by K. J. Dahlen
“Can I ask you something?” Raven asked.
Stevie nodded.
“What is this evidence you have?”
Stevie shrugged. “I’m not really sure what it is. I broke into the house to check on Benny and maybe get him the hell out of that cesspool and I found a hidden room. I didn’t plan on stealing anything that night except Benny but when I found that room, I found a hell of a lot more than just the old lady’s secrets. I found books that recorded every single one of her transactions. I heard someone coming so I hid and saw her come in and make a note in one of the books. Then she went over to the safe and put a whole stack of money in there. After she left, I went over to the books and had a look. I didn’t understand what it said but I knew it was important. I grabbed a small bag and stuffed it with everything I could find that I didn’t think she would miss and then I went over to the safe and took some of the money in there too. I got out of the house and I ran. I’m sorry to say I didn’t take Benny with me that night. I wanted to, but I figured she’d know I was there. Instead, I protected my own ass.” She hung her head in shame. “I let him down that night.”
“No you didn’t,” Benny told her from the doorway. “You could never let me down, don’t you know that?”
“But I didn’t take you with me,” Stevie protested.
“But I got away a few days later didn’t I?” Benny cried out. “You didn’t know it but they had me locked in my room that night. Caulder thought you might come for me and he was waiting for you to show up. I’m glad you left me there that night. Caulder was set to beat you half to death if he caught you. I survived and so did you and now, we don’t ever have to deal with them again.”
Stevie went to him and pulled him into a hug.
Benny wrapped his arms around her and refused to let her go. “Now we can breathe again. Now we have a chance to be happy. We can all be a family now, you and Roman and me and the baby.”
“That’s what I always dreamed of, being a family,” Stevie whispered.
They watched as Benny ran back to the living room. He’d been playing a video game with Barshan and Barshan had called him back for the next step in the game.
Stevie shook her head and gazed at the boy with love in her eyes. Turning around and taking her seat, she went back to her sandwich.
“Can I ask you something more?” Raven stared at her.
Stevie nodded as she took a bite of her sandwich.
“Has Roman ever told you anything about his past?”
Stevie chewed and swallowed, then nodded slowly at the other woman. “A little bit.”
“Then you know something about what they all went through. Did he ever once mention a brother?” Raven traced a circle with her finger tip on the countertop.
“Yes, he told me about his brother. Roman said his name was Vlad. He was only two when he lost him and it’s his hope that the boy is still alive somewhere.” She stared at Raven for a moment then asked, “Why are you asking about that?”
Raven exhaled. “My grandfather Sergi called Yuri a few days ago to tell him that someone has come forward to claim Roman is his son. He said there was another man with him who claimed he was Roman brother but his name wasn’t Vlad it was Iosif.”
“Really?” Stevie was stunned. “Did your grandfather believe him?”
Raven nodded slowly. “I’m afraid he did.”
“Afraid?” Stevie questioned. “Why would you be afraid of something like that?”
“This man lives and works for the Bratva in Kazakhstan. He is well established there and has plans to take Roman there to work under him. He knows Roman is well versed in the Bratva and he knows that Roman can hold his own.”
“He wants to take Roman with him back to Kazakhstan?” Stevie whispered. “What about the baby? What about me and Benny?”
Raven shook her head. “You don’t understand. Yuri hasn’t told Roman any of this, not yet. He would have if someone hadn’t taken a shot at you. Roman doesn’t care about anything except keeping you and Benny and the baby safe.”
Stevie went over to the nearest chair and sat down. She didn’t say anything for the longest time then she looked over at Raven. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “But you know how they are about family. It’s the one thing they all wanted for most of their lives. The one thing that was denied them all their lives. How can I hold him to me when he wants something that badly?”
“Don’t you know me better than that by this time?” Roman asked the question from the door.
Stevie turned and saw him standing there.
He slowly walked over to where she sat and got down on his knees in front of her. Putting his huge hands around her face he told her, “I love you woman and I’ve never told any woman that before. Yes, I dreamed of a family when I was young and yes, I often wondered what happened to my brother but when I met Yuri and the others, I had a family again. Maybe we weren’t blood but we were brothers all the same. I had to let go of my worries over Vlad. I couldn’t save him or help him. All I could do was pray for his soul. Pray that he was okay and still alive. Then we came here and after a very long time I found you and Benny. You became part of me. You sank so deep inside of my soul that I can’t live without you anymore. I don’t even want to try. I’m not going anywhere without you, or Benny and the baby. I hope you know that.” He turned to Raven. “If this man is really my brother he will just have to accept that. Too much time has passed. We both grew up in very different manners. But that’s something neither of us could help. We’re all grown up now and he has his life there and I have mine here. I’m not going anywhere. I have everything I want right here.”
Raven nodded and tried to smile.
He turned back to Stevie. “Don’t ever think I would give you up because I won’t. Not for money, not for strangers that claim I belong to them. Only death will ever separate us and then I will haunt you for the rest of your days until you join me in another universe.” He leaned forward and brought his lips down on hers. The kiss they shared was a little bit sweet and a whole lot hot. When they broke apart he whispered, “I want to get married. I want you and the baby to have my name.”
“Ok,” Stevie whispered. Then she closed her eyes and dipped her head forward. “Damn, I can’t marry you.”
Roman frowned. “Why? Why can’t you marry me?”
“I don’t have a birth certificate or a social security number. I can’t prove I was born or that I even exist,” bhe babbled.
Roman chuckled. “Is that all? I thought we had a problem.”
“Well ,some people might think that’s a problem,” Stevie muttered. “I mean we do have to produce a birth certificate in order to get a license.”
Roman kissed the end of her nose. “When things settle down we’ll go to the church where you were left. They should have some kind of record we can use to find your birth certificate. We can get whatever paperwork you need. I just need to know that you’ll be mine someday.”
Stevie smiled through her tears. “I would be honored to marry you.”
Roman smiled and kissed her again. When he ended the kiss, he looked into her eyes. “Now I have to deal with this man who claims he is my brother.” Getting to his feet, he glanced at Raven. “I already know about this and I have been told he is in the building as well. I just wanted to check on Stevie first.”
Raven shrugged. “He thought you had enough on your plate keeping Stevie and Benny safe. He had your back.”
Roman nodded. “I know. He’s always had my back just like the others, just like I’d have his back anytime and anyplace. That’s what makes us a family in every sense of the word. But this is my problem not theirs.”
Raven shook her head. “If it affects you it affects them. That’s part of the equation.’
“I know. But I still have to deal with this.”
“Be careful, okay,” Stevie whispered. “I need you too.”
Roman smiled. “I’ll be back. Da skó-ra-va.” He left the room.
S
tevie nodded he’d taught her that meant ‘see you soon.’ Unlike his slang word for goodbye, Noka it meant will see you again and wasn’t a goodbye. She watched him leave and wondered what else could go wrong in her life.
Roman headed down the hall to Yuri’s office and opened the door without knocking.
Yuri glanced up and smiled when he saw him standing there. “Come in.” He motioned him into the room.
Roman walked over to the desk and sat down opposite him. He crossed his leg over his knee and stared at the other man for a moment.
Yuri waited for him to speak.
“I understand there is someone here at rhe hotel that claims he’s my brother,” Roman began.
Yuri sighed then nodded. “Sergi called me a few days ago about this matter but with things going crazy and someone shooting at Stevie I put off telling you he was actually here.”
Roman nodded. “I understand that. You did tell me. I just didn’t want to listen…” He paused and stared at Yuri for a moment. “You don’t seemed surprised by this.”
Yuri shrugged. “We always knew about the possibility. When you were sick one time, you became delirious and you spoke of a brother then. You went on about going to find food and returning to him being missing. You didn’t remember it or ever mentioned it again, so we didn’t say anything either. It was your past not ours.”
Roman nodded. “I was six when our mother left us alone in a cold apartment in Moscow. Vlad was two and we’d run out of food. He was so hungry he could barely cry anymore. He was sleeping when I left. I had to find something for him to eat and I didn’t want to be gone after dark. He wasn’t there when I returned. I searched the entire apartment. I checked with the neighbors but they hadn’t seen anything either. I thought someone might have sent him to the orphanage. I even went there to look for him but I never found him. I still don’t know what happened to him.’
Yuri thought about what he should tell him for a moment, then he just came out and told him what happened, “Your father found him there alone and took him home. He didn’t know you even existed at that point. Admittedly, he hadn’t know about either of you but he managed to track your mother down and when he found her in Moscow he went to find her, instead he found your brother.”
Roman froze as he thought about what Yuri just said. After a moment, he nodded. “I see…”
“Nyet I don’t think you do.” Yuri tried to interrupt him.
“No I do see. He came after my mother and found Vlad instead. He took Vlad home with him. All this time, Vlad has been safe and with family.”
“He didn’t know about you.”
Roman nodded. “I realize that. Vlad was only two and didn’t speak that much at the time. There was no way he could have told him about me.” He shrugged. “I’m sure my mother never told the old man about either of us. He would have killed her if he knew she left his kids behind to fend for themselves. I know I would have.”
“Your brother is still here in the hotel. And, Roman, he and your father are Bratva. He said he wouldn’t leave until he spoke to you. I wanted to give you breathing room. I’m sorry if I fucked this up for you.”
Roman smiled. “It figures, Bratva. You didn’t do anything wrong. You handled the situation as best you could.” He leaned forward and drew his hands over his mouth as if he were wiping off a bad taste of something. “I’m glad to know my brother is alive and well but too much time has passed since I last saw him. He went one way and I went another way. I found my forever family the day I found the four of you. Now I’ve met the one woman for me and we’re getting married. I’m going to have a son or a daughter with my own blood in him or her and to me that’s enough. It’s all I really ever wanted.”
“What about your father and your brother? They want you back with them.” Yuri pointed out.
Roman shook his head. “Then they will be disappointed won’t they? I told Stevie I’m not going anywhere and I meant it. She, the baby and Benny along with all of you are all I need. If my brother and father want to be part of my life again, then they will accept that.” He shrugged again. “If not, well at least I know about them and they will know about me. It’s all I’m willing to give them at the moment.”
Yuri nodded. Sliding a card key across the desk he told Roman, “Sergi, Misha and Nikoli are on their way here even as we speak. He wanted to be the one to tell you about your father and brother but your brother couldn’t wait. He claims your father sent him ahead but either way, he didn’t follow protocol, so it’s up to you whether you see him now or wait.”
“Maybe I should wait for Sergi.” Roman decided. “That way protocol is in place and we avoid a war in the Bratva.”
Yuri agreed. “Maybe that would be best. I don’t think your brother is going anywhere.”
“No and I have a woman to reassure.” Roman chuckled. “She said she would marry me then brought up the fact that she has no birth certificate.”
Yuri laughed out loud. “Like we would let that stand in your way. She has a lot to learn about us.”
“She does indeed but the teaching might be so much fun.” Roman got to his feet and held out his hand. When Yuri reached for it he said, “Thank you for protecting me and mine.”
Yuri pulled him into a hug. “We made a pact many years ago in a warehouse in Moscow. We are brothers then and now. Nothing will ever come between us.”
Roman embraced his brother. Then he turned and went back to the suite.
Jack huddled in his hiding spot. The cool night air was getting rather cold now in the predawn hours. Being so still for hours at a time wasn’t as easy as it used to be but he also knew he couldn’t move around too much either. He’d taken note of the security cameras on this side of the building when he moved over here.
He was about to shut down for a few hours when he noticed a set of three limos entering the drive of the hotel. All three stopped at the front door as passengers departed and rushed inside the building. He noted there were three well-dressed men in one limo and several bodyguards in the other two. The limos pulled into parking and the drivers joined the others inside.
This new development was curious and Jack didn’t quite know what to make of it. Then an hour or so later, he saw yet another limo pull into the drive. This limo held one man and two more body guards, and Jack wondered what the hell was going on here.
He had to wonder what his client had gotten him into. This was more than just a simple shooting. He shrugged. Maybe all these new people on scene had nothing to do with his target. He’d had to keep track of all the players and wait to find out. I hope that this standoff would end soon.
He wanted to be long gone before the trial began in Baton Rouge and that day was two days away yet. He needed to find a way to get to the target and get out before he was caught.
He would have to try another approach. Slipping down off the roof, he entered the hotel by the way of the kitchen exit. Milling around the darkened room he grabbed a uniform and waited for the staff to arrive. There was more than one way to complete a contract. Ducking the bathroom, he began to change his appearance the best he could. He just needed enough time to find his prey and take her out.
Chapter Ten
Baton Rouge
Nick Bennett stopped in the bathroom before he went to the conference room to visit with Eugene. The more he thought about his plan the more it made sense to him. No Eugene, no more problem. His part in all of this would be finished. If he needed to, he could use his clout to squash the story again.
The best part… no one else would know what really killed Eugene. Outward symptoms would present as a heart attack. As he had no kin, there was no one to ask for an autopsy and in Louisiana, they weren’t required.
He took the small vial out of his pocket and unwrapped the stopper. The clear liquid inside smelled slightly like honey. He didn’t want to think about what he was going to do so he quickly spilled a small amount in his hands and he rubbed his hands together to dispel the liquid. His skin tingled
slightly but he had no other ill effects.
He then slipped the vial back into his pocket and went to the conference room down the hall.
When he opened the door, Eugene immediately began to whine about everything under the sun.
Nick closed his eyes and began repeating his dream in his head. I’m going home after today. I’m going home after today.
He closed the door behind him and noting where the officer was standing he held out his hand, for Eugene to shake.
Eugene looked at him as if to question the act but he did reach for the hand Nick held out.
Nick could see the dirt and slime under the other man’s nails and inwardly he cringed but he made sure he shook his hand long and hard.
Then he sat down and began talking about the case. Nick watched carefully as a few minutes later Eugene began to sweat a bit. His face was pale and he tugged at his collar. Nick asked if he was ok and Eugene nodded but then sweat began rolling down his face. Nick turned to the guard and called attention to his condition. “I think we need a doctor here. He doesn’t look at all well.”
The guard came closer then reached for the mic at his shoulder. Moments later, the door opened and a team of guards and orderlies rushed inside. Eugene was convulsing by this time and grabbing at his chest. His breathing was ragged and he was almost to the point of no return.