What started as a method of distraction to get more time to analyze the letter’s handwriting after Mason was comatose by sex…became a new quest for her to fuck him and feel all of him. She hadn’t had an orgasm not orchestrated by her own hands in such a long time and to be penetrated by such length could give her what she’d been looking for in more ways than one.
Sex had always been her weakness and strength. When she was younger after hearing her father wake in the middle of the night screaming about the gooks in the bush, she could hear her mother calm him. Shortly after the rhythmic squeaking of the bed and her mother’s cries of passion would be the sounds that put her to sleep. When in high school, she wanted a share of the football captain’s popularity, so she used her early developed breasts to gain his attention. And once in college, she offered herself to her professor because he was going to fail her due to academic performance. She passed the class when she did, and her professor’s name was still in her email contacts. She currently didn’t have a boyfriend or husband, and she needed her void filled with girth and length.
"Orin-Orinda, please stop. You-u-u don’t have to do this to t-t-t-hank me. It’s g-g-getting late and we have w-w-work in the morning, and I want to respect you at that time."
"So you mean to tell me if we two adults enjoyed each other, you wouldn’t respect me afterwards?" she asked. Her body felt warm and her speech sounded a little slurred. She was as insulted as she was turned on but would only show one of her emotions. This was the weakness part of the sex in her. She had felt rejection before even when offering her fruit. Others called her easy, a whore or even worse, her professor’s ex-wife called her “The Home Breaker Co-ed.” When a man rejected her, she felt embarrassed and slighted.
"Ningún hombre puede rechazar este coño Latina." (No man can turn down this Latina pussy.) She stepped back with resentment until she noticed her touch of Mason’s crotch began to awaken a monster regardless of how he tried to resist her advances.
"I d-d-didn’t mean anything by m-m-m-my words b-b-but I don’t want it to be dif-different with us afterward. Besides, I really like you.”
After honest confession of his feeling for her, she pulled back for good. She remembered his jitters and awkwardness from earlier. It wasn’t until they were driving and he had a drink, did he loosen up but currently his system had more liquor than then, but he had more anxiety than ever before. She would not be cruel. She cupped the back of his neck to make his six-foot-plus inch frame meet her five foot six and kissed his lips. It was meant as an apology and also it was to test the waters of his final stance. Mason returned her kiss with a little passion and then pulled back. She would not push the issue any further.
Chapter 9
"They are on the way. When they arrive, allow them to be as much a part of the team as possible. We don’t want there to be any segregation between journalist and law enforcement because that will blow it for you and will create a whole other issue."
"I’m adult now, and we have it all under control. You just better get them there. There is nothing else to I need from you."
"Is that what you really think? That you have it all under control? Don’t get ahead of yourself because this may be trickier than you thought it would be."
"Like I said, I need nothing else from you. I know how to get the job done, Boss. The first never knew what was coming to him and neither will this one. I bet this one will be the easier because I’ve been working on him for some time."
"Didn’t I just tell you not to get ahead of yourself? Are you a fucking moron? Besides he probably knows that he is next. They will find out this is not all a coincidence. Paranoia will awaken his senses, another one of the traits learned as trained killers by the United States Marines Corps. If you think that it will be easy, you are so mistaken."
"I don’t need any advice. You just get him as close to the case as possible, and I will take it from there. Once he is not expecting it, I’m going do this fucking guy. I’m going to do him wrong, and I will enjoy it. Remember, I’m a killer, too, and there is nothing more beautiful than watching the slow leak of blood on the ground with a guy’s mouth and eyes wide open. It’s poetic. It’s beautiful."
"After this is done and I bring him to you, I want you to uphold your part of the deal. You will take your 300,000 and stay the fuck away. You got that?! You will have no name, no family, and no story just like before. "
"I already have the account ready. You make sure that the cash deposit is not traceable. Once this is all over with, I’m going where I won’t have to worry about American laws again. I have a Serbian passport showing Serbian citizenship. I will be a ghost to you just as I was, so let’s get this over with, but first I’m going to have a little fun with Sessions. You just make sure this Griffin guy who joined the investigation is not someone I have to worry about."
"What do you mean, not someone to worry about? How do I do that? You are the hired hit man with all the big connections. You’re going to have to figure out how to remove Griffin yourself. I had nothing to do with him joining this. I had no idea Costa was going to call the NJSP, for Christ’s sake! I was only supposed to bring you all together, and I did what I said I would. You’re the freelance sociopath-turned-mercenary. I’m sure you can figure it out.”
"I’m more than that, and you fucking know it. I’m the missing link. Don’t you REMEMBER? Or do I have to remind you? You were the one who came to get me. "
"Okay, okay, this is getting out of hand. Is there anything else that you need from me? Tell me what else you need so I can get rid of you and back to my life."
"You don’t want to know more? Why not, you’re not man enough to handle it? Don’t you walk away from me. You’re going to stay right there and listen because I want to give you details, Boss, play by fucking play. After I did Stockton in, I removed the eagle, globe and anchor from his dress blues and replaced it with a two-headed eagle, the symbol for Serbia military. This dates back to Sessions and my tyrannous time together. He doesn’t know it’s me, but it’s a hint for him just in case he wants to know who is going to void his pathetic life."
"That was a mistake because he will find you out. You were supposed to try and get out of the country, but I doubt that will happen now. He is really good at what he does. You should never underestimate anyone. Never.”
"Don’t you worry about that! Like I said, we have the rest under control. The job will get done, and everything else that follows will be according to plan."
"I swear this is all fucked up. Is whatever happened in the past really worth killing someone who was willing to lay his life down for you?"
"Boss, I told you it’s a done deal. I have to get this all taken care of. As a matter of fact, nothing that you say is going to stop that. I have a feeling that bitch with him will have to be eliminated as well. She will be so distracted to help him, it will help us get them both. I heard she’s a know-it-all and I swear on everything holy, if she gets in the way, I will do her, too, you fucker, because I make the rules here. You don’t have a say in this because we are in charge. The next time you try and convince me to change my fucking mind you will pay for it, too. This is not a game. All you have to worry about is me getting paid. "
"I will do what I can to get the money on time as long as you keep your word and hold your end of the bargain.”
"This is your last time. Do you fucking hear me? We have no time for you and your bullshit. Just get the money and we will make a clean break. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, you are loud and crystal clear."
"Thank you very much for that. Now that that is over, can I tell you how I did it? I wanted to give the good details.”
“You already told me you shot him in the back of the head and through his temples. I got it. I think the mental picture is vivid enough."
"That’s correct. I blew his fucking top off. I’m surprised his face was still intact enough because I was hoping to blow his face off, too. Then I sent one through his th
inking cap. To be honest, it was the most brutal thing I’ve ever seen even in my time during combat, and it felt so good, I can’t wait to do it again. Before I did it, I showed Stockton the lapels to see if he remembered what they were. Even before his own death, the fucker still voiced his disdain for the Chetas. He didn’t have time to feel fear or beg for his life, and hate was the last emotion he felt. "
"You’re one sick son of a bitch. Do you know that? It’s like you don’t have a connection with the guy. Why did you do it the way you did? Couldn’t you have poisoned him or something? Did you have to execute him like a dog in the street?"
"What does it matter? You don’t have blood on your hands, so what’s the problem? And to answer your question, it’s not hard to do that to someone who you’ve watched do the same thing, especially someone that knows you and knows the dirt you’ve done. It’s actually quite easy. The reason I did it that way was BECAUSE I knew him. I didn’t want him to feel any other emotion. Once he was blinded by his hate, he wouldn’t be alert to my plan nor would he feel betrayal. Hell, he didn’t even put up a fight. I didn’t want him to feel any pain either. He felt nothing. One minute we were talking. The next there was a shot and then his body collapsed. Point blank range."
"Do you want to explain to me the letter? Is this your calling card of some sort? The poetic killer? Are you looking for a name?"
"I don’t want to talk about that part, okay? Just know that the letter was needed to set up my next victim. I don’t want to talk about the significance of the content. That’s personal."
"You mean to tell me that a cold-blooded killer like you has..."
"I said that I don’t want to talk about it. It’s personal."
"I know you make the rules here, but you can at least tell me what I need to know. What the fuck, I tell you. You young people do not understand what it means to be a superior, do you? It doesn’t only mean you outrank everyone and you’re in charge. It means being able to listen and communicate with your team. I know this for a reason. Do you remember what you call me?”
"I used to call you something, but now I call you a few other things when we aren’t together. Over the phone and in person, I call you the Boss."
"Exactly, you call me Boss because of who I am and what I do. Now I don’t want to upset you. That’s the last thing either one of us wants or needs. I just want you to answer my question. Can you explain to me what the letter is about? Is it your calling card?"
"If you must know while we were deployed, we found comfort in one another at times because we were far away from contact with loved ones back in the states. I don’t want to get into the specific details. I know Sessions knows what happened and the letter is for Sessions to understand. No one else."
"What does that have to do with the letter? He knows you’re a faggot, too? You know you’re going to hell for all of your sins."
“I don’t have to explain myself. You wanted an answer of why I wrote the letter and I told you. As for me going to hell for my sins, that’s for me and God to worry about, not a man who has done the same as the murdered Marine. By the way, murderers and faggots go to the same hell, but people who hate others for who they are, go to the same hell as well."
"Is that the best you’ve got? I don’t know if you know this but I can give two fucks about moral advice from a murderer, especially a queer murderer.”
“Now enough of this! Time is running out. You just make sure you get the money prepared and bait them before they realize who’s behind this. Also we don’t want this getting out to the public. You make sure that it doesn’t. That will allow me to use my same tactic and get close. We all knew each other at a time. He isn’t going to be suspicious of me and that will allow me to get even closer. When the time is right, Sessions will be lying in a pool of his own blood. At least there won’t be a mother to cry over an orphan."
"You get this done and soon. Afterwards, I want you out of here."
"No offense, Boss, but I don’t need a reminder of the task at hand. You just make sure the money is where it should be. As a matter of fact, I want at least half within a week."
"That wasn’t a part of the fucking deal. You get paid when the job is done. Period. The deal wasn’t for two installments. It was for one large lump sum. Just because you are getting a hard on about dead Marines or you’re getting nervous about getting caught doesn’t allow you to change the rules.”
“Pay me what you owe me, or we are going to have some problems. Pay me when I tell you to pay me, or we are going to have some problems. Do I make myself clear, Boss, or do I have to make a pit stop at 31230 Merriweather Lane, New Castle, Delaware 19720 when you’re not there? I’m sure that my appearance would be a welcome yet unpleasant surprise. You get my drift right, Boss?"
"If you take one step on my street without being invited, I will know about it. If you so much as breathe on my door step, I will know about it and if you ever touch my family, I will personally watch your spirit desert your body."
"See, Boss, that’s where you and I are different. I wish you could ask Stockton what his last words were. I don’t think you get it, so I want to give you an insider tip. You think you’re the Boss, but I’m the one in charge. Don’t you know you can’t ever trust a man who would kill a man that thought he was a friend? Don’t you get that? If you don’t believe me, just try me. I told you I want the money to be in two parts, one this week and the rest when the deed is done. Or maybe Jennifer won’t make it to her yoga class or maybe ‘uncle’ will have to pick up Madeline’s and Jacob’s children up from the preparatory school where you enrolled them. Is that what needs to happen for you to realize I’m not playing around? If so, I’m only a 30 minute drive away from your township, and I guarantee the authorities won’t have a clue. Remember who I have on my side. My cool is starting to heat up. Now tell me what I want to hear because if not, this conversation will not be the only thing I will kill."
"Okay. Okay, you will get paid your just due in the new time. Just don’t harm my family because unlike us, my kids are innocent. You leave them alone! And my wife, she has no idea of what’s going on, and it would break her heart if she did, so I’d like to keep it like this. You win. Okay? After this, you are dead to me."
"Great! That’s all I wanted. That and for you to recognize who is in control of this entire affair. The killer is feared by society and revered at the same time. You just needed a little reminder, just a little push. Lucky for you, I’m not as bad as some others. I’m gonna give you a little advice so listen closely. Don’t fuck with a guy who has nothing else to live for. It’s not smart. You got it?"
"I got it, son. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for everything, just know that I never doubted you or your ability."
"Oh, Boss, enough with the softer side! You just gave me shit for it earlier. Remember how brave you were to call me a faggot and sensitive a few minutes ago? Now, it’s ‘son’ and ‘young man.” It’s nothing like a threat on a man’s family to put it all back in perspective, but that’s neither here nor there now. I accept your apology and after the deal is done as you wish, I will disappear. I will disappear like footprints on the ground after fresh snow, and you will never hear from me again but remember, if you cross me, I will make you pay. I don’t want you to pay with your life because it means nothing to me anyway. I’d rather you pay with your loved ones. The ones who think you are some great veteran who served a great country. I would rather they pay, the ones who have no idea what you did during your time of service. I will enlighten them first before I immortalize them in your memory."
"I promise you will get your money. I’m ready to be done with this conversation. You will get your money. Is there anything else that we need to speak of?"
"I rather enjoy this part of the conversation. I think I should have started it this way, and maybe I could have had your full attention and fearful respect from the very beginning. I was starting to enjoy this."
"I said I’m done with this and I’m ready to g
et back inside. It’s cold out."
"You’re done? You still think you’re calling the shots here, huh? Okay well, if you’re done, I guess I am, too, but not before I tell you this. Don’t let Jennifer take the grandkids to school in the family Volvo tomorrow. I figured you would be a hard ass and wouldn’t recognize my ability so I was prepared. I was going to surprise you with a case of cut brakes. They would have all had a hell of a ride. Not saying they wouldn’t have survived, but it would have been iffy. Tell her to take the other car."
"You’ve already been to my home?"
"Yes, I have. I have a few times and I know a lot. This is what I do! I’m a professional. How many times do I have to remind you of that? I know what drawer she puts her panties in. I know about the coke you have hidden in the cut-out compartment of your cigar box. I know a lot. I came to you for a reason because again, this is what I do. I thought you said if I breathed on your street you would know."
"You, you fucking... You!"
"Boss, YOU can just call me God. Who else has your life in his hands? Call me God. Say it!"
"You are God."
"Yes, I am. I am God. Remember that."
Chapter 10
"Avenge me, brother. Avenge me for dying in vain. Avenge me, comrade. Or more will die."
The voices were very prominent in the morning hours now. Mason heard them again as he had yesterday and the day before while he lay awake in bed, but this time it was different. This time it felt more like a haunted warning instead of a menacing memory that wouldn’t fade with time. Still the voices haunted him nonetheless. No amount of salvation or any amount of good deed could remove the bad he had done and what he had been a part of.
The voices weren’t there before Kosovo, but they were there ever since. They became louder and louder over the last few months. No matter how many times Mason apologized to the voice in his head, the only response was the request to avenge him.
Slivovica Mason Page 7