Iosif -To load

by Dahlen, K. J.

  She took the file and began looking through the papers in there. This was little bits and pieces of her mother’s life and as each unfolded, she got to know her mother for the first time in her life.

  Toward the back of the file was a confession of sorts. Her mother had written down what happened all those years ago when she had been snatched off the streets in a country far away.

  Her eyes blurred with tears at the hand written words on the paper. She’d written how a stranger had grabbed her and put a towel over her face, how she smelled something sweet and it made her sleepy. The next thing she knew she was waking up on a plane over the Atlantic. He drugged her again and the next time she woke up she was in a small apartment in Baton Rouge.

  The man who took her told her his name was Walter and that he owned her now. She was told he wouldn’t hurt her as long as she did everything he told her to do. She was there because her brother owed a debt to him and she was payment of that debt. She wrote about how Walter could be good to her and how evil he was at times.

  Jaden’s heart broke as she read the hell her mother went through at Walter’s hands. The five page letter ended with the year before she was born.

  How she worked in the strip club and how much she grew to hate him when he began pimping her out to his elite clientele including one man who came in under the guise of mask. She never knew who he was until the night Walter interrupted them with a gun in his hand. He argued with the other man then ended up shooting him. He made her take the gun so her fingerprints would be found on it, not his. Then he told her if she ever thought about leaving him he would use the gun against her with the police. They would believe anything he told them as he was paying them a lot of money for protection.

  Her mother explained that she had no choice but to run when she found she was pregnant. Walter never would have allowed her to have her baby and she wanted her child. She only hoped and prayed she would be alive to watch her child grow up.

  Jaden dropped the letter on the table, got up and walked down the hall to the bedroom. She couldn’t speak to anyone right now and she just needed time to absorb everything she had learned that day. She laid down on the bed and cried herself to sleep.

  Iosif watched her leave and would have gone after her but Roman laid his hand on his shoulder. “Maybe she needs a moment.”

  Iosif stared down the hall for a moment and decided maybe Roman was right. He turned to Nikoli and asked, “How long until Sergi gets here?”

  Nikoli checked his watch and shrugged. “Maybe a couple of hours yet. They should be getting close to the American border by this time.” He looked down the hall at the closed bedroom door. “Is she going to be all right?”

  “I’m not sure,” Iosif admitted. “I think all this is too much for her to take in.”

  Nikoli scoffed. “Da. It would be a lot for anyone to take in. When Sergi reads everything his cousin went through, he is going to go after this Walter Franks with everything he’s got and it isn’t going to end well for Mr. Franks, I’m afraid.”

  “Good but before he begins, he has to know all the players.” Iosif growled. “Everyone who helped this man get away with this murder needs to feel Sergi’s wrath. If Sergi can’t do it then I will.”

  Nikoli laughed. “Do not underestimate how long Sergi’s arm is… even over here.”

  Yuri nodded. “Especially, when he finds out Walter Franks is married to Helene Vogalan.”

  Iosif’s eyes widened at his announcement. “Are you certain about that?”

  Yuri nodded. “Oh yes, I’m sure. We’ve been watching her very carefully for the last several years. It’s been rumored that she runs a designer drug trade through her Baton Rouge business but we’ve never been able to track it to her. She is as vicious as her father and grandfather back home.”

  Everyone back home knew the Ukraine head of state was a bastard of a man. He ruled with fear and intimidation at his hand and also, he wasn’t afraid to use either one. They had minded their way around him and had never given him a reason to pick a fight but they also hadn’t allowed him to run over them either. There was a certain respect among those in power. As well as an unwanted chance of fighting a war no one would win.

  “So we have a kidnapper and possible killer married to a drug lord…” Iosif shook his head. “And Walter Franks is Jaden’s father and is willing to kill her simply because she exists. She’s his own kid for Christ’s sake and he almost killed her once. Now he’s back for a second chance.”

  “Nyet…Sergi will never let that happen,” Yuri told him. “In fact, I’m pretty sure he’ll want to take her back to Russia with him. She is his family after all.”

  Iosif felt dread settle in his belly. He wasn’t sure what this would mean for them both but he didn’t want to lose her now.

  Walter slammed the phone down on the desk and let loose a string of curses. Victor opened the door to his office and quickly checked the room.

  “Boss are you all right?” Victor asked as he entered the room.

  “That fucking little pile of shit just demanded a half a million dollars for the whereabouts of my daughter.” Walter growled through gritted teeth. “He found her and now he wants his payday before he’ll tell me where she is.”

  Victor picked up his phone and dialed a number. When the call was answered he issued a common order and hung up. A moment later, his phone pinged and Victor checked the phone. He lifted his eyes and smiled. “Got him.”

  Walter Franks reached out and snatched a cigar from his desk. Snipping the end, he placed the tobacco tube in his mouth and took his time in lighting it. A cloud of sweet smelling smoke surrounded his head as he peered through it to look at his security man. “Go find him, get the information I need and then put a bullet right between his fucking eyes. Oh, and make it hurt first. Let the little bastard learn what it’s like to feel the pain of an interrogation from the big boys.”

  Victor’s smile grew wider and strangely, he licked his lips at the thought of putting a hurt on Billy Jo. This was one part of his job he really enjoyed. He looked down at his scarred hands and remembered the broken bones and torn flesh over the years that caused those same scars.

  He loved the smell of blood in the air and he relished the scent of Billy Jo’s blood staining his hands.

  Victor turned to leave the office when Walter issued one last order, “Bring me his tongue. I promised my dog a treat this week.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Iosif stirred when he heard voices in the living room area. His arms tightened around his woman. He didn’t want to wake her but he knew it was time. He had joined her an hour ago and held her close while she struggled in her sleep. She had cried herself into a restless daze a couple of hours ago.

  “Is it time?” she asked in a whisper, breaking the uneasy silence of the room.

  “Yeah, it’s time.”

  Jaden tightened her hold on him briefly. With her head on his chest she could hear the echo of his heart under her ear. The steady thump of his heart matched her own heartbeat and that small sound gave her hope.

  Turning her head she laid her lips over the spot on his chest where she could feel the steady beating coming from. Then she raised her eyes to meet his. “I don’t know what’s coming out there, but I want you know that—that I think I love you.” When he would have repeated the words back to her she laid her fingers on his mouth.

  She had to get this out there before they went to face whatever waited for them. “I know it’s too soon to say those words, but I do love you. You complete me. You are the other half of my soul. I don’t know your world but if you give me a chance I can learn it. I don’t want you for your money or the security you can offer me. I just want you. Life for me has always been a struggle but I’m not afraid to work hard for what I want. Please think about keeping me?” With her whispered words, she laid her mouth over his and kissed him.

  The kiss lit a fire in his soul and Iosif knew he would never get this passion from anyone else. Out
of all the women in the world he could search and search and never find what this small woman was giving him right now. She told him he completed her? Well, she more than completed him too. “I won’t ever give you up.” He swore as the kiss broke. He kissed her again then swung away from her and got to his feet. He put his shoes on and waited for her to get ready.

  She went and washed her face. Then put a brush through her red hair.

  He watched and thought of how beautiful she was. He couldn’t figure out how she ever thought she was plain or some outsider. He would show her everyday how precious she was. No one would stop him either. His body grew tight with determination. Keep her at all costs was his mantra now.

  Taking her hand in his, they walked to the door and went out to the living room together. Iosif found his father Timor glaring at him from a chair at the kitchen table, while Sergi and Misha were going over the papers they had found in the bank deposit box.

  Sergi looked up when he noticed the room went quiet. He looked at Iosif first then swung his gaze to Jaden. His own eyes widened and he surged to his feet, whispering, “Annika.”

  “No, I am her daughter, Jaden.” Jaden raised her head a little higher as if she were proud of who she was. “Your Annika was murdered a long time ago.”

  Sergi nodded. “So I understand from these letters. You just look so much like her. Her family never knew her fate. We hoped and prayed she was still alive, somewhere, thinking about us too, but we never knew for sure.”

  “The man that took her away from you ended up killing her and almost killing me. I never knew her. Or at least I don’t remember her. I was only three when she died. I never knew my father, never even knew his name until yesterday when your men told me who he was.”

  “I know,” Sergi told her quietly. “It’s been too many years between then and now and most of our family is gone. I am an old man myself and I wasn’t sure if Nikoli was telling the truth when he said he found you.” He moved toward her half a step. “Did she still have the necklace her father gave her?”

  Jaden’s hand reached for the collar of her shirt and brought out the necklace she was wearing. Slipping it off her neck, she handed it to Sergi.

  Sergi felt the warm metal in his hand and he stared down at the heirloom he thought he’d never see again.

  Misha got up and quietly stood at his father’s side as he gazed down at the necklace he held. Misha had only seen pictures of the heirloom. It was first worn by his mother’s sister then when her daughter was kidnapped the family thought the priceless heirloom was gone, lost forever.

  Sergi’s own father’s brother had married his mother’s much younger sister, a scandal in the family decades ago. Annika was born of that marriage and after she’d been snatched the family never recovered from the grief.

  Now at least a small part of Annika had been returned to them. Sergi gave her the necklace back and as she slipped it around her neck Timor growled his displeasure at her act.

  “Nikoli and Yuri both tell me you have a bastard looking for you. What can you tell me about this man, Billy Jo Walker?” Sergi asked her.

  “Billy Jo hates me, he’s shown that over and over for the last five years. I first met him in high school. He belonged, I didn’t. He made sure I knew that every day. Then he offered me a pity date, a way to be more accepted in the popular groups. When I refused he took it personal.” She shrugged. “Then he made his displeasure known again and again. I had to leave school and start over on my own. He hunted me down like a rat and when he found me he let me know with his fists that he wasn’t happy.”

  She met his gaze and told him the rest, “He found me again three days ago.” Turning her head, she looked at Iosif and smiled. Reaching out she took his hand and he tightened their hold. “But this time I wasn’t alone. Iosif was there.” She turned back to Sergi. “Roman got us both out of there and has been giving us protection since then. I think you know the rest.”

  Sergi stared at the girl in front of him but didn’t say a word.

  “Well, I for one am not happy about this whole thing.” Timor surged to his feet and took a step toward them. “You did your homework little girl, didn’t you? Bet you really had to dig deep to find a connection to worm your way into my son’s life, didn’t you?” he growled as he got closer enough to get into her face.

  Jaden wanted to shrink behind Iosif but she wouldn’t. He tightened his hold of her and wouldn’t let her go. “No sir, I didn’t have to do anything. Iosif stood up for me against the likes of Billy Jo and his goons. I never asked him too nor wanted him to get involved but he did what he thought was right.” She turned to him and stared at the man who changed her life. “I’ve never met a man quite like him before.”

  “That’s because I raised him to be a gentleman.” Timor growled. “An honorable man, one that would keep his word, but also one that belongs to a world you would never understand.”

  “Father!” Iosif interrupted Timor’s rant. “Zatknis.”

  “No, I will not shut up!” Timor snapped. “This little bitch has you convinced she’s your woman. She’s anything but your woman and I will not allow this pretense to go on. Can’t you see she’s playing you for a fool?”

  “Maxim,” Sergi growled. “I suggest you shut your fucking mouth before I shut it for you.”

  “Bah!” Timor threw his hands up in the air. “You’re falling under her spell as well. You should know better Sergi. She’s nothing but a whore and a con artist. She will do and say anything to get her foot in the door.”

  “Timor,” Roman began. “This girl has asked for nothing from us. She had no idea she who she even was until we told her. And I don’t think she is a whore or a con artist.”

  “She was not a whore, in fact she was pure until our first time.” Iosif admitted. “But even before that I claimed her in front of my brothers.”

  “You only have one brother,” Timor reminded him cruelly.

  Iosif glared at his father. “Now I have six brothers, as Yuri has accepted me as one of theirs. Because I belong with Roman and he belongs to them they have accepted me as one of them. Whether you like it or not.”

  “You and Roman are my sons and as such you belong to no one but me!” Timor roared.

  Iosif rose to his full height and looked down at the man who claimed to be his father. “I was born a Salazar and I’m taking my name back. Your blood may run through my veins but like Roman, I am proud of who I am. I am Iosif Vlad Salazar.”

  No one noticed when Jaden slipped her hand out of Iosif’s and stepped back. She ended up at the widows looking out over the city. Tears ran down her face at the ugliness going on behind her. She had a flashback of memory, a part of her nightmare coming back. A tiny bit of her past she had forgotten a long time ago. Harsh words spit out in hate.

  She closed out the sounds of today as the memory unfolded in her mind. The shouting of words and the screams of terror. Screams from her mother, then the sight of the snake grabbing her mother’s throat. The blood of her mother’s wounds and then the silence as the snake smothered her mother’s last gasp of breath.

  She had been too young back then to realize what was going on. She had only been three years old but now with the things being said in anger, it was bringing back the ugliness she’d witnessed back then.

  When hands touched her shoulder, Jaden let out a terrified scream and collapsed to her knees, she begged him not to hurt her. She didn’t realize it but she was speaking in Russian but everyone there understood her words of terror.

  Iosif was reaching for her when Roman stopped him. They had to play this out, everyone needed to know what happened to try to understand it.

  He struggled against his brother’s hold as Roman ordered him to wait.

  They both watched as she repeated word for word what she lived through once upon a time. Everyone heard the child beg for her life, calling out for her mother to save her, to help her. She begged the snake not to hurt her like he had her mother. Her tears, terror and pai
n were as real today as they had been back then.

  Then Jaden couldn’t take it anymore and she passed out screaming. She’d kept grabbing her throat as if to prevent the hand that was squeezing it from killing her.

  Only when her hands dropped down to her side and she was silent did Roman let his brother go to her.

  Iosif gathered her in his arms, with tears streaming down his own face and carried her back to the bedroom they shared.

  Sergi turned to face Timor. His eyes were cold and deadly. “You are done here, old man. Get out and do not show yourself here again.”

  Timor was shaken, his skin looked grey and his hands shook, not with fear of Sergi but from the events Jaden had described. Even he could tell she was reliving a piece of her past, something that she had witnessed. The murder of her mother and almost her own murder. He looked over at Roman but his son wouldn’t acknowledge him at all. He looked right through his father. “Will she be all right?” Timor broke the silence in the room with his question.

  Roman glared at Timor. “Would you even care?” he asked the man with dispassion.

  Timor stared at his son. “Of course, I would care. I’m not a complete monster.”

  “I told you to leave this place.” Sergi scowled at him. “You aren’t wanted here.”

  Timor turned and walked to the door. He couldn’t face the rest of them but he did say, “I hope she will be okay.” Then he opened the door and walked through it. Closing the door behind him, the whole room went silent.

  Sergi went to the bedroom door. Looking in he saw Iosif kneel beside the bed where Jaden was laying. She was still unconscious, and he was trying to wake her up. He was stroking her head and calling her name gently. He kept telling her he loved her and that she had to come back to him, that he couldn’t live without her in his life.