by Vi Carter
“I will push so hard that they will kill me.”
His brows furrow and he shakes his head. “You want to die?”
“No. I want to get away from you. If that means death, I’ll take it before I let you near me again.” More words have him flinching. I never saw it before, I always saw his anger, but in his twisted mind he didn’t just enjoy hurting people, he enjoyed hurting me.
“You are not going.”
His words confirm my theory and I laugh at him. “You have no power Holic. You are as good as my uncle’s dog.”
His anger ripples under his skin and he marches from my room. The moment he slams my door and I hear the lock slide into place, I slide to the ground wondering what the hell I just did that for.
***
The clouds are large, white, and puffy and I focus on them as I stare out of the plane window. The further I get away from the Czech, something in me starts to stir and come to life. After staying in my room last night I started to think that maybe, just maybe whomever I was being handed to might be kind to me. I might even like them. I take a quick glance around my uncle’s private jet. All his men are here. Holic is sitting across from me, a cut on his face has recently been stitched. I wonder if that is the work of my uncle. Did Holic really go to him refusing to let me go to Ireland? I’m smiling now at the thoughts of him being hurt. I just wish I was there to hear him cry out. But I don’t think he would have, he would have held it all in. Holic enjoyed the cries of pain, so he wouldn’t allow someone to have that joy from him.
Hope is a dangerous thing but I can’t stop it from filling me as we touch down in Dublin airport. I take down my carry-on bag from overhead and stand in the aisle as I wait for my uncle.
We leave the plane and the air bites into my bare skin. I shiver.
My uncle smiles at me. “I told you Svetlana, it is cold here.”
He had, but I didn’t think it would be this cold. Taking a jumper out of my carry-on bag I tug it on over my dress and catch up with my uncle. A row of black jeeps wait for us and I climb into the one with my uncle and Marek. Once the door is closed, the vehicle moves under us and fear starts to clutch at my chest. What if I’m beaten worse than when Holic does it? What if I’m raped? I close my eyes and push that thought down. I don’t want to ask my uncle about the man he is handing me over to, frankly I haven’t spoken to him since I went to my room last night. I had heard him laugh saying I was sulking like a princess. The other part of me says I actually might get to escape, I could start over. Ireland’s beautiful from the pictures I had seen, but so far I wasn’t overly impressed with the drab weather and grey buildings we move past. I wasn’t expecting buildings; I was expecting countryside and cottages. Like the pictures show you.
“Mr. O’Reagan.” My heart pounds and my attention is on my uncle as he speaks to someone on the loudspeaker. I wonder if this is the man who I am being given to.
“Mr. Novak. I believe you’ve touched down in Dublin.” The voice of the man is deep, clear and well spoken. But it holds such detachment.
“Yes. Thank you for the vehicles. We are now en route to the hotel. So when will we be meeting?” My uncle looks at me and I sink deeper into the seat.
“Tomorrow, Mr. Novak. At noon.”
“I look forward to it.” The call ends and my uncle smiles.
***
The hotel isn’t what I expect either. It’s as fancy as the ones we have back home. I was picturing something smaller, more personal, but this is modern and cold. I have to share an adjoining room with my uncle. I don’t like the idea that he can come into my room, but I don’t have a say in how it makes me feel, our how being given to a man in a foreign place makes me feel.
Sitting at the vanity table I’m staring into frightened blue eyes. What would my mother tell me right now? Alert the hotel staff that I’m here against my will? My uncle would defuse the situation and I would disappear. I knew being handed over to this man was my best chance of escape. If I was obedient, I may be allowed to roam free. Maybe he would help me? I grit my teeth at my reflection. “Or maybe he will beat you and rape you, Svetlana.” I speak in English my accent strong around my words. I stand up now as a waiter arrives at my room. He smiles softly at me but I don’t return it as he pushes in a trolley that’s filled with food.
“Your evening meal Miss Novak.” He starts removing plates, placing them on the table. His eyes keep flickering to me and he smiles again. I try a smile back at him and his widens. What if he would help me? I look behind him at the open door. I could run. My heart starts to gain in speed.
“Anything else I can get for you Miss Novak?” He’s waiting still wearing the smile that shows off his dimples.
My freedom.
My eyes snap up to Holic who appears in the doorway. I drop my gaze and the waiter looks behind him.
“Leave,” Holic speaks in Czech and the waiter looks lost.
“I have everything. Thank you,” I tell him and he glances at Holic before giving me a final nod and leaving. Holic stands in the doorway so the waiter leaves it open. I march across the small space and slam the door in Holic’s face. It feels good.
CHAPTER FOUR
LIAM
“Stephen go ahead.”
“Darragh is at the gate and he’s not happy that I won’t let him out.”
“Stephen, just give me a moment.” I say and stand pulling on my suit jacket. I take the tunnels out of the basement and come out not far from the gate. Pushing the overhang of ivy aside I walk down the pass. Darragh sees me in his rearview mirror. He shakes his head before jumping out of his car.
“Are you serious right now?”
“You can’t stop this,” I warn him as I reach his car.
He slams his car door with unnecessary force. “Liam these are people. People I care about.”
He just couldn’t grasp the severity of this situation. “I want you to come inside and we can speak about it.”
Darragh seems surprised by my offer and nods while stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Right, but you’ll listen to what I have to say.”
“You have my word.”
He nods and removes his hands. “I’ll park the car.”
I step off the pass as he reverses back up the drive. I enter the house using the front door. I’ve been left with no alternative with Darragh.
He comes out of the garage and I walk away knowing he will follow. Slipping into the small hallway that leads to the basement door I turn the handle and descend. He pauses at the top step and I don’t turn around to see if he will follow. Darragh is too curious not to follow me. I clap my hands twice and the basement lights up. The area we step into is carpeted and comfortable, the design is meant to surprise and relax. When I turn to Darragh, I can see it works.
“Jesus I thought I was stepping into some concrete and creepy spot. But this is nice.” He’s glancing around the space.
“Thank you.” I gesture to the seat across from me and he sits. Opening my suit jacket I sit too. “Tell me what you were about to do?” I ask and sit back. My mind has already been made up. I know the outcome of this conversation. I know Darragh’s fate.
“I know Art and Mark are going to sign those contracts so in a way they are signing their own death sentences and I can live with that.” He pauses and scratches his beard.
I nod.
“But DJ is decent, Liam. He’s been there for me through the worst of it. And Fitz,” Darragh lets out a long breath. “Fitz wouldn’t harm a fly. I can’t do that to him.”
“But you’re not, I am.”
“This doesn’t feel like we are talking, this feels like you’re telling me.” Darragh’s irritation grows, and he’s shifting where he sits. Pulling one leg up he holds it as he taps his other foot on the floor.
“No matter what way you see this play out in your mind, someone has to go down for the crime. I’m not sure your understanding that part,” I say.
“I am. Can’t you kill Mark; blame it on Ar
t and let DJ and Fitz walk away.”
“Art is selling you out; they will take him sending you down, over me sending him down. Eric is a great solicitor but with this new Gardai our hands are tied a little tighter on this matter Darragh.”
“Christ.” Darragh stands up now.
I rise too. “Walk with me.”
He does through a door that leads to a different part of the basement. The chair that I had tied Andrew to sits in the center of the room. Darragh slows down and gives it a wide berth.
“What is that?” He asks.
I keep walking. “A chair.”
“A torture chair? What the hell do you do down here?” His words trail off as his eyes dart around the room.
I open the final door and he walks over to the small room. I have a moment of anticipation but Darragh simply steps in.
“What’s this?” He looks around the small room that has only a bed.
I step away from him. “This is for your own good.” Closing the door I lock it.
It takes a moment for Darragh to start knocking. “Come on Liam, this is stupid. Open the door.” His words aren’t panicked but annoyance soon fills them.
I clap my hands once. “Wanda, play Galina Vishnevskaya.”
“Playing Galina Vishnevskaya.” The space fills with the sounds of classical music drowning out Darragh’s banging.
Removing my jacket and waistcoat I start to scrub the blood on the floor beside the chair. Once I’m finished, I put my jacket and waistcoat back on before going back into the entrance room. The sound of the music disappears behind the sound proof walls.
“Wanda,” I call as I gather my car keys and wallet.
“Yes Mr. O’Reagan.”
“Lock down the basement,” I say as I start to leave.
“Lock down commencing in one minute.”
I ring Gregor as I walk to my car. “I am going to send you three names and addresses. I would like you to dispose of them.”
“No problem.”
Hanging up, I leave the house. Stephen is quick to let me out and I give him a curt nod before driving to Tracy’s hotel. Business is booming, the brothel scene more profitable than I had ever imagined. With the demand growing, I didn’t want to do business with my own so Mr. Novak caught my attention. He was a very powerful man in the Czech Republic. He ran all the brothels and strip clubs over there. His reach impressive. Having him onboard with our operation would increase our income four fold. His price was high, but it was one I was willing to pay.
***
Staff move quickly around the hotel as I make my way to my office. It’s there I send Gregor the three names.
“Eric, that job we spoke of before will be ready to go ahead tomorrow. I’m going to send you the name and address of the person that you can present to the Gardai.” I leave the voice mail and email him the details of Barry Fitz, the one who will pay the price for my brother’s error.
A knock on the door has me pausing. “Come in.”
“We have a bit of a situation with one of the girls.” I check my watch. I still had another meeting today once Sharon gives me a brief on how the hotel was running.
“Where is she?” I ask standing up and taking my phone with me.
“Room 212.”
“Thank you Danny.” Danny seems surprised that I knew his name, but it’s something I try to do and remember all my security members’ names. They worked harder for you if they thought they were important to you.
“What’s her name?” I pause at the door.
“Marcella.”
I nod and open the door to room 212. Marcella is sitting on the floor and when she looks up it takes a second for her to get to her feet.
“Mr. O’Reagan.”
I hold up a hand to silence her stuttering. “What is the problem Marcella?” I ask.
She fidgets with a large hoop earing. “I refused a customer and Danny obviously reported me.” She’s pointing at the open door and I know Danny can hear her. “Yesterday was rough on me Mr. O’Reagan. One of my clients got a bit rough.” She shrugs and I’m looking at all her skin that’s on a show to see if there are marks. There are none.
“Did he mark you?” I ask.
“No but he was rough.”
I nod like I understand and Marcella gives me a nervous smile.
“This job is by no means for the faint hearted. But, you are not being forced to do anything Marcella. So if the job is too rough for you, I suggest you vacate your room and I will have another girl fill it in a minute.”
She’s shaking her head. “No I want my job…”
I cut her off. “Good. So I’ll send in your next client?”
She looks out the door and nods. “Yes Mr. O’Reagan.”
“Send in her next client and come to my office afterwards Danny,” I say as I return to my office.
My phone buzzes. Home appears on the screen. “Father, I hope we haven’t run into anymore problems?” I answer my phone.
“I’m worried about Darragh. I can’t find him and he’s not answering his phone.”
“Don’t worry about Darragh. Is that all?” Danny steps in and I point at the chair in front of me.
“He needs to be found Liam. Not just for my sake but yours too.”
“I have him somewhere safe,” I say and glance at Danny who’s looking around my office.
“Where?” Father’s word is biting, his temper flaring.
“Like I said, he’s safe. Is that all?”
Father hangs up and I turn my attention to Danny. “Marcella claims that her previous customer roughed her up. I want you to find out what she means and who the client was.”
“That’s no problem.”
“Also keep an eye on her.” Danny nods and I dismiss him.
The knock on my door comes immediately after Danny leaves, it’s Sharon. I check my watch she’s two minutes late.
“I was waiting outside,” She explains.
I nod. “Let’s start.”
It’s nearly two hours later by the time I leave the hotel and make my way to my next meeting.
The ringing of my phone tells me how late I am and I don’t like being late.
“Stephen.”
“Mr. O’Reagan, there’s a John Cummings at the gate.”
“You can let him in, I’ll be there soon.” It’s been five years since I’ve seen John. He left to join the army. We had spoken on the phone over the years but seeing him would be different. We both had changed so much.
I arrive at the house and Stephen lets me in. After parking my car I head straight for the basement and turn on the lights. Opening the door off the entrance music still plays and I leave it on before closing the door behind me. I open the door to the tunnel. A tall figure looms there, and I let John in. The years haven’t been kind to him. His face is scarred, pocketed in so many places. His arms immediately go around me as he hugs me tightly.
The embrace doesn’t last long when I don’t return it. He leans back and looks at me. “You’ve changed a lot Liam.”
“So have you John.” His red hair is tainted with grey. The curls bounce as he steps in and I follow him.
“I like what you’ve done with the place.”
I go to the small free standing bar and pour both of us a whiskey. Handing him a glass he sits down, but he hasn’t taken his eyes off me since arriving.
“How has life treated you?” I ask and sit back while cradling my glass of whiskey.
“I got married.”
That surprises me. “Consensual?”
He grins. “Not sure, she divorced me a year later after we had our first.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal. But I’ve been looking at pain for far too long to not recognize it.
“I’m sorry.” I tell him.
He grins into his whiskey before taking a deep drink. “You didn’t bring me here to ask me about my life. So what can I help you with?”
I liked his straight forward approach. I hated small talk. “It’s Dar
ragh. He’s remembering.”
John finishes his whiskey and sits the glass on the small table beside him, before running his hands across his face, when he looks at me his eyes are haunted. “I’ve fought in foreign countries, watched my friends die, held some of them while they died, but I have a clear conscience because it’s war and that’s what we do in war. But what we did to that boy-” He leans forward, and the anger pours from him. “-wasn’t right Liam. I knew one day it would come back and haunt us.”
“I did it to protect him.”
“Bullshit and you know it is. You did it to save your ass. Honestly I did it so you wouldn’t kill him. But I think we did far more damage.”
I place my own full drink on the table beside me. “You don’t know what damage was done. You left, remember?” The anger that rises inside me, I push back down and refuse to let it come out.
“You have no idea what being an addict does to you. It destroys your soul. But that was my choice to get high and leave this place. It wasn’t Darragh’s. We made him an addict, so yeah I left. Living with what I did with firsthand knowledge was too much.”
“You shouldn’t have done it then John if it gave you so many sleepless nights.”
Johns stands up. “You’re a cold bastard. I don’t remember you being this cold.”
“So you won’t help me again?”
He barks an angry laugh. “No and neither will you.”
I nod. “He’s in far more trouble now.”
“Because of you?” John asks, but he’s accusing me.
“I did everything to protect my brother.”
John shakes his head. “We both know why you turned him into an addict and it had nothing to do with protecting him. Goodbye Liam.” John walks away and I don’t like it. No one walks away from me. Especially not with the knowledge he has.
“He’s here again. Locked in that same room.”
When John looks at me now, I try to ignore the twinge I feel deep in my stomach. He’s moving through the room and I stand in his way. “Liam, get out of my way.”
“He robbed a bank and got caught. He will go to prison if I don’t keep him here. He’s trying to take the high ground and save his friends.”