Run (Run Duet #1)

by S. E. Chardou

  He laughed out loud, displaying a pair of white teeth that had never seen much to dim their smile. “If you say it’s because of me then I’ll belt you myself, Liv.”

  “I’m a little old for an ass whipping, Shaw.” I snatched my wrist from his grasp and allowed my hands to touch his cheeks, rough from not being shaved in a few days. “And yes, you’re the reason why I haven’t left. I’d never leave you here—never—don’t you know me better by now? That night you saved me from Vladimir sealed our fates, and I didn’t mind it, not really. College gave me a reason to wait for you. I don’t regret what you did for me, and neither should you.”

  He grabbed my hand while I grabbed my drink, and walked us into the backyard where there were fewer people. “How can you say that? Those Russian pricks had you shakin’ your ass for money—you’re better than that. You’re so much . . . more than this sordid crowd I have made money from. I could kill them all.”

  “Povikov could have killed you in prison, and he threatened to do just that but . . . he said he needed you when you got out. You know what that was about? We know them, and they don’t have pity on anyone who isn’t family. Why did they spare you? Tell me.” I never tried to grab my hand from his grasp but he slowly let me go.

  “Come on, Liv. You’ve been pulled into this enough, and I can’t involve you in anything else.”

  I drank down my spiked punch in one go. “I’m not the naïve high school senior you left, babe.” I placed my hands on his shoulders. “How do you think I know what I want? Hell, I’ve always wanted you but I knew you would never go there . . . not before. I’m twenty-two years old, Shaw. What are you waiting for? Our family’s blessing? We know that’s never gonna happen because they don’t know Ness prefers men and I prefer you. What’s going on that you’re not telling me?”

  “I have a story to tell you.” He pushed my hands away. “Afterwards, you may not want to touch me again let alone want me in any sexual way.”

  “I doubt that—I waited all this time for you. I’m not giving you up so easily. You know how many times I’ve shaken my naked ass and given lap dances to greasy, smarmy men who wanted more?” I walked closer to him and embraced him before he pulled us apart. “I drew the line at blowjobs and I can’t believe I did that. I mean, I could use Listerine and brush my teeth afterward but it still made me feel like a dirty whore. You were the only one who I thought about while my life seemed to be going south. Nothing you could tell me would ever change the way I feel for you. I . . . love you. How can I not? We’ve known each other since we were children.”

  “Yeah, since we were kids.” Shaw shook his head. “I shouldn’t even carry the last name Shaughnessy but my mother was clever. She never wanted to marry my ‘dad.’ In fact, she’d been spreading it about town. She hadn’t been a virgin since she was fifteen even though she played the good little Catholic girl.”

  “Do we need a drink for this story? My alcohol tolerance is a lot higher now four years later.”

  Shaw pulled out something better—a blunt—and lit it. “This should help you out then.”

  I took it from it and dragged on it. It was strong as hell but I held the smoke in my lungs as long as possible before exhaling. The feeling hit me almost immediately as I felt more comfortable and relaxed.

  “It’s been dipped in liquid cocaine. Just letting you know that you are officially using drugs.”

  “Not the first time. I’ve done cocaine more times than I’d wanted to but it’s the only thing that allowed me to dance.” I looked down at the ground as I handed the blunt back to Shaw. “Your beautiful, innocent Liv is gone, Shaw. I did hold on to the one thing I could—I never slept with anyone. But I’ve pretty much done more than I’d care to admit at your welcome home party.”

  He laughed out loud before he dragged on the blunt. “This isn’t my coming home party, Liv. This is the graduation party for you and Ness. I’m just here because I happened to get out the same day as this . . . celebration. You think my mom gives a fuck about me? It’s Ness she’s always cared about.”

  “Don’t say that.” I knew it was true but I didn’t want it leaving those beautiful, pink lips that could seduce a chaste nun. “You said you had a story to tell. What were you going to tell me? Povikov didn’t kill you because you’re his illegitimate kid?”

  “How did you know?” Shaw dragged on the blunt again.

  I took it from him and dragged from it again. “The way he acted about Vlad’s death.” The smoke exhaled from my lungs. “He mentioned he had a couple of illegitimate kids and he said something about Vlad being the dumbest of his sons. I don’t know . . .” I touched his cheeks. “Your features aren’t completely Irish. Your forehead and this gorgeous face reminds me of Povikov. Too bad he’s a sociopath that drinks like a fish. When did you figure it out?”

  “In the slammer . . . my blood type. My father is A positive and my mother is AB negative but I’m O negative. It’s a rare blood type—”

  “Yes, I know that but that doesn’t mean anything. It’s possible Shaughnessy can still be your father.”

  “He told me himself when I was Walpole. He wouldn’t give me any protection—told me to hang out with my Bratva family.” Shaw’s eyes watered but he didn’t shed any tears. “You know how hurtful that was? I had to get tatted so the Bratva knew who I was. Apparently, it’s a pretty common secret I’m Povikov’s son but no one told me. It’s the reason he trusted me as one of his dealers. I was the bridge between the Russians and the Irish—simple to do when I’m both, don’t you think?”

  “Shaw, this doesn’t change anything between you and me—”

  “It changes everything, babe. I’m not going anywhere. Who do you think got me out of prison early? I owe that motherfucker and he’s delivering drugs tonight here. I have to deal for him exclusively, and he hasn’t given me an end date.” Shaw threw the blunt to the ground, stomped on it and rushed toward me. His rough hands caressed my cheeks. “Get the fuck outta here, Liv. Be free of this place and me because I won’t do anything but drag you down to my level.”

  The tears flowed from my eyes. “Shaw, don’t do this. I still love you—I’m in love with you. I waited for you!”

  “You waited for nothing,” he responded as he walked back inside the house.

  I couldn’t stop crying though I wanted to hate him the way he wanted me to. Feelings weren’t that easy to turn off and despite his secret, it didn’t change the way I felt about him. Why couldn’t he let me in? Why was he being such a major pussy about this issue? Something wasn’t right.

  I walked back into the house knowing I wouldn’t rest until I found out what the hell was going on.

  It was a hard feat to manage but Shaw avoided me the rest of the party. I couldn’t believe he would do this to me, especially when he grabbed Jerri O’Donnell, the town skank, and disappeared with her for more than an hour.

  “Why are you still pining after Carrick Shaughnessy?” my closest friend, Nieve, wondered out loud. “My God, I thought that was a childhood crush. He’s a loser, just like his dad. You can get any guy in here if you really wanted to and you allow that dickhead to bring tears to your eyes on the night of your party. What’s wrong with you?”

  I shook my head. “It’s never been that easy with Shaw. I know about his reputation and what he does but . . . he’s always been the one for me.”

  She rolled her gorgeous pale green eyes and shook her long, wheat blonde hair. “That man is nothing but trouble. He’s hot with a big dick and not much else goin’ for him unless you prefer the criminal types. For God’s sake, you have a degree in pharmacology and he sells the illegal kind—that’s all you two have in common. By the way . . . was that intentional? Your degree?”

  “No, of course not. I don’t have that kind of degree—it’s to work with a pharmaceutical company—I can’t work at your local drug store.”

  “But you know a shit load about legal drugs now, don’t you?”

  “Fortunately, yes, and
illegal drugs as well. The major pharmaceutical companies are just waiting for the major governments in most western countries to eventually make heroin and cocaine legal the way they have marijuana. They already have the abilities to make both drugs in major quantities and sell it to the public.”

  “What about meth?” Nieve wondered after she sipped from her spiked punch.

  “Methamphetamines are already a pharmaceutical product. It’s not that hard for them to change it into a drug that people would want to get high off. It’s similar to Oxycontin. People who abuse the drug don’t usually swallow the pill. They crush it up and either snort it or inject it. The companies know this but they make more money on Oxy than a lot of drug barons make in a week. That’s why they don’t stop the doctors from giving out prescriptions.” I poured vodka in a cup and added enough punch to change the color.

  “So, basically, you’re gonna be doin’ the same shit that your dream lover is doin’?”

  “You can’t say that,” I replied as I witnessed Jerri hangin’ all over Shaw like a cheap suit before a guy approached that obviously not an invited guest. For one, he was dressed like an undercover cop. I’d serviced enough of them in the strip club I worked at to know them. They had a certain walk to them and this one had cop written all over him.

  Shaw listened to what he said before he followed him out of the party.

  “ . . . best thing you can do is forget about that loser and find another hot guy. It’s not like this party isn’t crawling with them,” Nieve said but I’d only picked up part of the conversation.

  “I’ll be right back,” I replied and followed Shaw the undercover cop out of the front door.

  There were people from the party loitering about in front as well so I didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. I finished my drink, tossed the plastic cup into a trashcan threatening to overflow and watched as the undercover cop walked Shaw over to a brand new, black Dodge Charger. He handed him the keys while they continued to talk but I couldn’t hear a word they were saying.

  It confirmed Shaw’s story. Only Povikov would gift his son with a brand new car the same day he got out of prison. Shaw was loyal first and foremost. He would have spent twenty years in prison rather than rat on who he was dealing for when he got caught. Obviously, Povikov had plenty of cops in his pocket if he had one deliver Shaw’s new surprise.

  I couldn’t get closer than I already was but Shaw’s eyes found mine and he looked pissed. He finished up the conversation with the undercover cop before he strode my way. I looked toward the cop who still stood there. Obviously what they were discussing was far from being finished.

  “What the fuck are you doing out here?” he hissed at me.

  Shaw smelled fresh, like Irish Spring, and I noticed his hair was slightly wet. Obviously he’d taken a shower after plowing Jerri a time or three.

  “No, what the fuck are you doin’?” I questioned back in sheer anger. “You just got outta prison—you like it so much, you’re tryin’ to wind up back in it?”

  He grabbed my arm and pushed me further onto the lawn. “It isn’t what it looks like—”

  “I know an undercover cop when I see one and that one looks like he’s on Povikov’s payroll. What’s in the car? Drugs you have to sell? Weapons? What exactly? Why would you go back?”

  “Because it’s all I know how to do!” Shaw exclaimed louder than he intended. “Listen, Liv, you got your fancy college degree now. You can go where ever you want. Just promise it’ll be as far as fuck away from me. You think I came out just to bring you down to my level? Nah—I’d fuckin’ die first before you’re reduced to where I am now.”

  The undercover cop whistled for Shaw to come over, and I followed him although I’d been given strict instructions not to. I noticed the nine-millimeter he had against his back, half-tucked in his jeans. He didn’t trust this guy anymore that I did.

  “Who’s the fancy lookin’ cunt? She looks familiar.”

  Shaw glared back at me with cold crystal blue eyes before he turned toward the cop. “Just some bitch that I like to fuck every now and then—”

  “You ever been to Povikov’s strip club? The classy one, not the one for crack whores and heroin addicts?” I interrupted.

  “Yeah. You dance under Shevonne—don’t you?”

  As stupid as it was, yes, I danced under my given name albeit with the English pronunciation and a made-up spelling. “Yep, That’s me.”

  “Well, with you being one of Povikov’s premiere dancers, I don’t think I have to be on the lookout for anyone.”

  The cop laughed, showing nicotine stained teeth and a less than handsome mug. He turned toward Shaw again. “There’s two kilos of cocaine. You know what to do with that. When you’re done dealing with the Irishman, you bring the money directly to Povikov. He said he wants to decide your cut now that you’re out and will be hurtin’ . . .”

  “Hurtin’ for what?” Shaw looked at me and I looked at him but both our expressions came too late.

  Several undercover cop cars pulled up to the party happening inside and opened fire with automatic weapons. The noise was so deafening, Shaw pulled me toward him and sprinted us behind the Dodge Charger to take cover.

  The noise seemed to last forever as the once modest Shaughnessy house was sprayed with bullets. The cops stepped out of the vehicles, discarded cartridges and loaded new ones.

  The undercover cop we were with had a Sig MPX pointed at both Shaw and I as he spoke into his throwaway phone. “Yeah—no one left alive. That’s what Povikov demanded.”

  “NO!” Shaw screamed but it was me who kept him back because they would shoot him too if he advanced.

  My heart shattered in way I knew it’d be a—for my mother, Mrs. Shaughnessy who had always been like a second mother, Ness, Nieve, and all the other friends I lost but my heart also hardened at that moment. If Povikov could do this so easily without batting an eyelash then neither Shaw nor I were safe. Fuck the fact that Shaw was his son, all Povikov cared about was the all mighty dollar, and not even family got in the way of that.

  As the noise stopped, the sound of screeching tires leaving the scene quickly, and Shaw, wrapped in my arms materialized, I took in the scene. We were expendable too if Povikov wanted but he seemed to have an affinity, a likeness for Shaw, so that could definitely buy us some time.

  I wasn’t dressed my sexiest in a pair of short jean shorts and a cutoff pink tank top that displayed my flat stomach but I could work it when I had to. One didn’t dance in a strip club for four years and not learn how to ooze sex appeal.

  Another cop joined the undercover cop. Money was exchanged but that was as far as they got. I grabbed Shaw’s weapon and walked over to them. They both stared at me like I was lost.

  “What? You want your take, little girl? We received a bonus for you not being in the house.”

  I’d learned a lot around being around the Povikovs. Nathalia Povikova seemed to like me for some oddball reason though she was as sociopathic as the rest of her family. She taught me weapons—firearms—took me to shoot at gun ranges. I might have come off innocent but with her training, I was an expert shot.

  “How much?” I questioned without a shred of remorse—Nathalia had also taught me to hide my emotions as a woman—God bless her at this moment.

  “Listen, Povikov paid us fifty thousand each—”

  He never finished that sentence as I shot him in the head and quickly ended the other undercover cop. They were supposed to leave together since there was only one undercover police car left.

  Blood and carnage was everywhere but I couldn’t let that deter me. I grabbed the money off them, some bills floating away with the light breeze but most of them, I managed to get Shaw’s Charger trunk open and dump them inside. There was a duffel bag with money already in it—I estimated fifty thousand but I could have been off. I dumped the cash inside the bag, zipped it, and closed the trunk.

  In the distance I could hear sirens.

  “Fuck,” I
muttered before I strode over and glanced at a distraught Shaw. “Come on. We gotta get the fuck outta here—”

  “No, Liv. I won’t do that to you!”

  I’d seen him break down before—maybe once or twice but it was different when you realized you had no family left except for a sociopath father who’d murdered everyone you loved.

  “You can’t save me, all right?” I held his face in my hands. “I just blew away two police officers and there is gun powder all over my hands. I can’t act myself out of this situation, Shaw, you understand? Get in the car.”

  He slid inside the passenger seat like a zombie before he handed me the keys. “What the fuck are we supposed to do now?”

  I started the car, gunned the engine and listened to it purr. This was a new car all right with no plates yet and perfect for our getaway vehicle.

  “You want the truth?” I questioned him softly.

  Shaw stared at me with bloodshot eyes and semi-dried tears on his cheeks. “Yeah, Liv, I want the fucking truth.

  I raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow before I whispered, “We run.”

  For several moments, I was blown away.

  This wasn’t my Liv who had taken over like a pro, and got us the fuck outta dodge before the cops even got there. Hell, she didn’t even shed a tear while I was over on the cracked sidewalk sobbing like a little bitch while she was just shooting.

  Who the fuck was this woman, and when did she become stronger than me? It would be an issue because I was alpha male all the way, and I’d feel like a pussy if my woman turned out she was mentally tougher than me.

  I didn’t even know where she planned to go until she looked at me. “We have to get rid of our phones as soon as possible and get burner phones. You know—those that are off the grid. I know this guy in Brooklyn that can do it for us but after that, we need to get the fuck away from the east coast as soon as possible.”

  “And go where?” I said in a voice that didn’t sound like my own.