Maddox #2
I turn away, grabbing the fence with one hand and looking out to the freedom I may never have again. Silent for a moment, I let my shoulders sag, ‘This is not my fault, but I have to take it on as if I am one who did it.’
Speaking softly, “No, I talk rest over with Zak. Just get him here and let Mylo know the kid is under our protection,” I say, dismissing him with a wave of my hand.
∞∞∞
The next day, as I walk into the private room where Zak is waiting, he stands quickly, staying standing until I settle into my seat before returning to his. I look at him, jaw clenching as I pull the letters from my pocket and throw them on the table between us.
He looks at them, confusion on his face as he chews on his lip, “Read them,” I demand.
I watch as he reads, taking in the expressions that cross his face. As the recognition of what he sees on the page sets in he yells, slamming his fist on the table. “Fuck me! That’s what he did?”
I look at him, “Start talking! Make this shit make sense.”
I watch as he sucks his cheek into his mouth looking down at the table. I slam my fist on the table, he jumps, looking back to me. “I said fucking talk!” I snap at him.
Zak takes a deep breath and squares his shoulders. “I did what you said, I had the meeting with Mack and the boys. I say that Dax could help out, like you tell me. Mack say okay, I’ll get it done. Then I hear rumors, but I thought, no way he does not follow orders. But this confirms it.”
Leaning forward, I grab his collar, pulling him into me across the table. Zak’s eyes fill with fear as spittle lands on his cheek when I growled, “Confirms what!?”
As I shove him away from me, he straightens his shirt and wipes his face, sending me a glare, “Mack came in the day before Andrei’s visit, said he had cut a deal with the cops. The heat was off the docks. Said he found way to handle it all and that we could resume business as usual,” he says.
I sit back and nod, taking in all the information, “Okay, so when he was still out two weeks later instead of in here with me, like I demanded, no one thought to ask why?” I ask, glaring at him.
With a roll of his eyes, Zak continues, “Of course we did. He said that the deal was that he turn in someone else for it. We were looking into who he turned in. We couldn’t figure out who would be dumb enough to cross you.
It never crossed our minds that he would use his son.
” he said, shaking his head, seeming baffled by the thought.
“Blyad'! I can’t believe we overlooked that option.”
I softened as I looked at how upset my son was with this development. I may have been a strict father but I never put my kids in harm’s way, and I damn sure never made them one of my scapegoats. I stroke my beard as Zak stands to move around the room.
He pauses, “What do you want me to do?”
Rubbing my thumb over my bottom lip, “First thing we need to do is figure out who ‘Kitten’ is, get him under protection. Then, get Mack in here. A.S.A.P.! I want him to look me in the eye and tell me what he did.” I growl, aggravation seeping through my veins.
Sighing, Zak sits back down, pulls out his phone to send orders to the seem’-ya.
“I have told them to look into ‘Kitten’. I will be paying Mack a visit very soon. I will give him his orders, and if I have to drag him in here myself, I will,” he says menacingly, leaning forward, elbows on the table, the tips of his fingers pressed together.
I lean towards Zak to whisper, “Next part involves Anton. I need him inside with Mikhailov. I know he is on probation and it is easy to throw. Make it happen. Mylo is expecting him.”
I see Zak’s jaw clench and I reach over and squeeze his hand, “I know, syn. I do not like it either, but Mack’s a tupitsa and here we fucking are.” I say, watching the anger change to animosity as he bobs his head in agreement.
Cracking his neck, rolling his shoulders, he agrees quietly, “I will make this happen, but I don’t like it, we do not do shit this way.
” He pauses, taking a deep breath, before continuing, “But we also can not leave this kid in there alone, thinking no one cares, that no one is watching. Fuck. To think what he has to put up with from Mack, he probably thinks he is never safe,” he growls, tapping his forehead with the side of his fist.
I see his struggle, and hate asking him to do this, but we need someone inside with this kid. I reach over and squeeze his arm in reassurance. We exchange a look of awareness at what we are about to do.
“Exactly. This boy thinks he is not safe. So, you will get this done? Anton will not be gone long.” As he slowly nods, chewing his lip, I feel a wave of pride in my chest. ‘He does not like this, but he does what needs to be done. Unlike other people who cannot follow simple fucking order!’
“What I like to hear from my Vtoroy.” I say as we both stand, “Mack has two weeks to get his ass in here. If he does not show, I am holding you responsible for the kid and anything that happens to him.”
Zak looks at me, eyes wide for a moment, before he bumps a knuckles against his nose, “Ponyatno,” he says as he strides out the door.
‘Yeah,definitely not the day for hugs.’ I think, watching him walk away.
Zakhary
Leaving the prison, I head to the car, the weight of what I have to do settling on my shoulders. Once settled in the car, I kick back in the driver’s seat, lighting a cigarette and grab my phone to shoot a message to Anton to meet me at the house at 4.
‘This gives me plenty of time to find Mack and deal with his dumbass.’ I think, leaning my head back on the headrest.
I close my eyes and go over the list of everything to be done.
My phone vibrates in my lap, checking it, I see a thumbs up from Anton.
Checking that off the list I sit up, punching the steering wheel at the thought of what I must ask of him.
It is hard enough to raise a son in the lifestyle we live, but to now directly involve him?
‘Fuck!’ I growl in my head, ‘Fucking Mack! I hope he does not listen, so I can beat his ass for this.’
I drop my phone in the cupholder and peel out of the parking lot. I have a suspicion where I will find Mack and I head to check there first.
The drive isn’t long enough for me to calm fully. How unlucky for him. When I pull into the parking lot, I see his piece of shit truck, my suspicions confirmed. Stepping out of my Jeep I crack my neck, stretching my tight limbs as I take in my surroundings.
Heading towards the door, I pause to watch him through the window. I feel the anger bubbling again as he non-chalantly lifts and jokes with the other guys in the gym. The fool thinks he’s getting away with everything, but I’m about to wipe that stupid grin off of his face.
Pulling open the door, I feel all eyes snap to me. ‘SHOWTIME!’ I think letting a mischievous smirk slide across my face.