37. The Pakhan
-Jade-
It’s been two hours since we arrived at my house. Jamie took the dogs and walked the perimeter, placing landmines along the outer fence, including the front gates. He set the alarm system to go off when someone, or something, approaches the perimeter within fifty feet. Before Jamie took the dogs, I placed shredders on their front paws. It basically extends their claws and turns them into knives, so all it takes is for one of them to jump on the enemy, and their paws will slice them like butter. Dario and Spade geared up and hid weapons all over the house. I still haven’t heard from my father. It’s been radio silent. My gut is telling me something is wrong, but there is nothing I can do until this is over.
Taking a deep breath, I look out the windows, staring at the front gates like I have been for a while now. Dario comes over and wraps his tattooed arms around me. I can’t help but sink into his warmth. He may have said some shit in that gym, and he may have verbally chosen her, but he’s here with me. He trails kisses along my neck, inhaling my scent.
“I’m sorry.” He takes a deep breath, and before I can turn, he continues.
“No, just let me get this out.” He kisses along my jaw.
“I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. I know we both made poor decisions that caused severe consequences. But I need you to understand that after this is over, I’m going to figure a way out of this contract because I cannot spend another day without you in my arms. I refuse to give up, but I need you to fight for us, too. Don’t give up on me.” Tears run down my face as my chest tightens. We’ve all hurt each other so badly time and time again. I spin in his arms, and he lets me. I caress his cheek, look into his bi-colored eyes, and place a soft kiss on his lips.
“I can’t do this right now. Why do you always wait until our entire world is crumbling to tell me how you feel?” I growl, pulling out of his embrace, walking away.
“Stop walking away from me, Jade. I’m standing here telling you I made a fucking mistake, that I fucking love you.” He pulls me back to him, holding my face in his hands. I close my eyes as tears seep from them.
“Look at me, open those eyes and fucking look at me!” He growls. I open them and see pain, sadness and love.
“I love you Jade. I fucking choose you!” He whispers. More tears pour from my eyes, my heart hurts so much. Fuck these goddamn men always making me feel things. Fuck. I take a deep breath.
“If you love me so fucking much, why is she still in your fucking bed?” I growl.
“God damn it Jade, I never slept with her. At least not since you bulldozed into my life and stole my heart and soul, with no chance of returning it.” He yells. I shake my head in his hands, and he holds me tighter.
“Listen to my fucking words. I am in fucking love with you, YOU. and only—” He’s cut off by the alarm signaling someone is approaching. We break apart and I wipe the tears from my eyes. Jamie comes in with the dogs.
“They’ve arrived. In about thirty seconds, men will litter the perimeter and the mines are going to go off.” Spade walks into the room, cocking his gun.
“I’m ready. Let’s hunt.” He grins. Dario kills the lights, and we are enveloped in darkness. I place my night vision glasses over my eyes, otherwise this would be end game. The guys and I split up and I whistle for the dogs. I give them a hand signal to surround and protect me.
“Buachaillí maithe.” I say, and they give their tails a little wiggle.
The ground rumbles beneath me, which means the mines have gone off. He’s coming. I hear the front door open.
“Maraigh!” I command and the dogs rush off. I follow, watching them work together. Men enter my home and Apollo is the first to attack. He leaps, hitting his mark, taking them to the ground and sinking his teeth into the enemy’s throat. Gunfire echoes into the night, I hear someone approach me from behind. Spinning, I shoot them right between the eyes. He drops. Another man grabs me by my hair yelling “I got her” in Russian. I take my knife from its sheath and sink it into his gut. He releases me, and I roundhouse him in the chest causing him to stumble. Augustus runs over pushing him to the ground, sinking his teeth and claws into his face. Screams permeate the room and I laugh. I yell out, “This is all you got? I’m right here, motherfucker. Come get me.” The ground rumbles again, shaking my windows. Bullets fly above my head, and I duck behind my couch. I crawl around the back, seeing boots. I take my knife and slice the fuckers’ Achilles tendon. He screams, immediately dropping, and I sink my knife into his neck, letting the blood pool around my fingers. Screams continue to permeate throughout the house as I listen to flesh being torn from the bone. Slowly, I rise from my spot and see a masked man standing in front of the couch with his back to me. I climb over and jump on his back, wrapping my legs tightly around his waist. His gun fires, bullets spraying into my ceiling, and I grab hold of his hair, pulling back, dragging my knife across his neck. Blood sprays and pours from his body all over my furniture. I jump off before he falls to his knees, and I kick him to the ground.
Suddenly, the lights cut back on and I’m momentarily blinded. I rip the glasses from my face. There’s blurred movement, but I feel the dogs surrounding, protecting, and growling at whoever is coming our way. When my eyes finally adjust, I see the guys standing in front of me covered in blood and guns at their temples. I don’t think, I just shoot. The man behind Spade drops instantly, but before anyone can react, someone aims a gun at Atticus.
“Stop!” I scream. A tall man wearing a gray suit approaches.
“Do I have your attention now, young lady?” He raises a brow.
“I’m right fucking here, Pakhan Morozov.” I spit. He walks closer, the dogs growl and snap at him.
“Oh, in the flesh, but you can call me Maxim. Ms. Jade Rivers, you are an extremely hard woman to get access to.” I roll my eyes. It’s always the same fucking shit. I raise my gun.
“Jade don’t fucking do it,” Spade growls.
“Listen to the little cartel enforcer, he’s right.” He laughs.
“What do you want from me?” I ask, cocking my gun.
“It’s much more complicated than that, young lady,” he chides.
“Well, you ambushed my school and now my home. You have my attention. Start talking before my impulsive thoughts take over, and I end up spraying your brain matter all over my new rug,” I say sinisterly.
“That’s it, My Blood Queen.” I shiver as always and give him a little smirk.
“Shut up Jay, don’t antagonize her.” Spade scolds.
“Little girls like you don’t scare me, but I advise against shooting me. Because if I die, so does everyone you love, including them.” He smiles, motioning to my guys in front of me.
“Not if I can help it.” Jameson punches the guy holding him and the gun goes off.
“ENOUGH! MOVE A FUCKING MUSCLE AND I’LL SEND YOUR HEAD IN A BOX TO YOUR SENATOR DADDY!” he presses the barrel to Jamie’s head. He growls, pushing harder against the gun.
“Jamie, STOP!” I scream. His eyes connect with mine and he smirks.?There’s that panty melting dimple. Jesus Jade focus.
“Again, what do you want?” I ask, losing my patience.
“You are going to come with me,” he states simply.
“Over my fucking dead body,” Dario growls.
“Don’t you fucking touch her.” Spade spits.
“Now, now, boys. No harm will come to her as long as she does what she is told.” His eyes connect with mine.
“Not a chance, my man.” I say dismissively.
“Okay, let me make myself clear. You will come, or else.” He states. I put a hand on my hip and roll my eyes.
“Or else what?” I say.
All I hear is a POP as I feel blood spraying against my face, temporarily blinding me. I wipe the blood from my face and find Atticus laying on the ground, lifeless, with a bullet in his head. I scream. Tears pour from my face, the dogs whine and nudge Atticus’ lifeless body. I look at the man before me with murder in my eyes.
“Jade. NO!” Dario screams. And I lunge. He slaps me, grabbing my hair.
“Disrespectful fucking cunt,” he says, holding the gun to my head. He whispers in my ear, “Say goodbye to your little boyfriends.” My eyes connect with theirs and I mouth I’m sorry. The looks on their faces are murderous.
“I’ll go. Let’s just get this over with.” I say.
“Jade, please don’t go.” Spade pleads.
“I’m a man of my word. I will return her as long as she does what she is told. Otherwise, she dies, and so do you.” He says as he walks me out of the house. As soon as I get to the threshold, I hear a yelp and another gun goes off. Spade’s blood-curdling scream tells me exactly what just happened. No. No. No, not my babies. Something hard hits me in the head before I can process anything and darkness seeps in.
Hello Sweetbottom, It’s almost time. I’ll be seeing you soon, my darling.
Opening my eyes, I gasp and notice I’m at the clubhouse, laying on the bar top. I sit up slowly, realizing that someone has stripped me of my weapons and left me in just my tank top and leggings. I look around the room and see complete destruction. Chairs and tables are thrown everywhere and blood, there’s so much fucking blood. There’s three men surrounding someone further in the room.
Climbing off the bar top and grabbing a broken bottle from the floor, I approach them slowly, remembering Jamie’s instructions, breathe through the nose, light on the toes. I keep inching like a lion hunting its prey. The men suddenly move back, and I gasp. Dropping the broken bottle, it shatters around my ankles, sending shards of glass into my skin. They have my father tied to a chair and have beaten him to a pulp. His eyes are swollen shut and blood pours from his mouth.
“Dd—Dad,” I say, my heart in my chest. I’ve never seen my father hurt. He’s always been the strong one, never shown weakness. I know he’s been in fights, but he’s never been left defenseless. His eyes connect with mine and my heart stops. All I see is sadness and regret. I run for him, but Maxim hauls me back, and I thrash in his hold.
“Oh, it’s so nice of you to grace us with your presence, Princess. Or should I call you Queen?” he whispers. I still in his arms. I’m unsure what he means by that, but I don’t like it.
“Why are we here? Let my father go!” I plead.
“I’m sorry, Jade, but I cannot do that.” He says, letting go of me. I try to run again, but he produces a gun, pointing it at my head.
“Not so fast little one,” he says, stopping me in my tracks. I just want to hug my dad; I want to look him over to make sure he’s not bleeding elsewhere. I can’t lose him too. I’ve already lost so much.
“Why are you doing this?” I growl, tears streaming down my face.
“A life for a life.” He simply states.
“What does that mean? Stop speaking in riddles and make me understand!” I yell. He slaps me in the face and my head whips to the side from the impact. I spin back, narrowing my eyes at him. I wipe the blood from my lip and spit it at him.
“One day that mouth of yours will be your demise.” He snarls, and I spit at him again. He rears back and punches me in the face. I feel my scar rip in two.
“Such a disrespectful little cunt. You’re lucky I cannot kill you but keep it up and I’ll go to war just to watch you take your last breath.” He growls.
Bringing my hand to my face, touching my cheek, I can feel the blood along the scar. I look at my father, who is struggling against his binds. I shake my head at him.
“Save your strength,” I whisper, hoping he can hear the plea in my tone. If we can get out of here alive, he’s going to need to relax.
“Now that we are done with your theatrics, let’s continue.” He lowers his weapon, and I roll my eyes.
“Have you not realized yet why I’m here?” He asks, lifting a finger to his lips.
“A life for a life can only mean one thing. Amelia?” I answer.
“That’s only part of it. Did you know that I have three daughters and a son?” he reveals.
“I only know of Amelia” I take a deep breath, getting bored with this conversation.
“Well, Amelia was my oldest, she was gearing up to be the next in line to take over, but your father decided, or better yet, listened to the sheep, and blamed my family for your kidnapping.” He sneers.
“This is all old news. Can we move it along?” I snap, and he slaps me again.
“Learn your place, don’t open your fucking mouth until I’m finished,” he roars. I narrow my eyes, getting real sick and tired of being fucking hit.
“Both of my other daughters were stolen from me, one I still cannot find and the other died by your hands along with my son.” He growls, and I raise my brow. Who the fuck did I kill that was Bratva?
“You’re going to have to spell it out for me because I have no idea what you are talking about.” I press. I have killed many people. It could be anyone.?
“Alexis Moore, and D’mitri Edwards,” he says proudly, and I laugh. He narrows his eyes.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh, but your kids were having sexual relations, that’s fucking gross. Is that a Russian thing?” I quirk a brow and continue.
“Lexi was a vile bitch. I did you a fucking favor by sinking my knife into her neck, and watching the life drain from her eyes. Be grateful, she would never be worthy of this life and your son,” I spit at his feet,
“He’s the one who killed your precious Amelia. He didn’t think twice about slicing her head clean from her body. After he kidnapped and raped me, we had a grand old time ripping his heart out from his chest cavity and shredding his head from his body. But?most of all, holding his heart in my hand sucking the blood from his ventricle with one of the men I love, had my pussy dripping.” I grin sinisterly. Before he can rear back to hit me again, I slam my fist into his throat causing him to choke. He drops the gun, coughing, and I pick it up, cocking it and pointing it at his head. He shows me his phone, pressing play and I hear a familiar giggling fill the screen. Jaxon. I gasp as tears fill my eyes. He clears his throat.
“If you kill me, you kill him.” He rasps, and I lower my weapon disengaging it. I take a deep shuddering breath. I will never forgive myself if anything happens to that baby.?
“Now that you told me all this shit, what is it you want me to do?” I ask, getting extremely irritated. He stands and comes up behind me. I brace myself for impact, but nothing comes. He steps into me, wrapping an arm around my waist and lifting the arm with the gun slowly.
“It’s really simple. You killed my daughter and son, which can’t go unpunished. Your father killed my other daughter, and he must pay his penance for that. So, all I need you to do is,” he raises the gun higher, aiming it at my father.
“Kill him!” he whispers, running his thumb over mine, cocking it.
“No! Are you deaf, D’mitri killed Amelia.” I say.
“No?” he presses play on another video. The boys fill the screen, fighting for their lives. There are too many men. Another video plays of Ryker laying in the hospital bed and a knife at the tube helping him breathe. Tears fall from my eyes. He slides to another, this time of Ryder, bloody and beaten. I gasp, shaking my head repeatedly.
“No, I can’t. Please don’t make me.” I beg.
“All it takes is one word from me and everyone you ever loved dies, including him.” He nods to the phone and plays yet another video of Jaxon sleeping in a crib surrounded by teddy bears. A knife comes into view and is held to his neck.
“No, don’t hurt him. Please don’t hurt him.” I cry.
“Then pull the fucking trigger. One life for all the ones you love. Choose!” He growls. I lock eyes with my father. He nods and mouths, I love you, Princess. Tears stream down my face. I’m sorry, I’m so fucking sorry. He nods again, his eyes never leaving mine. I let the tears fall and pull the trigger. The bullet sails through his forehead and he instantly slumps. I sag, ready to crumble to the ground.
“Such a good girl, well done.” He says clapping his hands together before removing the gun from my grip. Tears continue to trail down my face. My father is dead. There was no other way. I killed him. His one life for all their lives. I’m a monster.?I’m sorry dad, please forgive me.
“I’m a man of my word, I’ll see you soon Ms. Rivers. Job well done.” He says before he pistol whips me in the head. I embrace the darkness, it’s much better than the reality I’m left with.
“I think I’m ready,” I whisper, summoning the devil himself as the white light begins to fade.