Picking up a green marker, I created arrows right to the middle picture, which was a question mark, because the name of the mastermind behind all this shit was still unknown.
He hid himself well as no clues led to him; no one knew his face, name, or even his voice. I ran his tattoo through various search engines and databases, but neither he nor the design had shown up anywhere. It must have meant something important to him, but Honey, Connor’s girl and FBI hacker, promised to find me a designer who specialized in such stuff. That was my only lead so far.
A witness, Alex Jordan, Vivian’s father, the prosecutor, and one of the jurors were the only ones left on the board. Each one of them supplied false information about me to put me behind bars, so maybe through them I could get more information.
Six more tortures to inflict, only I had no clue how to do it to Vivian’s family, because hurting them would mean hurting her, and even with all the fury burning inside me like an inferno, I couldn't bring myself do to it to her.
“Promise me, Radmir. Don’t hurt my father. He just needs time,” Vivian pleaded while holding the collar of my shirt tightly, tears shimmering in her eyes. We stood in the middle of the room while the Bratva waited for me downstairs as her father issued a challenge for us. They had no idea that Vasya stripped me of my position, otherwise no one would have helped me.
“Krasivoglazaya, he is declaring a war on me. I can’t control what might happen in the brotherhood if he puts cops on us.”
She shook her head. “You are a sovietnik. Your word counts. Radmir, please. Promise me.” As she held on to me for dear life, I didn't know how to explain to the woman who had become my everything that those weren't promises I could keep. I was part of the dangerous world where men killed each other without remorse if they stood in their way. Her family went batshit crazy over our relationship, and her father used everything in his arsenal to eliminate me and get her to marry Alex Jordan. With his connections in the States, the only way to stop him was to make him shut up in our way.
Vivian was asking me to give up the only weapon I had against her father, and it was a suicide mission in the making. I opened my mouth to refuse, when she breathed heavily and buried her head deeper into my neck as my hands wrapped around her. Sobs shook her as her tears soaked my shirt, and my heart broke.
Fuck.
How could I break her heart? She wouldn't be able to live with me if I harmed him, and I couldn't live without her.
The choice was simple, because she left me no choice.
“I promise,” I murmured into her hair, and she squeezed me tighter while my mind spun with the possibilities of this not ending well.
We needed to go back to Russia, the only way to ensure our safety.
However, the next day, Cliff had died, and my plans were not meant to come true.
But even with that outcome, I fucking knew I could never break my promise to her.
So I prayed to God her father had nothing to do with this murder, because I might not torture him, but sure as fuck, he’d end up in prison, where his life would be unbearable.
Vivian
Alex’s lawyer, Hugh, slid the papers toward me on the shiny, wooden desk and placed a silver pen with his firm’s name engraved in the metal on it. “All that’s left to sign are those, and the divorce will be finalized.” Reading through them, I studied the papers for any small print that hid loopholes. I didn't need to miss anything, and I didn't trust Alex’s lawyers to consider my interests.
The most important point was that Alex had no access to Jake and could see him only if I agreed. Plus, everything that belonged to me stayed mine, and each month, Alex would send money to my account as long as I didn't spill his secrets.
He could shove all his money and power down his throat. I was glad my imprisonment was over and he wouldn't be able to order me around anymore.
The scratch of the pen as I signed sounded loud in the otherwise silent room as Hugh exhaled in relief and Alex smiled sadly. “I’ll make sure you both are taken care of. It shouldn't have ended like this,” my ex said softly but frustrated, but I shook my head and stood up.
“Keep your money. It was never about that, and you know it. I’m glad it’s over.” Re-adjusting the purse on my shoulder, I picked up my copy of the documents. “Thank you for the quick work.” I shook Hugh’s hand. He was a good guy—for a lawyer—and he valued my opinion as well, so I couldn't hold much against him. I flew out of there without a backward glance at Alex.
I jumped into an open elevator, pressed the ground floor button quickly, and rested my head on the wall as the doors closed.
The memory from six years ago assaulted me, reminding me how I got into this mess willingly to begin with.
Groggy and disoriented, I snapped my eyes open as a piercing headache assaulted me and, for a second, I struggled to breathe as each movement brought greater throbbing. Machines beeped loudly around me, my whole body hurting as if someone had beaten me almost to death.
Placing my hand on my forehead, I gasped when my fingers detected a slight bump. I moaned loudly.
Something cold touched my skin before pulling my arm back as the hand rubbed my cheek. “Shh… my love. I had to do it. You understand, right?” Although the voice was gentle, and despite the fever rushing through me, cold slipped into every bone as fear overshadowed any other discomfort. I raised my eyes, blinking away the haze only to see the blurry image of a man in blue scrubs with a nose mask on.
Was I in the hospital?
What had happened to me? The last thing I could remember was screaming at my dad how I would never surrender to his wishes, and then everything had gone blank.
Panicked, I wanted to rub my stomach, but my arm was restrained to the bed with the IV drip and it almost fell on me, but the doctor, or whoever he was, managed to catch it. Not that I cared.
