Vanya
Walking towards his cell, I feel a sense of excitement coursing through me. It took almost three years from the moment I said to bring him in to actually get him here. I have been patient, I have bided my time, and now that I have that scumbag where he belongs, it’s time for him to pay.
Mack’s head snaps up when I enter the cell, setting his chin and puffing up his chest as he tries to act tough. The fear in his eyes gives him away and I let a knowing smirk show. Despite his posturing, he has to know that I know everything by now. And if he doesn’t? He will know soon enough.
I scratch my eyebrow and look him over. ‘This piece of shit think he cannot be touched,’ I think as I eye the part of his tattoo left uncovered by his prison-issued tank top.
Most of the tattoo is covered, but I know what it is.
The star given to my best fighters sits on that chest. Once a trusted Boyevik, now just a suka.
‘Sukas do not deserve to wear my star. As first part of punishment, it will be removed. Today I take it back.’
“You are hardheaded tupitsa, you know that?” I ask him as Cas stands guard outside of the cell. Not that I was worried about anyone outside this room. The warden knew what would be happening to him and made sure he was assigned a cell away from most of the population.
Mack growls, making a move towards me only to be met by two of my guards. Stepping forward, they each grab him by an arm, pulling him back to the stool and forcing him to sit. He strains against them before ultimately giving up and slumping forward, head hanging between his shoulders.
Shaking my head at the stupid attempt, I continue, “You were given simple instruction. Come see me. Instead, you do all this? You force me to investigate, and I find out you hurt children. YOUR children. While wearing my star? What you say for self?” I ask.
Instead of answering, he looks at me, eyes filled with hate and spits in my face. Wiping my face, I sniff and pull my knife from my pocket. The light glints off the silver as the blade snaps open.
Eyeing the knife in my hand, “Go ahead. End this. But everyone will know it was you.” Mack says through gritted teeth.
I smile menacingly, ‘He knows what comes. He doesn’t like pain. Unfortunately for him, I do not give a single fuck.’ I think as I stare him down.
“No, no. That is too easy. I see scars left on syns, the way you terrorized your doch,” I say, moving towards him slowly with each word.
Tipping his chin up with the point of my blade, forcing him to look me in the eye, I continue, “And my zhena? You may have wanted out of your marriage. But I was happy in mine.”
I pause, ‘I did get my second chance of love with Andrei, but, no need for him to know that I grateful for that.’ I think, letting the situation resonate with him.
Swiping the blade quickly to the side, I slice the sleeve of tanktop and he shudders, swallowing thickly.
“Ever wonder what your detti feel?” I ask, pausing as he shakes his head.
I wink, adding, “You find out. Not today. Today, I just take back what mine and then you belong to me. To use as I see fit. Death too easy. Death not make you understand.”
Hearing this, Mack tries to charge me again and my arm snaps out, his nose crunching beneath my fist as it connects. “I said sit,” I say calmly as my men pull him back onto the stool.
Shaking off the punch, he spits blood on the floor as he glares at me. I smirk, pushing the blade into his skin above the star. He grits his teeth, eyes going wide at the sudden action.
‘You will scream like girl by the time I finish,’ I think, sinking the blade in deeper.
As I carve the tattoo from his skin, he loses his battle to stay silent.
By the time I hold the flayed tattooed flesh in my hands, he’s a whimpering mess on the floor.
Eyeing the snot and blood running down his face, disgusted by the sight of him, I say, “Clean self up. Oh. And, make self pretty. My boys have not had. They get lonely.”
Pausing to allow my words to settle, I smile as his eyes go wide, leaning in close as I continue speaking, “You took from detti, you make them feel bad for who they are. And now it your turn. Do not keep them waiting.” Leaning in closer, I whisper in his ear.
“Smert will come. It just be long and painful. You will beg when time comes. Ponyatno?”
Hanging his head in defeat, he sniffles and says the only thing he can, “Da.”
Patting his cheek, I turn to leave the cell with a grin on my face. ‘I will break this man, he will beg for sweet release of death. That will not be granted til he pay for transgressions.’ I think, whistling as I walk back to my cell. ‘Look like a beautiful day in Cell Block D.’
Maddox
Waking up this morning, I reach across the bed, searching for Kai, only to find cold sheets. Shifting in bed, the smell of coffee hits me. Smiling to myself, I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I think, ‘I shoulda known.’
Stretching as I get out of bed, I grab his hoodie and slide it on as I make my way to the bathroom. Brushing my teeth quickly, I yawn, flipping the light off on my way to the kitchen. Rounding the corner from the hallway, I pause at the sight in front of me.
Taking in his rumpled look, flame-red curls sticking out in every direction as he yawns.
Walking up behind him where he stands in front of the coffee pot, I wrap my arms around him from kissing his shoulder, “Mornin’, Kitten,” I murmur into his shoulder.
Resting his free hand on mine, he pours two cups of coffee with the other.
“Mornin’, Khayos,” he says, a soft smile on his face as he turns in my arms to face me.
Taking the cup of coffee he offers, I breathe in the smell of caffeine as I take in the silence.
Setting my mug on the counter, I look around the small apartment.
The smell of cleaning products hits my nose as I take in my art hanging everywhere, some in frames on the wall and some held on the refrigerator by magnets.
Looking to the living room, I see the hoodie Kai wore yesterday thrown over the back of the couch and my shoes by the couch where I kicked them off.
Taking it all in, it hits me, it may be small, but the one thing I overlooked yesterday is that this is ours.
The chipped and beer-stained table is nowhere to be found.
In its place is a couple of barstools to sit at the long kitchen counter.
The stale smell of smoke isn’t hanging in the air surrounded by yellow-stained walls.
All the kitchen cabinet doors are attached and there are no holes in the walls or burn marks in the floor.
‘Kai and I have a home,’ I think, a tiny smile on my face as I take another sip of coffee.
“What do you wanna do today, Baby?” Kai asks, pulling me from my thoughts as he takes a sip of coffee.
Taking his hand, I pull him behind me as I move to the couch. As we sit down, I look around, “Where’s your tree?” I ask, knowing Christmas is coming up.
Kai looks down, fiddling with the rim of the coffee cup, as he mutters, “Wasn’t gonna get one this year. You weren’t gonna be here so I didn’t see a reason to.”
I knew that Christmas was one of his favorite holidays, this just wouldn’t do.
“Okay,” I say, taking another drink of coffee before saying, “I know what I wanna do today. We’re gonna get dressed and go out.
Our dinner date is now a breakfast date.
Then we’re goin’ to buy a tree and all the decorations you want.
And clothes for me so I am not running around in your sweats. ”
I watch the grin spread ear to ear over his face, “Really? All the decorations I want? How Dax? We don’t have that much money.”
Tossing him a wink, “We have a lot more than ya think. State cut me a check for all the time served,” I explain.
“So, today I’m spoilin’ you rotten. Whatever you want, no questions asked.
You will let me do this. You deserve this and so much more,” I say, setting my cup on the coffee table next to him, I grab his hand and pull him into my arms.
He falls into me, giggling, a wide smile lighting up his face.
Being with him like this was like coming home and I loved every second of it.
We snuggled on the couch a little longer before finally getting up to get ready.
As we head outside, I looked over at the door to Slavic Skin, thinking, ‘I need to talk to Andrei about a job soon, but today is all about Kai. The job talk will hafta wait.’
The icy breeze hits us as we make our way to the little diner on the corner.
Walking in, we settle into a booth and give our order to the waitress.
Over pancakes and bacon we talk about everything we need for decorating the apartment for Christmas.
As I pay for our meal, Kai orders an Uber and we head to Target.
As he wanders the aisles of the store picking out red, silver and black ornaments, a pair of matching stockings to hang, and a small tree, I can’t take my eyes off his smiling face and the way he kept looking back at me as if I would disappear if he looked away for too long.
After filling the cart with all the Christmas trimmings, we head to the clothes section.
Finally shopped out, we make our way through the checkout, taking another Uber home with our haul.
Stumbling through the door of our apartment, I ordered a pizza while he sorted through the bags.
Taking the bags of clothes to the bedroom, he came back out, having changed into a pair of blue plaid pajama pants and a tight, light gray henley.
Trailing my eyes over his tall form, I lick my lips at all those muscles on display.