Chapter 29
Montgomery
Revenge was a prickly beast.
I felt it even now. I don’t think there was a human alive who didn’t feel the need at least once in their lives. Even if they and everyone else considered them a decent human being, the kind who’d give their shirt off their backs to anyone in need.
My reasons were clear.
If anyone fucked with my family, they paid a price.
Usually with their lives.
I’d become accustomed to controlling my temper, but after Fleur had been attacked and had almost lost her life, things had changed. Perhaps because she’d been forced to make a choice that would forever alter her life. Taking a man’s life under any circumstances haunted a person.
The fact she’d done so to protect me both titillated and infuriated me. I wasn’t angry with her. Without her intervention, I wouldn’t be casually walking along the cracked path, ignoring the stench lingering in the humid air.
She was my rock, my reason for getting up in the morning.
She’d risked her life to save mine.
Now the fucker responsible would pay for putting her in harm’s way.
Prisons.
A method of punishment designed to punish those who’d broken the law. In some cases, rehabilitation efforts were provided, allowing for some education and socialization in hopes the inmate could learn skills as well as gain self-confidence. In some cases, the efforts worked.
In my world, never.
Why? Because those involved in crime syndicates proudly did their time.
If they were smart, they kept their mouths shut.
If they were important in the hierarchy of the organization, they were protected against the typical gangs inside the prison system.
Guards had well-greased palms. Accommodations were more like a cheap motel versus a stark, cold prison cell equipped with a toilet and cot.
For some, the privileges were grand gestures of loyalty.
In the case of Ivan Barishnikoff, his first stop within the system had been a harsh reminder that failing against another crime syndicate held severe consequences. The choice and his punishment had been based on the Prince influence over members of law enforcement and the justice system.
But now… Now, his surroundings were little more than glamping in the forest, a structured environment allowing for communication with the outside world at any point in the day. A cell complete with luxurious bedding and entertainment. A chef preparing meals.
And minimum security.
We had enough contacts throughout the world that his location had been discovered easily. Now it was time to take over as judge and jury.
The plan had been well thought out, limited loyalties purchased so that people looked the other way and didn’t say a word. After my visit, the records would be swept clean. I’d never been there. After all, I was lying close to death in a heavily guarded hospital.
A ruse that had been both annoying and entertaining. It was likely one of the more complicated facades the family had created, but well worth the effort for the element of surprise.
The day was packed. My brothers were standing by for a plane ride to New York.
Who would be sitting in the seat beside me? My lovely flower, a woman that had awakened me from a deep coma. One that I hadn’t known I’d been in. Until her suncatchers had caught my eye.
As I waited to be allowed through the prison gates, my mind was completely wrapped around thoughts about our enjoyment of New York. A little getaway added to levels of passion in relationships.
Well, I’d be damned. It was the first time I’d used the term.
You bet we were in a relationship. If she thought she was returning to her life in Vermont, she had another think coming.
Although I’d come to realize how much I enjoyed being in the little town and around the people she’d become fond of. They rocked in a world full of phonies.
“Right this way, Mr. Smith,” the guard told me.
Smith wasn’t simply the use of a generic name as private detectives would do in a C-rated suspense movie. Smith was the name of Ivan’s attorney, fake as shit but effective as hell.
The real Mr. Smith was currently unemployed. If he was a good boy throughout the mission and beyond, he might live. If not? Well, there was a special place in hell waiting for him.
I carried my briefcase as would any good attorney while headed toward a communal section of the prison.
As soon as I was inside and after the prisoner was brought to visit with his ‘attorney,’ I’d have the room and surrounding area all to myself.
I’d take more time with the fucking asshole except I had a plane to catch.
His son might be in hiding, something we’d need to deal with later, but after the Pakhan was removed from this earth, the minions pledging fealty would scatter like cockroaches.
We’d taken advantage of our alliance with the Cosa Nostra, using them as backup under guise of them gaining additional territory. Which we would honor.
We were honorable men after all.
I was taken to what I’d consider a very nice room, one that had the typical table with metal shackles waiting, but also housing an expensive coffee machine in a small kitchen equipped with a refrigerator. In case anyone was thirsty during the long conversations.
Once settled inside, I placed my briefcase on the table, one that until recently had been owned by the real Mr. Smith. Then I decided on a cup of coffee. Why not? If only I’d thought about bringing a flask with me. A touch of whiskey would be delicious.
Oh, well.
Fleur and I would have a toast on the plane.
Seconds after I’d dropped the pod of coffee into the Keurig machine, the door was opened behind me.
There were no words from the guards bringing Ivan into the room. He wasn’t even shackled to the table at my request. However, we were left very much alone with assurances we wouldn’t be bothered.
I took my time preparing my coffee, remaining silent.
“Took you long enough to get here,” Ivan finally said. “I’ve made arrangements for someone to get into the hospital. That Cajun fucker needs to die. You should get out of town for a few days. The shit will hit the fan. I’ve ordered a hit on the entire family.”
After stirring my coffee, I turned around. “Oh, you have. I guess I’ll need to make a few phone calls to my family.”
The element of surprise was evident. Especially when he threw back his chair until it slammed against the wall while he stood.
I kept a wry smile on my face as I took a sip of coffee. Not bad. Fleur had been bugging me about getting a new coffee machine. Maybe a little present after our return from New York.
He quickly recovered, sneering at me with a level of amusement indicating he thought I’d made a huge mistake in coming to see him. However, the fact he remained right where he was indicated at least a modicum of fear.
The tension was palpable and I purposely allowed two full minutes of ticking time. That was all he could take.
“What the fuck do you want?” he gritted out.
“That’s easy. For you to pay for your sins.
Now, I have the recording of you stating you want my family dead, but I really don’t care about that.
As we speak, your places of business are being destroyed, what little they might offer my family taken, and your people?
Well, we’ll see just how loyal they truly are to a pig like you, one who doesn’t value his people. ”
He grinned as if the joke was on me. “You have no idea how powerful I am.”
“Oh, I know that you think you’re extremely powerful. That’s been your downfall. You forgot the unwritten rule about attacking an enemy.”
“And what’s that?” he snarled and it was obvious he believed the methods of security and protection he’d paid good money to have in place would save him.
Old fool.
His time was finished.
The rest of his family would suffer in the wake of his decisions based on greed and hunger for additional power.
“You never fuck with their spouses or children.” I took another sip of coffee, enjoying both the flavor and temperature of the brew.
But I was finished toying with him. It used to be I thoroughly enjoyed watching some lowlife suffer.
There were methods of torture that would turn a man into a blubbering child begging for his life.
Our father had taught us well, using methods learned from his father and grandfather.
Something he’d hoped I’d pass down to my children.
In truth, I wanted a better world for them. If I was lucky enough to father even a single child. The thought had entered my mind more than once as of late. And why? Because I knew Fleur would make an amazing mother.
Yes, we were in a relationship.
“That’s why your children will live to face another day.
But you’ve crossed one too many lines including the orchestration of my father’s death.
But don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll make friends with the demons you’ll be rooming with in hell.
Oh, and for the record, your cousin will no longer be in a position to act on your behalf.
” I checked my watch. “Yes, right about now he’s enjoying his lunch.
Five minutes from now, he’ll be dead. But think of it this way.
You can spend eternity in hell together. ”
When I pulled a syringe from my pocket, Ivan laughed as if I had no clue what to expect. I waited as he pounded on the door, eager for his prison buddies to charge inside.
After two or three minutes of silence, he glared at me.
“They’re not coming, Ivan. I suggest you get comfy before you face judgment day.”
As expected, he came at me with everything a seventy-five-year-old man could offer. I had to admit, he was stronger than I’d expected.
But not by much.
He was able to get off a single punch, something that would annoy me for the remainder of the day, but I’d get over it.
I wasn’t in the mood to waste any additional time, so I jammed the needle into his neck.