Heartless

by Vi Carter

  In Czech he calls his men, and my eyes go to the machine gun once again. Three of them pick up Juf’s body and take it away, two drag Margret’s behind the large plastic sheets.

  I take a step towards the van. “I need to get back,” I tell Svetlana’s uncle. He doesn't answer me and I continue until I’m sitting in the van. He doesn’t look away as I turn on the ignition and reverse slowly out of the shed.

  I ring Gregor once I’m on the road. “Make sure that body can’t be found.”

  “Already taken care of, Boss.”

  I hang up and focus on the road. I can only hope that Svetlana’s uncle bought my story. It was half-truths but I didn’t want any bodies lying around. They would soon discover it was just a local girl who Juf got too handsy with. But she needed to be removed from the equation, so there was no question about her identity.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  SVETLANA

  I’m excited to start my lessons again. Every time I’m here with Sam, so is Liam. At first I had thought it was to keep an eye on me, but now I realize that Liam likes to watch me learn. I don’t mind him being here. It’s nice knowing how much he cares. I look away from Liam, and focus on Sam’s words.

  “It is so important to understand that things are never black or white. That there is no good or evil.”

  I nod. “There’s both in everyone.”

  Sam smiles at me. “Exactly, Svetlana. But it takes circumstances to either bring out one or the other in us. That is how so much evil is formed. Evil doesn’t just exist, it’s created, but it stems from within.”

  “Like a serial killer?” I ask.

  “It doesn’t take someone to kill to be evil. Our thoughts can be evil but once they become more than thoughts, our actions define us. Just like a serial killer.”

  “So if we could change someone’s thought pattern, you think we could stop people from hurting each other.”

  He nods. “Of course, but some people can’t erase the road that has already been laid in their mind. We can only hope it never gets put there in the first place and if it does, that we might be able to lay a road beside it. But we can never erase it.”

  I had evil thoughts at times, about hurting my uncle. I’d killed a man. Did that make me evil? I didn’t like how this lesson was making me feel.

  “I think she has had enough lessons for today.” Liam speaks up, pulling me out of my thoughts. Was I that transparent? Before I can tell Sam, it’s fine, he’s already packing up his books.

  I wait until he leaves before turning to Liam, but he’s already up off the couch.

  “Come on.”

  I take his outstretched hand and love the feel of his fingers wrapped around mine. I keep stealing glances at Liam as he leads us back downstairs, but instead of going to the basement, he leads me towards the back of the house. I want to ask him where we are going, but instead, I focus on my surroundings. The house is old, everything is well polished, and there is so much wood. Wooden floors, wooden doors, the dark wood frames each doorway and the high skirting boards give that sense of grandeur that this house deserves. We move through a large kitchen and outside into a courtyard.

  “We are outside,” I say in bewilderment, looking at Liam.

  His lips tug up slightly. “You are very observant, Svetlana.”

  The teasing in his voice has me smiling. “Very funny. What are we doing outside?”

  This time Liam looks at me. “Just getting some fresh air.” The air is tinged with cow dung, straw and damp grass. I love each smell I take in. We move past stables that hold some horses and walk out towards a field.

  “You seem troubled with what Sam was saying today.”

  “I just question good and evil so much.” I trail off, not sure how to put into words what I feel. We walk for a bit more before Liam stops.

  “Is it me?”

  Surprise filters through me. “Is what you?” I search his handsome face.

  “Good and evil. Did it make you question me?”

  “You’re a good person, Liam.” I hate that he thinks it’s about him. “It was my own thoughts that made me question the whole good and evil thing.”

  Liam’s shoulders relax. “Tell me your impure thoughts.”

  My cheeks heat up. The way Liam said impure, just made me think of what we did yesterday, more like what he did to me yesterday. I still haven’t gotten to return the favor.

  “I think about hurting people,” I say honestly knowing what he’s asking me.

  He nods. “Everyone does Svetlana, that is normal.”

  “I would kill,” I answer. I already had.

  “Good.” Liam takes my hand in his and starts walking again, leaving me bewildered.

  “Good? Good that I would end a life.”

  He glances at me sideways. “Yes. If you hesitate, it could be your life. So I’m glad that you would take a life, to save your own.”

  “That’s not what I said.” We stop walking again and Liam faces me.

  “I want to kill my uncle. He wouldn’t have to be doing anything, I would just like to kill him.”

  Liam takes hold of my shoulders. “Because he’s hurt you. You have every right to want to hurt him.”

  I wasn’t so sure. I felt like my mind was a bit warped thinking like that. I didn’t want to see him punished or anything else, I wanted him dead. I didn’t think that made me a very good person.

  “I will kill him because he hurt you; I don’t need a better reason than that.”

  My heart pounds at his words. He had said will, not would. Before I can protest, Liam kisses me deeply and my body responds to him immediately. The thoughts of him killing my uncle for me has my heart swelling. I loved Liam, and now that love seemed to grow deeper.

  “Who is Jan?” Liam asks, the moment the kiss ends.

  I have to think for a moment as my head clears. “Jan?” I repeat the name.

  “Yes, you spoke of him before. You sounded very affectionate when you spoke of him. I was curious.” I hold Liam’s stare. His curiosity wasn’t just mild, and that made me smile.

  “My dog.”

  “Your dog,” Liam repeats.

  “Yes, my dog Jan.” A pain that I had buried rises to the surface. “He was my sole companion. My best friend and he’s back in the Czech. Holic threatened to kill him, if I didn’t return.”

  Liam stands stiffly, and after what feels like a few minutes, he nods. A soft kiss is planted on my forehead and we resume walking. I’m not sure what just happened or what Liam was thinking, but an ease has settled on him.

  My chin connects with the soil and grass covers my face. My ears ring from the loud bang and I can’t breathe. Weight is lifted off my back and I turn to see Liam standing up. Grabbing his leg, I try to tug him back down. I know that sound; it was a gunshot.

  “Get down,” I hiss at him, he has his phone out and my pleas don’t make him come to me. I spit out grass and some blood that had filled my mouth.

  Whoever Liam rings doesn’t answer. He pockets the phone and reaches down for me, pulling me close to him. His fingers grip my chin as he examines my face. “I’m sorry for shoving you. I’d thought for a moment that we were the target.” He tilts my head from side to side. “It came from the house.” He continues to speak as his eyes roam my face.

  “I’m okay, Liam.” He releases me and faces the house again. Taking out his phone, he makes another phone call, this time someone answers.

  “Did you see anything?”

  I can’t understand the voice on the other side of the phone.

  “Stay where you are and don’t move. I’ll go check.”

  My fingers clutch Liam’s. I don’t want him to go and check. I’m waiting for him to tell me to stay hidden, but to my surprise he doesn’t. Instead we walk quickly, half hunkered to the front of the house. We stepped into the opening he had taken me down through, when we had first arrived here. Liam’s living quarters are empty and he moves me quickly into the bedroom.

  “You ne
ed to stay here.” I didn’t want to stay here, but chasing after Liam wasn’t an option.

  LIAM

  My fingers move quickly over the number pad on my safe. I remove two guns and place them in the band of my trousers. I leave through the tunnel and circle around to the back of the house. Movement close to the shed has me withdrawing my gun. Slowly, I inch closer. Footsteps sound from the shed that holds all the guns. Closing my eyes, I wait, listening. The rattle of the cabinet door that’s locked has me moving from my hiding place. Whoever is in the shed would have their back to me. I cock the gun as I step into the shed.

  “Darragh.” I lower my gun as he spins around. His eyes darted from the gun to me.

  “Don’t fucking shoot me.” His wild eyes and raised hands make me question if he’s on something.

  Placing the gun in the band of my trousers, I leave the shed.

  “You’re not going in there.” Darragh grabs my arm, stopping my progress.

  “A gun was fired. One of our brothers could be bleeding to death right now.” My words have the intended effect and Darragh releases his hold on my arm.

  We move slowly through the back door. The house is quiet. Darragh isn't light on his feet, but he’s safely behind me. Downstairs is all clear. Moving upstairs, I pause on the stairs knowing we need to split up. The second gun sits neatly in my hands but I pass it to Darragh, without a word he takes it, clicking off the safety. Once we reach the landing, we split up. I take the left side of the house while Darragh takes the right. Five bedrooms later, I’ve seen no one at all.

  My back presses firmly against the wall as I approach my father’s study. The door is slightly ajar. Closing my eyes, I listen. There’s a faint sound, moans maybe. Using my foot, I push the door open slowly before stepping into the room. Father’s on the ground, a pool of blood around him. The flickering pulse in his neck gives me little comfort. His fingers reach towards me but I move around the study, checking behind the desk and chairs. The rooms are empty. Kneeling down, I study father’s wound. A gunshot to his side still bleeds heavily.

  “Is the person still here who shot you?” I grip his face, making him become more alert.

  His moans are a waste of time, I shake his head and his eyes snap to me.

  “Is the person still here?”

  “No.” He closes his eyes and I release him before leaving the study. The rest of the rooms are empty, so I retrace my footsteps until I meet Finn and Darragh.

  Placing the gun in the band of my trousers, I indicate for both of them to follow me to the study.

  “He’s still alive,” I say as I push open the study door. Finn and Darragh run to him.

  “George. Are you at work?” I turn away from Finn and Darragh as they try to see where father has been shot.

  “Yes, but Liam, I really can’t leave.”

  “I don’t want you to leave. I’ll be there shortly and have your team on standby.” I hang up.

  “Did you ring an ambulance?” Darragh’s standing now, his hands tainted in red from father's blood.

  “No, you and Finn take him. He’s been shot in the side. George will be waiting for your arrival. I’ll follow you there.” Darragh doesn’t question me but rushes back to father. Finn hasn’t spoken, his hands now cover the wound as he tries to stop the bleeding.

  Lifting him up, he groans loudly and I leave them to get him downstairs. I need to check on, Svetlana.

  I take out my gun as I take the final steps into the basement. A scream from Svetlana has me wanting to run to her, but instead I slow down and listen. She’s crying, another squeal erupts from her. Pushing open the door slowly, I can see Svetlana. She’s kneeling on the ground with her back to me. I scan the room but I don’t see anyone else. She shuffles back and the brown box that sits in front of her comes into view. I make a small noise and she spins around. Placing my finger over my lips has her swallowing her cries.

  I point for her to stay where she is as I move towards the bedroom.

  “There’s no one here.” She confirms, and I lower my gun before marching towards her. Sitting at her feet is a box that has a pair of large hands in it. One hand tattooed with the words LOVE, the other HATE.

  “Gregor,” I say, as I place the gun in my waistband. This was a warning, I just wasn’t sure if it was from Svetlana’s uncle or the RA. Did father catch the intruder in the house and that’s why he was shot?

  I reach out my arm for Svetlana and she stands immediately, coming to my side.

  “That’s a pair of hands.” Her voice trembles.

  “Did you hear anything?”

  She swallows and blinks before shaking her head. “I don’t think so.”

  “I need you to think, Svetlana.”

  She nods again. “Yeah, yeah.” Now she looks at me. “That’s why I came out. I thought maybe it was you.”

  “How long ago?” That meant the intruder could be still on the grounds.

  “A minute ago.”

  “Stay here,” I tell her, racing to the tunnel. Whoever did this didn’t leave through the house. The door is ajar, confirming my suspicions. Removing the gun again, I race down the dark tunnel. He wouldn’t linger and whoever did this has a few minutes head start.

  Taking out my phone, I ring Stephen but get no answer. The air outside is still warm and I slow my pace as I move along the grass. The box at the gates looks empty, moving closer I look in and see Stephen on the ground. No blood is anywhere to be seen. Pushing open the door, I check for a pulse and find one. He’s just been knocked out. Finn’s jeep rolls up and I open the gates, letting them out. They don’t look in but speed past. Stephen groans as I step over him. Whoever did this was gone.

  “Stephen, wake up.” I nudge him with my foot a few times before he finally wakes up.

  “What happened?” He slowly stands, while touching the back of his head. “Someone hit me from behind.”

  Useless information. “You didn’t see anyone enter or leave.”

  “Sorry Mr. O’Reagan.” He shakes his head.

  “Get your head seen too.” I say, leaving him and returning to the house. Svetlana is still there staring at the hands.

  “Did you get him?” Her skin is very pale.

  Pouring out two whiskeys I hand her a glass.

  “No, not a trace.” I drink the full glass. Svetlana sips on the whiskey, her eyes keep drifting to the box.

  The glass clicks as I rest it on the marble counter. “I’ll get rid of them.” The flaps on the box have been cut off so I grip the sides and take it out into the area that’s reserved for this kind of thing. I’m glad when I return to find Svetlana sitting on the couch still nursing her whiskey. Her hands don’t seem to tremble as much.

  She glances at me as I sit down beside her. “Why would someone do that?”

  I pull her into my side and hush her. “I don’t know. But I’ll find out.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  SVETLANA

  The image seems to be embedded in my head, hands severed at the wrist. The large masculine hands once belonged to someone. Was he awake while someone sawed his hands off? I shiver at the thought. Liam’s refilling our drinks, but he seems calm. I wonder how many times he had to deal with something like this. Nothing seems to faze him.

  “Was he your friend?” I ask, as he hands me the glass. He pauses before passing the glass to me. I take another burning sip of whiskey.

  “Yes, he was.” Liam sits back down and drinks half the glass of whiskey. “He was a good man.”

  I hold my glass up. “What was his name?”

  “Gregor.”

  I nod. “To Gregor.”

  Liam clicks his glass with mine before emptying all the contents, this time I do the same, and when he offers me a refill, I deny it. My head feels fuzzy and my blood warm.

  “I want to give the house one more final check.”

  I didn’t want to be alone. “I’ll come with you.” Liam stares at me for a moment, and I’m surprised when he agrees. It’s a s
hort nod of his head, but I’m standing with him.

  He removes a gun from the back of his trousers and hands it to me. Taking it, the steel feels heavy in my hands.

  “You know how to use it?” A slight pull raises his lips. No doubt he’s remembering me holding him at gunpoint.

  “I’m sure I can manage,” I say while checking to make sure the safety is off. Liam waits patiently until I’m satisfied that the gun is ready.

  We move silently through the house, checking windows and doors. Seeing the enormity of the house doesn’t surprise me that they didn’t catch whoever broke in. There are so many entry points that you couldn’t watch them all.

  “Do you have cameras?” I ask, when we return to the basement. Liam locks down the area and it feels safe down here.

  “Father never permitted them.”

  There is a bitterness to his words that I’ve never heard before.

  “Right now I’m sure he’s regretting it.” Liam dismantles the gun and I hand mine over to him.

  “Did anyone get hurt?” I wanted to add beside Gregor, but I don’t.

  “It was my father who was shot.”

  My hand rises to my mouth. “Oh no, I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you.” Liam’s words rattle me. He doesn’t sound sincere or upset.

  “You don’t care that he’s been shot?”

  Liam removes his suit jacket carefully, and places it on the back of one of the chairs.

  “I’m not entirely sure.” His honest answer startles me.

  “Was he a bad father?” I’m getting too personal but I want to know everything about Liam.

  “No. He’s a good father.”

  I frown, confused.

  “He wasn’t a good husband.” Liam removes the three steps between us. His thumb rubs the lines between my eyes making me relax.

  “I’m going for a shower.”

  My heart picks up speed.

  “Would you like to join me?”

  I smile at his question. “Okay.”