by D N Simmons
“Okay, so I take a gun with me just in case, but my main purpose for doing this is to get caught so that I could get inside to find out more information.” He exhaled deeply again. “I hope this shit works out, don't forget to save me,” he said before turning to face Elise. He peered into her green eyes and leaned forward to kiss her passionately.
He released her, then grabbed his leather bomber jacket and walked towards the door. I thought he was one of the bravest people I've ever known and I wanted to let him know how I felt.
“Sergio!” I called out, he stopped in his tracks, turning around to face me. “I just wanted to tell you how honored I am to have met you. Please be careful,” I said.
“Likewise,” he said, then he turned and left.
A few minutes later we could hear the engine rev up and heard the tires kick up gravel as he sped off down the rode. I walked over to Elise and held her hand. I didn't say anything, there was really nothing I could say, it was as if her man had gone off to war. I wanted Sergio to be safe. I wanted Devin to be safe. I wanted all of this to be over. We waited for an hour as we listened to Sergio blast heavy metal music as he drove to the mansion. I was hoping that the goon from the restaurant had given us the right information.
“I'm here,” we heard Sergio say. I kind of wished it could have been a two-way radio, but that would have been a dead giveaway. The last thing Sergio needed was to have multiple voices coming from his ass, telling him to “look out for this, get more information about that.” I could hear his car door shut softly as his foot steps moved quickly into what I assumed to be the perimeter of the mansion.
“There are armed guards surrounding the mansion, I can smell the scent of the shape-shifters around this area, some have marked territories.” Sergio relayed. I was slightly confused, I had heard that phrase before. I wondered if he meant what I thought he meant, but I wanted it confirmed.
I looked at Elise. '“Marked territories', does he mean what I think he means?” I asked.
She nodded her head. “Exactly. All male shape-shifters feel the need to mark territory, it is an instinct.” She said clearing up any confusion I may have had.
“I'm going to try a get a little closer, it's more difficult because they have shape-shifters on patrol as well. Wait-what the fuck! Holy shit Elise, you're not going to fucking believe this! Their pack alpha, it's Ivan! He has just arrived in his car, now he's going inside! What the fuck is going on!?” Sergio questioned.
Xavier glanced up at Elise. “Is Ivan the pack alpha that you contacted? Do you know him personally?” he asked.
Elise was listening intently to the receiver, her gaze shifted to Xavier. “Yes. I contacted him and asked for permission to vacation in Russia. I suppose he now knows we were not planning a vacation. We have been acquainted for a few years, I never thought that he would betray his own kind to the mortal world!” Elise said, visibly disturbed by the new information. I myself didn't know what to think.
“Why would the local wolf pack side with the Russian Mafia?” I asked, I hoped I did not sound as naive to them as I sounded to myself. Xavier looked up at me and shrugged his shoulders.
“I have not the slightest idea, I'm hoping that Sergio will be able to gather some information that will expose what's going on here.” The four of us continued to listen as Sergio relayed more information to us.
“There is a limo pulling up...I've counted seven Japanese males emerging from the limo. I suppose they are all here for some kind of meeting or something. They're all walking inside now, who could they be...possibly Yakuza?” Sergio speculated. From what I was hearing and based on the last four days, I was willing to bet his assumptions were correct. If Sergio was right and those Japanese men are Yakuza, then we are really in a shitload of trouble!
“There are two guards in a watchtower overlooking the mansion. They are armed with high powered rifles with scopes, and they probably have silver ammunition,” Sergio relayed. “Okay, I've circled the whole perimeter and I've counted twenty-seven guards in the front of the mansion, including the two in the watch tower. Around the back, there are another ten guards to total thirty-seven guards.
“So I guess this is the point where I try to storm the fucking building.” Sergio paused.
I looked at Elise, I could see her jaw tighten and I knew she was holding her breath. I couldn't say that I'd blame her, I was on pins and needles myself, and I would be in worse shape if this were Xavier doing this extremely dangerous mission.
“Everything will be alright Elise, don't worry about a thing.” I said, I hoped it gave her some inkling of comfort. She looked at me, her pretty green eyes focusing on mine and she smiled.
“Thank you, Natasha. I am worried about Sergio,” she took a deep breath then released it slowly. She looked back at Xavier. “I sure hope doing this does not get him killed or...”she shook her head and began to slowly pace the room.
“Okay, I'm taking out as many of these sons-of-bitches I can. If I don't make it back...Elise, I want you to know that I will always love you. And for the rest of you, it was nice knowing you.” Sergio said.
The words hit me like a tidal wave. It was as if Sergio did not expect to make it back and I didn't know what to think. I didn't want to see anyone else killed, and I was hoping that the enemy would simply capture Sergio and from there, more information might be gathered. But with Sergio saying he was going to “take some out”, there was no telling what the outcome was going to be.
“It's a fucking suicide mission, he's not going to kill the guards... is he!?” John asked, perplexed. “They might kill him because of that!”
I looked at Elise and Xavier who seemed to be as perplexed as I was.
Xavier turned to John. “That was not necessarily my plan, but I am not totally against it. It would get him captured and if he plays his cards right, they would think he was acting on his own once they scope out the area and notices he is alone.” Xavier explained, then he looked at Elise. “How well does this pack alpha know you?” he asked.
Elise stopped pacing the room long enough to answer the question. “We have known each other for the past ten years. We may speak to each other on the telephone once or twice every year or so, but that is it. He wanted me as his lover, but I was never interested in being a wolf's lover...not when I had my own Pride to take care of. He never accepted my answer or respected my choice to decline his affections. If you want to know if we were ever lovers, the answer is no, I was never attracted to him in that way.”
She started to pace the room again, her hands crossed over her chest. I looked at John, who seemed to be extremely interested in Sergio's next move. I decided to focus my intention on what Sergio was doing as well. We listened to Sergio's barely audible foot steps as he raced towards the mansion. Soon, we began to hear the painful guttural sounds coming from the guards he slew. I knew why he was doing this and I knew more of this would be done tomorrow night, but it was still very difficult for me to sit there and listen to the sounds of people dying. I rose from the sofa and walked into the kitchen for a glass of water. I could hear the muffled wails and gasps of the guards even still. I looked towards the living room area and saw that Elise had stopped pacing the room, she now stood over the little black receiver. After about five minutes of listening to Sergio kill the guards, we began to hear the walkie-talkies informing the people inside the mansion of a security breech. Two minutes later, we could hear Sergio's foot steps stop abruptly. I walked back into the living room, and sat down on the couch beside Xavier who had leaned a little closer to the receiver, a frown on his face.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here, a little pussy cat,” said a deep and heavily Russian accented voice.
“You're the fucking dog that took Devin!” Sergio said, practically growling.
“Yes I am and he is a reeeaaal sweet kitty cat.” The shape-shifting wolf said.
I was beginning to think this may be the same man I saw in my vision through Devin's eyes. I hoped and prayed that he did
not do to poor Devin, what I was thinking he did.
“Where the fuck is he!” Sergio growled.
The man laughed. “Do you think it is going to be that easy, you come here...” he paused.
We were listing all the more closely for any details that could be gathered.
“He is sniffing the air, he is trying to see if we are there.” Elise said.
“You come here all by yourself on some gallant mission to save someone who can not be saved. How pathetic,” said the wolf, his thick accent threading each word, making it somewhat difficult for me to understand what he was saying over the microphone.
I must admit, Warren did send some excellent equipment. Even though the little wire was in an unmentionable place, the reception was fantastic...considering.
“As a matter of fact, that was my plan,” Sergio replied dryly.
“The only way you are going to see your little pal, is if you join him, just come along with me nicely. Hell, if you remain a good boy, we might even have some play time later,” said the wolf with a lecherous sounding chuckle. “I can show you the same game I showed your little kitty earlier!” the wolf laughed outright.
“YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH!” Sergio shouted angrily.
I could tell from the rapid sound of wind rushing, that he was moving very fast and I bet he was moving towards the wolf. There was the sound of cloth being ripped. We could hear a tussle between the wolf and Sergio, the four of us sat in the small living room and listened to the menacing growls that were emanating from both Sergio and the wolf. I was watching Elise from time to time, seeing her reaction to all of this. She put her hand over her mouth when she heard Sergio grunt in pain. I looked at John and Xavier; John appeared to be enthralled as he stared at the receiver. But Xavier looked the same as before, a crease in his eyebrow, his lip turned down in a frown. I could not help but wonder what in the world did he think about what he was hearing. I continued to listen, I heard a loud thump and I assumed Sergio had fallen to the ground.
“Pick him up!” said the wolf. “Take him inside; we'll see what they want to do with him.” His voice seemed to get closer, more clearer, I figured he had moved nearer to Sergio. “If they let me have you, we are going to have a lot of fun together.” with that, he laughed.
We could hear Sergio being dragged off. A few minutes passed before we heard other voices, some spoke in Japanese or English and other voices spoke in Russian. I looked towards Elise and Xavier to translate. Both seemed to be too busy listening to translate, so I left it alone, I was sure they would fill me in later.
“We found this outside; he killed fifteen guards before we got to him. He came for the leopard we acquired yesterday, what do you want me to do with him?” asked the wolf in English. I was happy about that. Damn! Fifteen guards! Sergio wasn't playing around! There was a long silence, then I began to hear other people laughing in the back ground.
“Well, fifteen guards, you don't say? That is pretty fucking impressive.” There was a pause, then the male voice continued. “Do you know him, Ivan?” asked a deep voice, with a heavy Russian accent.
“Yes, I do...I believe his name is Sergio Giovanni,” replied another deep masculine voice. Then there was another silent pause.
“That's right, I fucked her!” Sergio said. I had no idea where that response came from, I looked at Elise.
“Why would he say that?” I asked her.
“Ivan must have sniffed him and caught my inner most scent still lingering on Sergio. Sergio knows that Ivan desires me and he is rubbing it in...oh Sergio!” Elise said nervously. Her eyebrows remained creased as she listened. There was a harsh sound of skin being smacked and I knew Sergio must have been hit. Then there was another and another smack, then we all heard Sergio groan and cough.
“Not so high and mighty now, are we? Pick him up!” I believed this voice belonged to Ivan.
“He is strong, his blood would come in handy on the trade. However, I know that he is not alone, get information out of him. I want to know where his comrades are. I also want to know how much he knows.” I suspected this voice belonged to the Russian mafia boss.
“Can I have a little fun with him, sir?” we heard the wolf ask.
“Sure you can, but don't waste time needlessly, which means no funny business. Get me that fucking information first!” this voice, we recognized as Ivan's.
“What are they, yakuza?” Sergio asked boldly, conveying this important information to us.
“Yes, they are,” chuckled the mafia boss.
“Why are those American politicians here!?” Sergio demanded, he must have recognized some of the people there as politicians.
“Why is he still standing here in front of me, get him the fuck out of here!” yelled the mob boss.
“Come on, let's go kitty-kitty.” The wolf said and we listened as Sergio was dragged away. The sounds of laughter erupted as Sergio was being taken out of the room, then faded away at the sound of the doors closing.
“You and I are going to have a lot of fun together. I have so many toys I want to show you,” the wolf said teasingly.
“I can't fucking wait,” Sergio replied dryly.
“Neither can I,” the wolf responded.
Then I heard the metal click of a lock and the sound of a squeaky door being opened.
“What the fuck is going on down here!” Sergio exclaimed.
I looked at the others in the room, everyone was silent, all eyes were staring forward as they listened to everything. I suppose they were doing what I was doing and that was mentally picturing everything that we heard.
“Sergio!!” Devin yelled. I noticed that Elise's eyes widened when she heard the sound of Devin's voice, letting her know that he was still alive.
“I'm here now, Devin. Don't worry, okay.” Sergio said attempting to calm Devin down.
“Sergio, where are the others!?” Devin asked, we could detect a slightly nervous tone in his voice.
“I am here on my own, Devin, that is it,” Sergio said.
Devin must have caught the hint that Sergio did not want to give away too much information, because he did not say another word. We could hear Sergio being manhandled and it was pissing me off that this was happening. We heard the sound of chains clinking together and I suspected that Sergio was being tied up with silver chains, because no other chain could contain him. I knew the chains would be painful for Sergio, silver was painful to all shape-shifters.
“There, that outta feel reeaall nice,” the wolf said. I could hear Sergio panting and groaning in pain.
“Now tell me, where are the others!?” the wolf demanded.
“Go fuck yourself!” Sergio spat out. Then he groaned in pain again.
The wolf chuckled. “Go fuck myself...is that your answer?” he paused, I suppose he was giving Sergio a chance to change his mind...but he didn't. “Well, maybe I'll just fuck you, how does that sound?” he threatened Sergio gleefully.
“If you even think about touching me, know this...I will kill you!” Sergio warned in a tone so menacing, it scared me.
The wolf laughed outright. “You will kill me, how is this so!?” he paused to laugh once more. “You don't look like a man in the position to threaten anyone...in fact, you are in the right position for one thing only,” the wolf said with a chuckle.
“Get the fuck off of me!” Sergio yelled.
Elise had risen from her chair and began to pace the room again. Xavier rested his chin on his hand as if in contemplation, his eyebrows were furrowed. I could tell he hated what was happening to Sergio...and also what probably happened to Devin. John had looked away from the receiver, he gazed down at his hands resting in his lap.
“I am going to make you feel reeall good. In a minute, you won't even remember your little bitch!” said the wolf breathlessly.
“I'm going to fucking KILL YOU!” Sergio threatened, then we heard the chains rattle violently as if he was struggling against them.
The wolf laughed again. “You are g
oing to like this,” he chuckled.
We heard the door open, someone must have entered the room, thus interrupting the assault. Thank goodness! I was not so sure I could listen to Sergio being raped. Nope, I know I could not have been able to listen to Sergio being raped. And from the expressions on everyone else's face, I doubt that they would have been able to do so either. Well, maybe Xavier would have been able to deal with that prospect better than the rest of us. Xavier seems to keep his composure under extreme circumstances.
We heard an unfamiliar voice yelling in Russian and Xavier immediately began to translate. '“Hey! What the fuck are you doing? The boss wants information out of him! That does not give you an open policy on his ass. You are supposed to be finding out where the others are hiding, not getting your fucking rocks off!!!”' Xavier repeated what the man said in English for John and myself.
'“Don't fucking interrupt me, I'm busy!'“ Xavier continued. “That was the wolf who's tormenting Sergio.”
“I got that part, I can tell who's talking by the distinct sound of their voices, please go on,” I said.
The two men continued to argue and Xavier translated for us. '“Should I tell Ivan about all this? That you are wasting time? Do you think he is really going to tell you anything if you fuck him?'“ There was a sound of wind gusting, followed by several snarls and growls, I heard the sound of a body being slammed into something solid, followed by the sounds of someone grunting.
'“You even think about telling him and I'm going to put more pain on you than that!'“ Xavier was able to keep up with their confrontation perfectly. I could tell that this was the wolf speaking.
“I won't have to tell him a thing,” the voice was now panting. Xavier continued. “When Ivan smells him on you and realizes you have been down here fucking around, that will be your ass on the barb, not mine.'“ The man began to chuckle.
“I’ll get the fucking information, don't you worry.'“
'“Fine, Ivan wants the info pronto.'“ Xavier looked at me. “Did you get all of that?” he asked. There was the sound of a door opening then closing. I supposed the other man left the room.
