The HUSH Series: (HUSH, HUSHED and JANE.)

by Sandra Raine

  "No. It's just you may be to good for him." Viktor stressed while I laughed, out loud, stripping off my duffle bag from my shoulders and settling it down on the complimenting chair. "Jonah is my son, Jane." Viktor announced, point blank as if that was supposed to mean something to me. But while I should have been offended, I was actually taken aback.

  "Well," I sighed resting my hands above my hips to keep myself from falling over. . .with laughter. Did Viktor think I was going to cry? "Now there's something I wasn't quite expecting."

  "Have a seat, Jane. . .before you fall, and hurt yourself."

  "I've been on a bus. All I've been doing for the last several hours is sitting."

  "Okay. Why are you here? What do you want?"

  "Well," I repeated, sighing out again, but this time in regards to Viktor's shift in mood; a mood that clearly indicated that he was inconvenienced. "Since you're putting it so goddamn bluntly. . .I'm here for answers."

  "'Answers'?"

  "Yes. Answers."

  "Answers to what?"

  "To my nightmare."

  Viktor laughed. "Nightmares, Jane? Immaturely clever, wouldn't you agree?"

  "It's 'Nightmare'," I corrected. "And if I were five, it would be. But since I'm bordering on eighteen. . ."Nightmares" seem pretty rational as they don't pertain to the boogieman."

  "Then what do they pertain, too?"

  "Real life."

  "Such as. . ."

  ". . .Andrew Parker's Organization."

  It was at that point that two things happened simultaneously: One, I got Viktor's attention. And secondly, Jonah walked back into Viktor's office.

  "Tell me, Jane," Viktor said rousing in his seat. "Where exactly are you going with that remark?"

  "I want to know if they - "

  "'They'?"

  "Yes. They. Andrew Parker. Bob Ray. Dominic Ray. Justin. Josh. Douglas Parker. And Henry Church. . .Are still alive?"

  "And what exactly brings you to the conclusion that they are, Jane? I mean," and Viktor paused to laugh nervously at Jonah who, and much to my surprise, was having a difficult time trying to keep a straight poker face. "You saw the execution. You witnessed their deaths. I made sure of it. A little disturbing on my behalf. . .but still. . ."

  "But still. . .I don't believe you." I accused with a hint of brazenness grazing my tone.

  Viktor's face suddenly dropped. And his demeanor quickly altered to that of an offended one. "Excuse me? Did I just. . .hear you correctly? You don't. . .believe me?" I nodded, without missing a beat. "Give me one good fucking reason, Jane," Viktor pressed as he slowly rose to his feet from his desk, "why I shouldn't toss your ass back into that fucking hell?!"

  "Viktor," Jonah quickly, yet cautiously interceded, obviously trying to calm Viktor's sudden rage from impending further.

  "Because my nightmare has told me otherwise!" I fended, slowly rising to my feet myself, but taking a cautious step back with Jonah slinking casually around from behind me, almost presenting himself like a shield of protection. . .from Viktor. "I have no reason to believe otherwise." I concluded, and sternly. And just by that unexpected remark that must've sounded obtuse to Viktor's ears, Viktor made an attempt for me from across his desk. But as young and as quick as my reflexes had become over these past years; years of forcing to protect myself from the brutality of men, I quickly turned to Jonah and abruptly shoved him from me, at the same time, I grabbed his gun lodged down the front of his trousers. I then spun a ninety degree and pointed it directly at Viktor Kasa's face. And just like that, Viktor froze behind his desk, his fate now in the palm of my trembling hand.

  Chapter 4

  "Put the gun down, Jane," Viktor casually, yet cautiously coached.

  "No." I said. "Jonah. Move to my left so I can see you." I demanded, ignoring Viktor.

  "No problem, Jane," Jonah mused as he slowly curved around to my left with his hands slightly elevated.

  "Jesus. You can put your hands down, Jonah. I'm not going to shoot you." Jonah put his hands down, keeping a steady eye on me.

  "What about Mr. K?" Jonah pried concerned for the man as he shifted a nervous glance between Viktor and myself with Viktor quickly loosing this battle.

  "You mean. . .your father?" I rectified with Jonah's expression dropping hard and in disbelief as if his father had just risked both their lives over some stupid bet.

  "Jane, please - " Jonah began to speak but I just ignored him, and concentrated all my energy on Viktor, who, if not careful - considering that his mind was visibly plotting his next move against me - would be fed to the Feds.

  "Shut up, Jonah. . .You, Mr. K, however, have one minute to speak up or die. Now," I said wrapping my free hand around the butt of Jonah's gun to steady my right hand which was still trembling uncontrollably. "I want to know if they're still alive? And if so, why?"

  "Okay, Jane. I'm going to sit - "

  "No!" I shouted, firing a warning shot into the fireplace just behind Viktor's desk. Both Viktor and Jonah flinched.

  "Fuck!" Jonah wailed.

  "Jane, goddamn it!"

  "Fuck you, Viktor! I want to know. . .NOW!"

  "YES!" Viktor choked, gritting his teeth.

  Within that split second it was as if time had come to a complete and utter standstill all around me. And within that time, I actually saw myself being pulled back into that life of prostitution, manipulation, fornication. . .Tossed back into that lion's den, or in Viktor's case, 'hell', with hundreds upon hundreds of men's hands re-violating every inch of my body; hands beating me, slapping me, ordering me while their mouths slugged dirty words in my face and their dick's tortured, raped and sodomized my dignity until there was nothing left of me but a trace of an existence cowering somewhere on a motel room's floor.

  Jonah's gun began to lessen from my grasp. And my body. . .it, too, began to succumb to a numbing fear, an absolute fear - the fear that gripped and ripped from the outside, in. The thought alone was slowly starting to kill me when it began to occur to me that despite my defeat against the Organization, I had actually been living under a false triumph.

  "Oh, God." I mustered, my voice beyond recognition; terrorized by the undeniable understanding that Andrew Parker would be coming for me. Jonah's gun suddenly slipped from my grasp and fell to the floor. The unexpected thump made me flinch particularly when Jonah rushed to my side. And it wasn't to grab his gun but to keep me from landing on the floor as I instead landed in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably in his embrace.

  "Shh, Jane," Jonah consoled, settling me back into my chair. "It's going to be okay. You'll see. Mr. Kasa and I. . .we're going to take care of you - "

  "Take care of what, Jonah?" I cried, out loud, and frustrated, my eyes searching his desperately, frantically for any hint of hope. But Jonah just knelt there beside my chair looking straight at me, straight through me, and looking less and less than reassuring. "I mean," I sniffled shifting my attention back onto Viktor Kasa. "How could this have happened. . .letting Andrew Parker and his men slip past your hands when your men were there. . .in Boston. . .in the company of all of them - "

  "We didn't anticipate our sources to rally with Parker and his Organization, Jane," Viktor sustained handing me his white handkerchief with the initials "VK" monogrammed in black cursive lettering. "I guess you can say we were. . .broadsided."

  "So. . .what?!" I scoffed, snatching Viktor's handkerchief from his hand. "You instead rounded up a bunch of innocent men, masked their faces, and executed them just to make yourself feel fucking better about them slipping through your hands!"

  "We are sorry about that, Jane." Jonah apologized.

  "If you don't mind, Jonah, I'd rather hear that from Viktor's mouth."

  "And what?" Viktor mimicked. "So you can feel better about yourself?"

  "Okay, enough! The both of you!" Jonah snapped, snatching up his gun from off the floor and standing at Viktor's attention. "Now that Jane is aware of our unfortunate deception, we need to figure out what to do from he
re."

  Viktor shook his head, sighing out and sitting back down in his desk's chair which resembled a king's throne with it's cherry embossed leather and oversized comfort. But for the moment, a king Viktor Kasa was not 'cause he just sat there looking troubled by both my presence and the truth.

  "Well, for starters, if I know Parker well enough I suggest moving Jane, Bree and Anna to a safehouse. . .maybe to one of our friends in the UK. . .maybe London, perhaps."

  "What?" I said suddenly, gravitating back up to my feet. "What do you mean "a safehouse"?"

  "I mean exactly that, Jane. You're not safe. And neither is your gal-pal, Anna nor your step-sister, Bree."

  "You mean. . .they're in danger, too?"

  "What did you expect, Jane? Anna is part of the same hypocrisy. And Bree. . .well she's still Parker's property."

  "Don't say that!" I exclaimed. "Don't ever say that!" I then yelled while the color of my blood cascaded across my face. "Bree's a human being. She's nobody's fucking property!"

  "Oh, yeah?" Viktor mused, clasping his hands together in anticipation, as if waiting for my next verbal move. I quickly opened my mouth to dispute, to repute that very insult of a remark but then it occurred to me that Bree never belonged to anybody but to our fake-ass parents, Douglas and myself. But then it also occurred to me that Bree was just as much mine as she was theirs. And that I could argue.

  "You're wrong, Viktor," I said calming my voice. "Bree belongs. . .to me. I'm the only family she knows."

  Viktor Kasa unclasped his hands and swung his desk chair back toward his desk. Settling in the upright position, he then reached for the phone, picked up the receiver and dialed. A few seconds later, he spoke into the receiver in his Czech accent. A minute after he turned the receiver over to me. "Anna and Bree wish to speak with you."

  "Huh? What?" I retorted dumbfounded, stealing an anxious glance at Jonah before settling it back onto Viktor.

  "Time is ticking," Viktor said shoving the receiver into my right hand. "Talk!" he ordered. I flinched, and shoved the phone against my ear.

  "Anna? Bree?" my voice trembled.

  Jane! Anna gasped.

  Jane! I miss you. When are you coming to get us? Bree asked.

  "'Get you'?" I sounded confused. And even more confused when I glanced down at Viktor who just sat there in his seat watching me closely. "Where are you guys?" I pressed, my gut pinching, wondering if the question was even appropriate?

  We're in Colorado. Anna said to my surprise, pulling my attention from Viktor back to my conversation with Anna.

  It's beautiful here, Jane. Bree elated.

  "What are you guys doing in Colorado? I mean, how'd you guys get there?"

  Well two hours after you left, a few guys showed up at the house and said that we had to go with them per a Mr. Viktor Kasa. That we we're in danger if we stayed. And so because you trusted Viktor, Jane, we, Bree and I left with the men. Said they would protect us. . .you know. . .from. . .them.

  "Oh, God, Anna." my voice again trembled.

  Shh, Jane. Anna comforted. We're safe. Seriously. We are. And especially from them.

  "I really wish I could believe that." I said sniffling back a few tears.

  Jonah messaged the men and they said you'd be joining us soon. Do you know exactly when? Anna pried, hopeful.

  "I suppose. . .soon. Maybe in a day, I think?" I said shifting another anxious glance between Viktor and Jonah 'cause neither looked eager to rid me from their sight. "I guess it will be up to them to decide." I contended.

  Well the sooner they decide, the better we can start moving on with our lives. Anna again comforted. I said nothing. I just nodded into the receiver, sniffling back more tears. We have to get off the phone. They said, I mean.

  "Okay." I agreed.

  I love you, Jane. Bree said.

  "I love you, too, Bree." I said. My heart breaking. "Take care of Bree, Anna. See you soon, both, okay?"

  I will, Jane. Don't you worry. Anna fortified. Then the line clicked. Dead.

  I could have easily crushed the receiver in the very palm of my hands if it weren't for Viktor's interceding by replacing it back into it's compartment. Instead, I glared harshly down at him, holding myself back from diving over his desk and strangling him with my bare hands.

  "You mean to tell me that you already knew what you had to do long before I even showed up here?" I realized my lips had pursed, and my jaw had clenched as I said these very words to Viktor; words of accusation. And it was an obvious sign that not only was I pissed with Viktor, I was also very much enraged. 'Cause not only had I been betrayed, Anna and Bree were also being betrayed right at this very moment; the two believing that everything was okay when in reality it was the complete opposite.

  "Why are you looking at me like that?" Viktor grunted.

  "'Cause you're no different than them. You're no different with all your secrets and lies. And to be honest with you, I really don't care to stick around and see what other secret or lie comes out of your mouth." With that said, without giving the matter a second thought, I picked up my purse and my duffle bag off the chair and stomped toward the wall length double oak doors.

  "Where are you going?" Viktor pried.

  "Back to California." I stated dryly.

  "It's to dangerous, Jane. And you need protection." Viktor argued casually.

  "What's the point of protection when you can't even take care of a simple matter such as Andrew Parker?" I scoffed.

  "You think I'm incapable of personally handling Parker and his men. . .his Organization, Jane? You actually think that less of me? Let me ask you a question. . .How do you think I knew about your coming to New Orleans, huh? I mean, surely it wasn't out of me being, per se, clairvoyant, right?"

  I shrugged my shoulders and sighed out bored. "I don't know," I said the least bit interested. "Maybe you had someone working the ticket counter at the bus station? Or bagging my groceries at the local market?"

  "I've had a handle on you since you last left this place. I've had a handle on you since Jonah dropped you off at the bus station. I've had a handle on you since your arrival in L.A., and then on and there after. I've had a handle on you for the last ten months -"

  "Enough!" I yelled. "Make you're fucking point already!"

  "You're fucking purse, Jane! The one you just can't seem to part yourself from. And please don't fucking tell me that the only reason why you covet that purse is because it's pretty. Because it's expensive. Because it's bullshit! You haven't been able to tear yourself away from it because it's your only way of staying close to me. . .to us. . .Jonah and I. And regardless of how you feel about me, Jane, I bring you comfort. I bring you security. And I AM the only one you so wholeheartedly trust. . .The next thing to having a father."

  It took more than a minute for Viktor to calm his emotions, to surrender his rage into a more rational one. And it took me just as long to realize that by my leaving would only endanger myself further, and that I needed to stay. . .here, with Viktor and Jonah. I mean, I wasn't so much as worried about Anna and Bree 'cause just by the way they sounded earlier - safe and healthy - put some of my fears for them to rest.

  I stared down at the Ed Hardy purse, my eyes surveying the art, the vivid colors, the various beaded stones and studs in search of the GPS mechanism but to no avail; I figured the GPS was microscopic, perhaps injected into the fabric. And despite Viktor having me tracked 24/7, unbeknownst to me which left me feeling somewhat violated, also brought me more comfort than anger 'cause it made me understand that my safety was somewhat of importance. And perhaps Viktor felt some form of regret for betraying me, and this was his only way of keeping me safe.

  "Can you tell my why, other than the fact you felt they were in danger, you moved them to another city? I mean, do you feel Andrew Parker is still after us?"

  "What do you think?" Viktor countered.

  "I don't know," I replied honestly only 'cause I didn't.

  "If you were Andrew Parker, Jane, w
ouldn't you want revenge, too?"

  "'Revenge'?"

  "For almost luring them into my grasp."

  "That was on you, Viktor, remember? You were the one who came after me. . .with this plan of using me to get to Andrew Parker and his Organization because of your pride - "

  "So you suggest that I should have left you right where I found you? Are you suggesting that this incidence is all my fault?"

  "I would have eventually escaped, Viktor, with or without your help. I mean, I was already half-way there up until you showed up."

  "Is that what you believe, Jane?" Viktor said, his tone almost mocking. But I didn't care. Instead I nodded, self-assured. "Oh, my dear," Viktor then chortled coercing the back of my neck hairs to stand on end 'cause despite how naive I might have appeared with my childish insinuations and childish innuendos, I understood that snippet of sarcasm. I had even accustomed myself to it. Because it was something I had grasped from my oppressors.

  "You have much to learn about the consequences of this business, Jane. And unfortunately little girls like yourself, your Bree, your Anna are nothing but expendable little trinkets; you are all but a dime-a-dozen in this monstrous world of ours. You're all like a plague standing on street corners. Walking on public sidewalks. Trusting friends, family, strangers - "

  "Well then if that's the fucking case. . .Why can't Andrew Parker and his men leave us the fuck alone? Why can't they just forget about us and pry on some other vulnerable girls and let us fucking be?!"

  "Pride and Property, Jane," Viktor pondered comically, ". . .they go hand-in-hand."

  "Really?" I mused. "Funny." Viktor then cocked his head curiously at me. "I thought I was your property. And Bree and Anna. . .incentives. . .Bonuses, if I'm permitted to say."

  "You see, Jane," Viktor said mimicking my amusement. "Now you're starting to sound awfully like an illegitimate businessman."

  "Really, huh?" I chuckled the least bit insulted. "I guess that's what happens when a girl associates herself with a bunch of fucking pimps. . .they become their devil's own."

  "Well having said that, and quite arrogantly, if I may be permitted to say. . .Are you ready to handle the truth about Andrew Parker and his men?"