He purred wiggling his eyebrows. She giggled in response and I nearly gagged. I decided to leave them to it and head over to the bar for a drink. Surviving the night in this place always required at least one.

"One White Russian, please. Light on the cream." The bartender nodded curtly taking the credit card from my hand. I was never one to drink too much, I didn't like how it made me feel and a drunken abuser for a father is a pretty damn good deterrent too. I hated to think about him but it was hard not to when I was always trying my damnedest to make sure I didn't end up just like him. Which was pretty ironic when you thought about it considering I killed people for a living...as far as I know he at least wasn't a murderer.

"With a face like that you look like you should be at a funeral, not a strip club." I smiled the first genuine smile I'd had in a little while hearing an all too familiar voice.

"Tasha! It's good to see you." I got up to hug the woman I'd come to consider a very good friend over the years. Tasha Ozera was a very well known activist and had a large hand in politics. She fought for the rights of women, children, animals, etc. Pretty much anyone oppressed that doesn't have enough power to speak up for themselves and actually make change she does it for them. She used to be a lawyer but she got tired of having to work within the confines of the law to get things done so she took her work into her own hands and I'd always greatly respected her for that.

"Likewise, Dimka, though a strip club is not exactly the place I thought our reunion would take place." She chuckled glancing over at the women giving two guys a very sensual lap dance next to us.

"Yea, well, I got dragged here with Ivan. As usual."

"Figures." She and I sat for a few drinks, going very much against my personal boundaries, while we were catching up up and I couldn't help but take a good look at her. I hadn't seen her in a few years while she was off on a round the world trip. Tasha was always beautiful to me and that wasn't changing with age. She had deep black hair ,almost appeared blue-ish in certain lights it was so dark, that heavily contrasted with her powder blue eyes accentuating them even more. The whole time we were talking the smile never left her face pushing the apples of her cheeks out emphasizing her heart shaped face.

All that paired with the neon purple lighting from the club casting a halo off of her made her look almost ethereal. I couldn't deny she was beautiful. I'd considered many times, on the slim chance it ever happens, that once I'd "retired" from work maybe I could build something with her. She made it very obvious she wanted to but I could never allow myself to get close like that with anyone while still doing the line of work I did.

"What are you reaching now Dimitri, 30? When are you finally going to settle down and have the family you deserve." I could hear the 'with me' implication at the end of that even though she didn't speak it. I bit back a grimace.

"Maybe one day." Was the most I could offer her. She gave me a sad smile.

"Well...I better get going I have a meeting in the morning to go over the reports I got from the women working here. We're working on getting better policies put in place for the protection of sex workers both on and out of the job. I'll see you around Dimitri." With that she gave me a goodbye kiss on the cheek and went on her way. I downed the last of my vodka shot and set off to find Ivan stumbling a bit as I stood up.

Really need to work on my tolerance.

It took me no time to find him I just followed the sounds of a loud idiot proclaiming his love.

"C'mon Celeste...me and you can run away, get married, have as many or as little kids as you want. I could take care of you, y'know? Take you away from all this. I love yoouuu!" He was whining with his head laid over in her lap as she just nodded and stroked his hair. Was this where all his money went in here?

"Whatever you say, baby. Oh, looks like it's your bedtime." She noticed me coming over and started to sit him up.

"Take good care of him, D. He went a little harder than usual today."

"Yea, what else am I good for?" She gave me a small smile and went back to work. Ivan was lucky I kept in good shape because it was not easy hauling him around when he got like this. He wasn't that much smaller than me, about 6'2 and he always kept in pretty good shape too. Which meant a lot of dead weight to carry. He's also lucky I love him like a brother or else he'd be spending the night.

"C'moooon, Mitri. Ten more minutes I think I almost got her this time." That actually got a laugh out of me. As much of a player as Ivan considered himself, all he really wanted was a nice girl to settle down with that he could come home to. I wasn't sure the extent of their relationship but he seemed to care for her a lot. I just wish he made better attempts when he was sober.

"Save it for next time, Casanova." We went out the back since it was closest to the nearest road home. I sat him down on the nearest bench while I called for the cab. Unlike in western countries the usual way to get a cab in Russia was to call a dispatcher, tell them your destination and wait for the car to arrive. Usually doesn't take long to get a car and they can be quite expensive compared to just hailing a random one by hand but still vastly cheaper than other places. And safer.

"They'll be here in ten so we'll just hang out until then, alright?" He nodded as much as he could without getting nauseous and slumped back in the bench.

"You know, Dimitri...I'm really glad I met you in primary school. We used to tear it up didn't we? Kicking all the bullies asses and swiping a bottle of Stolichnaya every now and again...I don't know what I'd do without ya. люблю тебя, брат..." (Love you, brother). He was slurring his words all over the place but I could still make our everything he said.

I didn't get the chance to respond before a bullet struck him right in the temple.

For the first time in a long time, I froze. I didn't snap back until just faintly seeing a figure disappear from the roof of the building adjacent to us. But, they didn't make their exit quick enough to stop me from spotting the dark brown curls tied up into a high ponytail that got swept up by the wind. My blood boiled upon recognition of who it was.

How did she get here? How did she know where we'd be? How long had she been tailing us and I hadn't noticed?

"Мне очень жаль, друг." (I'm so sorry friend.) For the first time in a long long time, I cried. I didn't even have the strength to call the ambulance all I could do was sit and cradle him in my arms as his body went cold and the blood spilled down onto the both of us...

I couldn't tell you when the cab pulled up, the driver called 911 or when the ambulance and paramedics arrived to take him away. Last thing I remember was an officer standing in front of me. I assume he was speaking because his mouth was moving but I couldn't hear anything. I didn't feel anything besides my heartbeat pounding against my chest. That was the only thing still confirming I hadn't died there with him...

I hate to do it but we all knew it was coming TvT but I promise there will be plenty more DimitrxIvan bro flashbacks later if you guys want.

So...who do you guys think shot him? Jk we all know it was Rose lol. Think she had a good reason or no?

And don't worry too much about Tasha, I hate her too, but it felt wrong not including her y'know?

I'm going to try and update least once a week hopefully I can keep up with it until the story is done. This is definitely gonna be a slow burn so I hope you guys can stick it out. It won't take too long though I promise. Thanks for all the reviews and favorites, love all you guys and I'll see you next update! (It won't let me put the heart but just imagine one here X3)