by KJ Dahlen
His sons were finally catching up and his guard, Pavel was right behind him. God, he hoped he was on the right track. Pavel had pointed to this trail when he had got on his own ATV.
Suddenly, as the trees thinned out, he spotted the black horse. The one she called Raven. It was tied to a tree ahead.
He raised his hand up for the men to all slow to a stop. He then turned his engine off and hopped down from the ATV. He looked down at the ground to see if he could spot any footprints. There. Boot tracks and he would bet they were Daisy’s boots. He followed them through the trees further. His gut kept clenching and for the first time in his well ordered life—he felt actual fear rising up inside him. He had never known fear, not even when he’d been twenty in the lower ranks of the Soviet Army. Now, he couldn’t seem to stop his body from trembling.
He swiftly and quietly made it through the trees while following her tracks.
What he came out to was a scene from hell.
Daisy had her shotgun raised to her cheek, finger on the trigger.
Edward was sprawled out on the dirt road his head bleeding.
Ethel looked pale and fear was all over her face as a man held a gun to her head, using her body as a shield.
“You fucking let her go Raimus or whatever the hell your name is!” Daisy yelled.
“Oh? So now you know who I am, eh?” He laughed. “I see you have been whoring around with the Bratva.”
“Yeah, so?” she snickered. “They are gonna kill you and your damn brother.”
“Ha, they already did. He died of that gunshot wound yesterday. Every one of you are going to pay now.”
Timor stilled. This was unexpected news if it were true. He didn’t want Raimus seeing him so he raised his hand to his sons.
They all held back as the scene played out.
Timor raised his gun to see if he could get a clean shot into Raimus, but Daisy was right in the line of fire. She sure was, Timor realized with a sense of dread. All Raimus had to do was shoot her.
“Let her go now, or I will blow your damn head off!” Daisy vowed.
“You haven’t got the guts, malen’kaya shlyukha.”
“Say goodbye you filthy pig.” Daisy aimed straight at him and let off her shot.
His head exploded as Ethel screamed and brains splattered all over her face.
The Raimus’ dead weight dropped forward as his gun flew from his lifeless grip and what was left of him hit the dirt.
Ethel was screaming. And she kept on screaming as she did a horror dance while grasping her head and swiping at her dress as if to push away what just happened to try to get the blood and flesh off of her shoulders and face.
Timor stepped forward with his gun up while spanning the trees to make sure the assailant had been alone.
Daisy whirled around and aimed her gun at him.
He raised his hands up. “Vau Deyzi. Whoa!”
Her eyes were like large luminous sapphires as she lowered her gun. It dropped to the ground with a metal clank.
Isoif and Pavel were checking Edward as poor Ethel sat on the dirt road looking like Carrie out of the horror film, her head covered in blood as was her white dress. She looked to be in shock.
Roman stepped up beside him and looked at Daisy. “You took care of that all right.”
Daisy shrugged like it’d been nothing at all. “Just like target practice.” Then she suddenly paled and her eyes rolled in her head as she dropped forward.
Timor caught her.
Chapter Thirteen
When Daisy awoke, she looked up at Timor then around at her front porch as he carried her in his large arms up the steps.
“Deyzi?” He stopped walking when he saw her eyes were open.
She knew only one person called her this foreign name as she still had trouble focusing on his face. “Timor?”
He looked angry as he said, “Dammit, you scared me!” He then swore in Russian, “Bylad chert voz’mi, kak ty mog sdelat’ eto!”
Blinking her eyes, she laughed. “What? That was a dammed mouthful. And it best not have been swear words, mister.”
He shook his head. “Why? Why didn’t you come to me? Instead of rushing away on a horse... on your own!”
She peeked behind him to see men lined up all around them. His sons also stood on the steps below him. She let out a sigh and gazed up at him now. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to—”
He leaned close, so his lips met hers. “Well, get used to it. You are my woman. I will help you, protect you. In fact, I am going to marry you.”
Her eyes widened as she heard gasps from his sons. “What?”
He shook his head. “Never mind for now, but you will have to get used to me being here... with you... FOR you. You can be stubborn all you want but if you ever put your life in danger again, I am going to spank that fabulous ass of yours.”
Daisy simply blinked her eyes at him. She had never been told off by a man and allowed him to get away with it. But this time, maybe, she would let it slide. She kind of liked the ass spanking part and especially that he thought hers was fabulous. She mentally snickered. She then heard chuckles from his sons. She raised her head and met their gazes.
Both men dropped their smiles.
Timor then strode through the open door as he went on in a litany of infused Russian ranting.
Daisy was puzzled. He looked angry but he was holding her tightly and securely. Then she gasped as a thought hit her. “Where is Edward? Is he all right?”
“I’m right here.” He came up to her. He wore a bandage on his head. “I got a headache but I’m alive.”
Sergi stepped out in front of the stairs from the hallway. “I have sent for the doctor...Is she hurt?” He stared at Timor.
Daisy tapped Timor’s large rock hard harms. “No, I am not and this big Russian oak tree needs to put me down!”
Sergi raised his brows at her outburst then he searched Timor’s face.
Timor stared back at him with a hard flinty gaze.
“Well, I think that would be unwise to suggest at the moment,” Sergi muttered.
Timor let out a sigh as he allowed her down.
“What happened?” Sergi asked as the men all came in.
“She blew...” Timor started then shook his head in disgust all over again. “...Bylad!”
Roman stepped up beside him. “She blew Raimus’ brains out of his head.”
Just then, Ethel came in as Pavel assisted her. “Yes! All over me,” she cried hysterically.
Sergi blinked at the sight of the woman in bloody white.
“That isn’t all,” Iosif spoke up. “He told her that Anton died of the wound he got from Pavel yesterday.”
Sergi’s brows rose. “Well, that explains it then.”
“Explains what?” Timor asked as he took Daisy’s hand in his.
She felt him grip her hand and suddenly, everything felt better. “Yes, he said that and that he intended to make us all pay for it.”
“Seems that compound is suddenly deserted,” Sergi informed them. “I sent the ghosts in to scope it out. I am waiting on their report.”
Timor sighed. “And if they do not find Anton?”
“Then we search. There must be a trail.”
Timor looked livid. “Like the trail he left thirty years ago?” His voice rose.
Daisy squeezed his hand hard.
He instantly gazed down at her. Then as he looked into her eyes, he seemed to calm.
All the men in the room watched this calmness overtake Timor’s usual rage.
Timor gazed up at Sergi and nodded.
Roman and Isoif raised their brows at this uncharacteristic change in their father.
Crying, Ethel exclaimed, “Well, I hope so! That man was evil and his brother is no better!” She then headed for the stairs and went all the way up. Then suddenly, she turned around at the top step and called down, “Where is Joel?”
“Who?” Sergi looked up at her.
“Joel
the traitor!” Ethel shouted.
Daisy stepped forward as she peered up at her cousin. “What?”
Ethel looked macabre as she stood there her face and hair stained in blood with her scowl apparent. “How do you think that madman knew we were on that back road?”
Daisy shook her head. “No...”
“Yes!” She nodded. “He said Joel got a nice cut and was supposed to get more when they took over our land. That SOB had had meals here. He lived here! All the while, he was...” Her voice broke.”
Daisy stared up at her as her body shook a bit. “But he has worked here for three years. He was loyal.”
“No, he wasn’t!” Ethel cried huge tears and went down the hall.
Timor turned to Daisy. “It makes sense. How else had they gotten onto your land all those times? How did Raimus know where to—”
“No. It can’t be true!” Daisy felt tears gather in her eyes.
He let out a breath and shook his head as he took her hands in his. “Men will do many things for money. For greed.”
Daisy sniffled against the coming tears. She didn’t think this day could get any worse. “Where is he?”
Timor looked around at his men.
They all shrugged.
Daisy huffed as she stomped toward the kitchen. “Joel!” she shouted and when she didn’t find him there, she marched down the hall to the living room. “Joel!”
Timor followed her. “I am thinking he lit out of here already. He cannot be that stupid to stick around when he knew we had gone after you.”
“Ooh!” Daisy stomped her boot on the floor. “That lowdown good for nuthin douchebag!”
Timor took her hand. “Come on. Go upstairs and try to get some rest.”
“What?” she exclaimed. “After all this?” She raised her hands in the air. “How could he do this to us? My cousins coulda been killed!”
“He knew that for sure,” Timor whispered gently. “I am sorry to say it, but he had to know that they would be.”
“Well, I am gonna make him sorry!” she shouted as she stalked up the stairs.
Heading to her own room to get some fresh clothes on, she intended to go out searching for the sonofabitch. She would really kick his ass now. She opened her bedroom door and went in. Marching to her dresser, she opened a drawer angrily while muttering about traitorous assholes. Then she sighed and decided to wash up first. As she headed bathroom, she shucked her dirty tee shirt off. Then she stood over the sink as she grabbed a washcloth. “Dammit, why Joel? Why?” Looking up in the mirror, she saw a face. She let out a scream and flipped around.
Joel grinned at her.
Her gaze dropped down to see he held a knife in his hand.
“Why? You ask?” he whispered as he stepped closer. “Why?”
Daisy stood very still. There was a definite insane gleam in this man’s eyes.
“I finally get to see your tits.” He laughed as he flicked the knife out and clipped her bra right at the middle.
Daisy’s boobs popped out as her bra opened up. Gasping, she raised her hands to cover herself. “What hell do you think you’re doing?” she yelled.
He took another step closer. “Shhh...we don’t want your boyfriend up here.”
Her eyes narrowed at him. “How could you, Joel?”
“It was all your fault.” He shrugged.
Her brow wrinkled up. “What?”
“You!” He gulped heavily the gleam getting brighter in his gaze. “I waited all this time for you to notice me.”
“Notice?”
“Yes! I waited for you to realize that I could be the man for you.”
She honestly felt stunned. Daisy had no idea he thought this way.
“Then that Russian mobster comes here!”
“So you sold us out?”
“Not until you slept with him, I didn’t!”
“But you had already been offered this money from those pyscho brothers though right?” she accused.
He stepped all the way up to her. “I had and I didn’t accept it.”
“But then you did and you let them in here. They killed Celia, Danny and Petey!” She referred to her tiny buffalo and her other animals as tears sprung to her eyes. “They shot me!”
“You deserved it for becoming that Russian’s whore!” he shouted. “He’s no better than they are! Can’t you see that?”
Daisy held her bra up to cover her breasts. She noted how loosely he held the knife now and he was distracted. She raised her arms up in feigned anger as she dropped the bra pieces to distract him even more. “Well, whoop-ti-doo! So you wanted me? My body or what?”
His eyes narrowed in on her bare breasts as he licked his lips.
“You fucking dumbass!” Daisy took her shot and raised her leg to kick his right hand that held the knife.
It clattered over the tile and hit the shower door.
Daisy did not stick around as she bolted for the bedroom. “Timor!” she screamed as loud as she could. She knew she maybe could get out of this herself, but this man needed someone bigger to kick his ass. Timor wanted to be her man and she would let him be that. She rushed to her dresser and tugged the lamp off the top. “Timor!” she shouted again.
Roaring in rage, Joel came running from the bathroom, knife in hand.
Daisy wasn’t gonna run now, though she took another moment to let out a last scream. She had a weapon too, in case her man didn’t show up. “Come on, you pussy!” she sneered.
Joel paused as he spotted the lamp in her hands. “Nah, I’ve seen you deck full grown men, Daisy.”
“Yeah, a pussy just like I said.” She raised the lamp and tossed it at him.
He moved out of the way and the lamp crashed to the floor. Instantly, he headed her way his knife raised.
Then the door slammed open.
Daisy looked over. “It’s about time!”
Timor raised his Makarov and aimed it at Joel’s head. “Go on then...Try it.”
Joel looked from him to Daisy.
“Yeah, Joel whatya gonna do, now that you’re facing a man, instead of a braless woman, you slimeball?” She grabbed a t-shirt from the open dresser drawer and held up to her bare boobs.
Joel let out a defeated breath and dropped his arm.
Timor held his gun on him. “Drop it.”
Joel did. The knife clattered to the floor.
Timor glanced over at Daisy. “Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No but he destroyed my favorite bra!”
Timor blinked then shook his head with a smirk at her answer. “Ok, woman. Here’s the gun. Keep it on him.”
Now it was Daisy’s turn to blink in surprise as she accepted the heavy gun. “What?”
“You heard me.” Timor yanked off his button up shirt. “Keep it trained on us.”
Daisy gawked at him. What the hell was he—?
Striding over to Joel, he raised his fists. “Like my bare chest fucker?” he sneered.
Joel looked confused.
“See this scar?” Timor pointed to just above his heart. “That was a knife just like yours. Almost nicked an artery.”
Joel simply stared but he had started to shake.
“See this red star?” Timor asked as he pointed to his upper arm.
Joel gulped heavily as he took a step back.
“It covers a bullet wound. One of five I have received and I never sniveled like a fucking baby. So be a man and step up.” Timor raised his fists again.
Joel shook his head as he backed all the way to the wall.
“No?” Timor asked. “Well, I suggest you at least try, because I am going to straight out kick your fucking ass!”
Daisy stared. Ok, yeah...this is damn sexy. She had already thought so but damn...
Joel cried out as Timor tossed a fist out hitting him on the jaw.
Joel then reared his head back and saw blood coming from his mouth to drip down his neck to his shirt. He actually whined and whimpered as he slid down the
wall in a pathetic heap.
Timor stared down at him in actual disbelief. “What the fuck? That’s it?” He shook his head in disgust. “You did all this because you wanted Daisy as your woman? When you are nothing but a fucking coward?” he shouted.
Daisy thought she might just swoon right there on the spot as she realized suddenly and clearly why she had never gotten a man for all these years. It was because none of them were real men. And none of them had been Timor Maxim.
Damn...She knew her panties now needed to be changed too.
Conclusion
Anton Azarov had been found, dead in one of the rooms at the compound. His body was then flown back to Russia to be sure it was him, as the Council wanted to compare his DNA to what they had on that family file and Raimus’ too. The DNA had matched for both men and it was finally over.
Timor and Sergi had both been disappointed that they couldn’t have rode in the copters to witness their downfall. But after more than thirty years, justice was finally served.
Timor had shaken Sergi’s hand and off Sergi went back to Russia.
Timor missed his homeland for perhaps a minute a day. As his new home had kept him too busy to miss it more than that. Besides, he had a trip planned as he was going to take Daisy there. She had been studying Russian for a couple of months. She had said it was so she could know what he went on about when he was fired up at her. It had been amusing to see and hear her practicing. Most days, he was more than amused by his woman. She would never allow him to be bored nor grow into old age. She adored his grandchildren and they her. Of course, she won them over the first day they all met.
All around the woman there would be laughter and surprised looks when she got to talking. He couldn’t wait to see the faces of some of his old comrades back home when she started in with her Russian southern drawl speak. He in fact, couldn’t wait.
Oh yes, he knew she could have beaten Joel down in that bedroom that day and she’d just allowed Timor to “rescue” her but he still felt pretty good about it.
He loved her more each and every day and he never felt more proud of her. Today especially, as he waited for her to come to him. It seemed he was always waiting for her. For her to wake up. Or for her to smile at him. Anything. He waited to hear her tell him old stories about the swamps and voodoo tales at night while they lay in bed together.
