by K. J. Dahlen
“No, not really,” Leon answered him calmly. “You see I have three other daughters and a son.”
“You bastard.” Mikial swore. “You deserve everything you’re about to receive.”
“Fuck you!” Leon shouted as he hung up the call. Before he disconnected completely, Mikial heard him say, “And fuck her too. I was hoping she would have died after the little bitch ran off. My problems would have been over if only she had died that day.” Then the line went dead.
Mikial looked over at Yuri.
Yuri had no problem reading the rage and fury in his eyes. “Calm yourself brother. There is too much to do before you can seek your vengeance.”
“Before this is over vengeance will be mine,” Mikial swore.
“And mine as well,” Pepper said quietly from beside him. “I want that bastard to pay for killing my mother.”
Mikial nodded. “Of course.”
“What else did he say?” Barshan wanted to know.
“Just that he wasn’t happy about the events of the day. He said I opened a can of worms and that it all could have been avoided if only I had cooperated.”
Sazon snorted. “Yeah, all you had to do was bend over and take it in the ass like everyone else he’s screwed over the years. I for one, am happy with the events today.” He grinned. “We stuck it to the man everyone thought was untouchable and you know what? It feels mighty fine.”
Barshan got up and walked over to Yuri’s bar. He grabbed some glasses and a bottle of vodka then brought them back to the sitting area. Pouring everyone a good shot, they raised their glasses in a toast.
Raven raised her glass as well. She couldn’t drink it but she raised her glass anyway.
“To bringing mighty men down,” Yuri called out the toast. “Salute.”
Everyone downed the liquor and slammed their glasses down on the table.
By later that same afternoon, Mikial found Pepper standing at the window looking out over the city. Wrapping his arms around her from the back, he nuzzled her neck. “What ya doing baby?”
“Not much. Just got tired of watching the news.”
“Don’t blame you there.” He chuckled. “It’s fun the first few hours but after that, it gets boring to see a man fall.”
“Did we do the right thing?” she wondered out loud.
Mikial tightened his arms around her waist. “Are you doubting yourself? After everything he did to you?”
Pepper sighed. “No I guess not but whatever he did won’t bring my mom back. It can’t make right the wrong he did me. I mean what did I ever do to him that would cause him to hate me so much?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong sweetheart.” Mikial tried to tell her. “This is his wrong not yours. You were a helpless child and he was the adult. He should have stayed home,, instead of being with your mother. She made the mistake of loving and trusting the wrong man.”
“She paid an awfully high price for her mistake though. She lost everything including her life.”
“And now, it’s his turn to lose everything he’s worked for all these years,” Mikial added.
Pepper turned in his arms and cupped her hand around his jaw. “Hey, all of this led me to you and that I do not regret. I know you want to hear the words. I feel them. I just can’t say them yet. I’m afraid of jinxing whatever this is. So please give me some time. I do care about you very much and want to say those words, so just give me some time.”
Mikial closed his eyes. When he opened them again he said, “Alright baby. I know this is all strange to you but I’m not giving up on you. I can wait until you’re ready to hear the words, just don’t take too long.”
“Don’t give up on me. Please don’t give up on me. I need you so much I can’t imagine life without you in it.”
Mikial grabbed her up and tugged her close. “Just try and get rid of me.” He crushed her lips under his.
Chapter Twelve
When the sun peeked over the horizon the next morning, Mikial opened his eyes and reached for Pepper. The spot next to him was empty and cold. He sat up in a panic searching the room quickly. When he found Pepper sitting at the window, he joined her. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close to him. Her skin felt cold. “How long have you been sitting here all alone?” he asked.
“For a while now, I guess.”
“Is everything okay?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I have so many questions and no one to ask them too. Leon isn’t going to answer them and I don’t know of anyone else who knew my mother that’s still alive.”
Mikial kissed her bare shoulder. “I know this is something you may not want to hear but you may not get the answers you seek. Can you live with that?”
Pepper was silent for a moment then she slowly nodded. “I guess I’ll have to. I can’t change the past but as long as I have you that’s enough.”
Mikial’s hands went to her breasts and he squeezed them, seeking her nipples. “So I’m second prize?” One of his hands dropped down to her waist, seeking her hot core.
Pepper groaned as his fingers flexed within her. “Never second prize, always the grand prize.”
Mikial turned her face to his and sought her lips. Getting to his feet, he picked her up and carried her back to bed. Laying her down, he covered her body with his own. Pulling her shirt up over her head, he lowered his head to her breast. Sucking her nipple into his mouth, he used his tongue and teeth to give her pleasure. When he opened her thighs, he pushed himself into her core.
Pepper groaned. “Please fuck me hard. I need to feel you deep inside me.”
He raised her legs and looped each one over his shoulders. It tilted her and opened her to his thrusts Mikial grunted as he filled her. Moving in and out, he took her rough and with each stroke he felt her body responding.
“Ahhh,” she whimpered. “I can feel you so deep.”
He plunged deeper and smiled as she came, her pussy squeezing his cock tightly. “Yes, Baby, come for me.” Her body tightened around him and he didn’t hold back.
When she crested, she screamed out his name, sending him to follow her over the edge. It took them a few minutes to calm their heartbeats to normal levels. He moved to her side but held her close to him. He lovingly brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
Pepper grabbed his hand and kissed his fingers. “Don’t ever let me go. I couldn’t bear it if you did.”
“You’re mine. I’d die before I let anyone separate us,” he vowed. “Are you ready to go out to your mom’s place?”
Pepper twisted around and searched his eyes. “Are you sure? I don’t want to cause any trouble for you.”
Mikial smiled. “Yeah baby, this is something you need to do.”
“But is it safe to leave here right now?” she asked.
He shrugged. “As long as we’re not gone that long and take care, it should be okay. We can take a couple of Yuri’s men with us as back up.”
“Okay, let’s do this.” Pepper sat up. “Maybe we won’t find anything and maybe I’ll never remember my mom but at least we tried. I can live with that.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were on their way downstairs. When they reached the security room, they found Yuri coming out of the room behind him.
“Good morning.” Yuri met them with a smile.
“Morning,” Mikial greeted his friend. “We need to borrow at least one of your men. Pepper wants to go out to the place her mother lived.”
Yuri nodded. Turning back to his security room, he called for Kosta to join them. “The place is on the road to Chalmette. She lived outside of town on a little road called Verity Road.” He turned to look at Pepper. “The land has gone back to being overgrown and the county dragged the burned out trailer away, so there is nothing there anymore.”
Pepper nodded. “I just want to see the place my mom called home and try to remember her. We won’t stay long. Hopefully, we won’t run into any trouble.”
Yuri nodded. “You just do what yo
u need to do. We all understand that this hasn’t been easy for you.”
“I hope you know I would never bring danger to you and your friends. I just want to know where I came from.”
“I understand.” Yuri smiled. “I hope this works for you and you find the answers you seek.”
“Me too.” Pepper glanced over at Mikial and smiled. “I do care for him very much.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Yuri told her. “If you break his heart I’ll break you, I hope you understand what I’m saying.”
Pepper swung her head around and stared at him. “I do understand and I hope that day never comes.”
Kosta searched for the turn off on Verity Road. When he found it, he turned on a driveway and came to a stop parallel to a cement slab. The cement slab was broken in places and scarred with a burn mark almost the entire length. A set of broken cement steps were still visible at the far end of the slab and what remained of wooden posts rotted on the end of it.
Pepper opened the back door and climbed out of the vehicle. Looking around the property, she was searching for anything that looked familiar.
Her sense went on overload as she felt a strong sense of coming home flood her system. She didn’t know why but she felt good about being here. Memories were coming back to her. From where she stood, the property was overgrown and weeds choked out the flower beds she was seeing in her mind. Looking toward the tree line, she could barely make out an old tire swing hanging from a branch in one of the trees.
A faded old birdhouse was propped precariously on a broken post near an old barrel almost covered in a mass of tangled vines. Pepper’s heart felt sore as she looked around. She was starting to piece together her past, as much as she could anyway. She was only four when she left this place.
Mikial got out of the car and came up behind her. Wrapping his arms around her, he whispered in her ear, “Are you all right?”
Pepper leaned back and rested on him. “I remember this place.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Leon may not have wanted me but my mother did. She loved me and made me a home where I felt safe and happy. She would wake me up every morning with kisses and hugs. Before she would get out of my bed, she would share her dreams with me and we would giggle at her silly thoughts sometimes. She listened to all my thoughts and fears. She made me feel safe. Whenever I was scared, she would hold me and tell me things would be okay.”
Kosta got out of the car and rushed over to them.
Mikial turned his head and noted the look on the other man’s face.
“We have to get out of here now,” Kosta warned. “We have company and I’m not sure it’s friendly.”
Mikial didn’t say anything, instead he hustled her over to the safety of the vehicle.
Pepper began to panic as she was pushed into the back seat.
Mikial followed her into the car, pulling his weapon as he slammed the door behind him.
Kosta turned the engine and raced back toward the main road.
Four yards from the main road a shot rang out. Kosta began fighting the wheel as the vehicle veered to the right. It was headed straight for the tree line. When the metal met a standing tree, the crunch of crumpled metal and broken glass echoed. Someone screamed when the car hit and Pepper was thrown around the back seat. When the car finally stopped, she pulled herself up off the floor.
Mikial had hit the window hard and seemed dazed but okay.
As she got up from the floor, she noticed the airbag in the front seat had gone off and Kosta was out cold. Blood ran down the side of his face and he was pushed up against the driver’s side window.
The back door was wrenched open and Mikial was slow to respond. When he raised his weapon, it was grabbed out of his hand and a gun was shoved into his face. Mikial stopped moving and raised his hands slowly in the air.
Pepper watched the gun in Mikial’s face then raised her eyes to the man holding the weapon. He was older than she was. His long red hair had streaks of silver in it, tied back into a ponytail and his green eyes were blazing with rage. His cheeks were clean shaven but he had the look of a predator about him.
He squatted down on his haunches and smiled. The fact that his smile didn’t reach his eyes was telling. “Well, this is an interesting turn of events, now isn’t it?” His voice had a soft Irish lilt to it and his statement was just that, a statement of fact rather than a question.
“What the fuck do you want Flynn?” Mikial asked.
“Well now, boyo that is the question isn’t it?” Timothy Flynn chuckled briefly. Turning his head to Mikial he said, “This could have been avoided if you had cooperated with my buddy Leon but you didn’t. Now, it seems we have a problem and I do hate problems, don’t you?”
Turning his eyes to Pepper, he stared at her for a moment then looked back to Mikial. “That your woman, mate?”
Mikial didn’t say a word but nodded.
Flynn nodded. “Well, good then, this will be an easy trade. Not quite the way I wanted it but it will work.”
“What are you talking about?” Mikial frowned.
Flynn rubbed the edge of his gun along his jaw. “I had hoped you would have been reasonable and accepted Leon’s invitation for a partner that way the only contact we would have had was when my men came to collect the shipments from Europe, you and I would never have had to meet but that didn’t happen. Now we have a problem. I have a shipment coming in two days’ time. A shipment I need to collect and I can’t have you refusing or returning it. It seems we have a problem but for every problem there is a solution, now isn’t there?”
“I’m listening,” Mikial stated as he narrowed his eyes to stare at the man who thought he held all the power. At the moment he did, but that could change any time. He felt curious about what Timothy Flynn was about to propose. He wouldn’t agree to it mind you, but at the moment, it wasn’t going to hurt to hear what the other man had to say.
“Well, with all the trouble you’ve been causing for my old pal Leon, he isn’t going to be much help with this matter so I guess I have to take care of it myself,” Flynn stated. Glancing over at Pepper, his gaze came back to Mikial. “Now what I propose is this, I’ll take your girlfriend home with me until the shipment comes in. As soon as you sign for it, because it will need your signature, the moment I have control of the shipment I’ll make you a trade, your girlfriend for the shipment. Now how does that sound? Its fair isn’t it?”
Mikial ground his teeth together but it was Pepper’s hand on his arm that paused his statement to Flynn. Mikial glanced over at her and read the fear on her face. If she hadn’t been here, he would have fought back but he couldn’t take the chance with her life.
Turning his head back to Flynn, he noted the other man’s stare. He tried to read his eyes but there was nothing there at all. His eyes were cold and dead inside. “And if I refuse your request?” Mikial asked simply because he was curious.
Timothy Flynn shrugged. “I can’t kill you because I need you to get the shipment. But that doesn’t mean I can’t kill your driver or maybe your girlfriend. No that wouldn’t do at all would it? I’d have to keep your girlfriend alive. She’s the key to keeping you in line but her health depends on what you do. If you behave yourself and don’t cause me any grief, she should make it through this okay. She won’t be any more banged up than she is right now.”
“Do I have your word on that?” Mikial asked in a low tone.
Flynn chuckled and grinned at Mikial. “Yeah, give you my word on that.” Then the grin slid off his face and his eyes grew cold again. “If you try and fuck me on this deal of ours, like you did with Leon I’ll send her body back to you in tiny pieces. I’ve been doing business in this town for a long time because I keep my business quiet and people know enough not to make waves in my area. I don’t draw attention to what I do and people respect me. They leave me alone and for the most part, I leave them alone.”
“If you hurt her in any way I’ll hunt you down personally and you’ll beg for death, do you
understand me?” Mikial seethed. “And that will be after I take out your business and your crew, every single one of them. Do you understand me?”
Flynn stared at the other man for a long moment before he gave him a single nod. “We can both win or lose everything we want in this deal. I’ll keep my end of it, if you keep yours. By the day after tomorrow, this will be over. My man will be there when you open your doors for business. He’ll let me know when the shipment is there and he’ll bring it to me. Once I have custody of it, I‘ll let her go. What she does then, is up to her.”
“After this is done, you and I will never see each other again, correct?” Mikial snarled.
Flynn shrugged. “I can live with that. Of course, it will take some time for me to set up in another area but that is a small price.” Then he pulled back the top half of the gun and pointed it at the back of Kosta’s head.
Kosta still hadn’t moved yet.
When Flynn put the business end of the weapon against the other man’s head Pepper gasped. “No.”
Flynn paused then turned to her. “Why not? This man means nothing to me. Why shouldn’t I kill him?”
“Because you need my cooperation in order to get what you want.” She pointed out. “If you kill him, I’ll fight you every step of the way. You have already promised Mikial you won’t hurt me and he’s trusting your word. I’ll behave if you leave them both alive.”
Mikial snapped his head to look at her. She was staring at Flynn but he could see the resolve in her face. Resolve and fear. Mikial could feel her tremble but she didn’t take her eyes off Flynn.
Flynn continued to stare at her then he very slowly, lowered the gun. Holding his hand out to her, she placed her hand in his. He pulled her out of the car and when she was standing next to him, he turned his cold gaze back to Mikial. “Your lady has guts my friend. She just saved your driver’s life. Now you save hers and do as I ask.”