Falling for the Hitman

by N. Alleman

  “Can you please tell me your name so I can pass the message on to her please?” He asks in a bored tone. I don't tell him a message won’t be necessary because I’m pretty sure that she’ll be desperate to see me right away, especially if she has something on me, so I do as he asks.

  “It’s Alexi Smith, I’m a lawyer.” I’m in my suit now, keeping up with the character even though I know she doesn’t believe it. I need to keep up appearances for the rest of the world anyway. “She’ll know why I’m here.”

  He phones through a message, and just as I suspected Karen comes racing into the waiting room to see me. “Hello there, Mr. Smith,” she eyes me suspiciously. Especially after the way that our last meeting went, when she all but called me out for what my real job is. “Please come into my office.”

  I follow behind her confidently, knowing that I’m onto something here. There’s something off about Karen, and I’m pretty sure it’ll only take a couple of threats to make her spill everything. I’m pretty sure that by the end of this meeting, I’ll have a lot more to go on. I might even be able to solve the whole damn thing. And once that’s done, I can start working on what the hell I’m going to do next.

  “Please come this way,” she finally says, opening the door to a small office that I can instantly tell doesn’t have any CCTV cameras covering it. Perfect, I don't want any witnesses for what’s about to happen. “So, how can I help you?”

  I spin around quickly and pin her to the nearest wall before she can even think. I do my best to hold her still, without actually hurting her. I’m successful because she looks absolutely petrified. It’ll only take verbal threats, rather than physical, which I’m much more comfortable with.

  “What... what’s happening?” she asks, throwing her hands up above her head. “What do you want?”

  “I want to know what you do,” I growl menacingly into her ear. “I already know for a fact that you’re more involved in this case with Nadia that you’re letting on, so why don’t we stop sidestepping this and fucking around. Why don't you just tell me everything?”

  “I... I don't...”

  “Karen, give it up. I’ve seen tapes of you, I know you know about the van and the attempt to pin the murder on Nadia. I’m also pretty sure that you attacked her last night... and she tasered you.”

  I step back to yank her top up slightly, knowing that Nadia pushed the Taser into her stomach. I did question her on everything, but I didn’t tell her about my suspicions because I knew it would worry her. I want to be sure before I say anything. She doesn’t know that I’m here, and if this doesn’t turn out the way that I think it’s going to, she’ll never find out about it. But I’m pretty sure that I am right.

  Sure enough, there are angry red marks all over Karen’s side that can only have been caused by a taser.

  “What do you have to say for yourself?”

  At first she holds my gaze defiantly, as if she’s going to hold her own, but then I spot tears filling her eyes, and it isn’t long before one falls down her cheek. The tough veneer that she has built up cracks, and it won’t be long before everything comes tumbling out of her mouth.

  “This isn’t what you think,” she insists, and I roll my eyes. People always say that. “I don't want to be stuck in the middle of this, not one bit. I’m risking everything.”

  “Why?” I ask sharply. People don't just throw their whole careers down the toilet for no reason. What could it be? Money? Notoriety? Love? “What the hell could you be doing all of this for?”

  “My daughter,” she weeps, giving up the pretence completely. “He has her. He’s taken her and he won’t give her back until I do what she wants.”

  Shit. This has just taken another turn for the worst. This is more complex than anything before—Karen has family in the middle of it. Maybe things aren’t quite as black and white as they seemed. Maybe, for the first time ever, it really isn’t what it looks like.

  “What do you mean?” I ask cautiously, finally moving away from her. “What the hell is going on here? And who is he?” If I can find out who’s behind all of this, then I can finally put a stop to it once and for all.

  “Dimitri Novikov,” she confirms sadly, slumping into her chair. I imitate her by sitting in the nearest seat too. “Damien’s brother. He’s behind all of it. He had his brother killed, I assume that he had Nadia framed for it, and now he wants to kidnap her... he wants her for his own.”

  “So why has he taken your daughter?” My head is spinning, this makes no damn sense. What the fuck is going on here? Is this brother worse than the fucking one Nadia married? Do I have some sort of psychopath on my hands?

  “To make me do what he wants,” she hangs her head and I can see the tears dripping onto the floor. “She’s only ten years old, she’s probably terrified. I don't even know where he’s holding her, or what he’s doing to her. I just... I don't know what to do.”

  “Shit... so this is all because, what? He’s in love with her or something?” I need to understand the motive here, I’ve got to have something solid to work with.

  “I think so... it certainly seems like it.”

  “So, he wants her framed for murder?” I still don't get it. I’ve seen some fucked up, crazy shit in my time, but this makes no damn sense to me. “Why?”

  “From what I can work out in my own mind, he wants to swoop in and be the hero. He’s got the crazy notion that she has feelings for him too, and that they were always meant to be together. He knew that she was unhappy with Damien and that he was horrible to her... maybe he thought that by freeing her from that, she would fall at his feet.” She shakes her head, clearly thinking that it’s all as insane as I do. “I don't know, I mean... I deal with crazy stuff all the time, but still...”

  “And he told you all of this?” I ask, confused. “How did you end up getting involved?”

  “I started investigating them because of a drug business they’re both involved in. It was supposed to be a straight up job, one where I go in and arrest the bad guys, but it quickly turned bad. The brothers were arguing all the time, falling out over God knows what, and I somehow got twisted up in that.” She pauses for a moment thoughtfully, and I give her the time she needs to organize her thoughts. “It’s Dimitri, he’s so manipulative, so charming, so... I don't know.” For a split second, I think that I can see something there, a glimpse of feelings maybe. “He told me that he wanted to help me, to bring his brother down. He told me that he didn’t want anything to do with drugs anymore, that he wanted me to put an end to it all... I guess I was naive enough to believe him.”

  “Wow, this really is something else,” I admit. “I don't know what to think of it all.”

  “Trust me,” she replies knowingly. “I have endless files of information that I’ve spent many, many hours poring through, and I don't fully get it either. There are so many twists and turns, so many uncertainties. It’s all just... too much.”

  I think I might have a solution to our problems, one that helps us both, but I don't know how she’ll react to it. She’s already been betrayed by someone she decided to work with outside of the police force, so I’m going to have to tread carefully. She has something that I need—information—and I can help her with her daughter, I can do whatever needs to be done to free her. I just need to get Karen on my side.

  “I can help you,” I tell her honestly. “If you’ll let me. Just... let me see all the information, let me work alongside you, and we can bring this guy to justice.” She looks at me with distrust in her eyes, and I know that I need my next words better be good if I’m going to get her assistance.

  “I will get your daughter away from him, I promise. I know that it might be scary to put your trust into someone again, but we both have something to gain here, and a whole lot to lose. You have your daughter, and I have Nadia. If we don’t do this, we risk losing them both.”

  She’s still silent, which bothers me. “Look, clearly neither of us are doing very good by ourselves, we
need each another, so why not just accept that and do what needs to be done?”

  “Okay.” She finally concedes. “I guess I don't have any other choice. But please... don't turn on me. Don't make me go through that again, okay?”

  “I won’t,” I promise her. “I know that you’ve been through a lot. Trust me, I have too. All we both want is Dimitri Novikov behind bars. Together we can do that, together we can save the people we love.”

  Relief floods through me as she stands up and grabs me a box of paperwork. I’m finally moving forward now, actually getting somewhere, and that feels amazing. Okay, so I’m stepping into enemy territory to do so, but I don't think Karen is a bad person. I think she’s telling the truth, and that she just got herself mixed up in something that she didn’t understand.

  I’m dreading telling Nadia that Karen is now working with us, but I hope she understands that this is best for all of us. This is the only way.

  18

  Nadia

  I wait outside the building where I’ve set up a meeting with the attorney to discuss Damien’s will. Dimitri told me he would come here alone to represent the family, I can’t help but harbor the fear that his mother will insist on coming with him.

  Tapping my foot, I glance at my watch one more. He’s late. That makes things even worse. What if he isn’t coming at all? This isn’t something I want to face alone. I don't even want to be here anyway, never mind without any support by my side.

  Just as I’m about to give up and walk away, I spot him jogging around the corner, looking completely out of breath. Fortunately, he’s by himself so my irritation fades quickly. Yes, he might be late, and yes, he might have had me in an utter emotional turmoil, but he hasn’t brought his mother with him so all is forgiven.

  “Come on, hurry,” I half-joke, trying to cover up my true feelings. “We need to get inside.”

  We both race up the stairs, eager to get this over with, and within practically a second we’re sitting across from a stern-looking old man ready to find out what our next move will be.

  Hurry up, I think impatiently. Let’s just get this over with.

  “Right,” the attorney says, sliding his glasses down to the end of his nose. “Okay, let’s see what we have here.”

  I shoot a glance over to Dimitri, whose smirking face almost makes me burst out in inappropriate laughter. He has an infectious personality, one I can be myself around—so damn different from his brother. Dimitri is so much happier, so much kinder, and again I feel that pang in my heart.

  “The first thing I need to tell you both is that Damien didn’t have an official will.”

  What? I want to scream at that – what the hell was he thinking? This has just made things a million times worse. Now his family will have every right to get involved and to start contesting things, so I might never get them out of my life.

  “Since you are his legal spouse, that means he leaves everything to you, Mrs. Novikov.”

  “Right,” I try to say calmly, gulping down a massive ball of emotion. “Okay.”

  This is terrible fucking news. Of course I wasn't particularly looking forward to being left penniless, but having everything is too much. I don't even know what to do with any of it.

  “Okay,” I repeat, not sure what else there is to say. It’s difficult to avoid looking at Dimitri, but I don’t want to see his reaction.

  “So that’s the house and his stake in the business...” Of course by this the attorney means the fake business that Damien had set up to cover up his illegal doings. I don't even understand what it’s supposed to be. “But it also means his debts. Now, as you probably know the business is doing well, but the house has a lot of debts on it. Damien took out many loans against it, so that will also need to be cleared up.”

  I nod slowly, acting as if I’m totally fine, but inside I’m freaking the hell out. What the fuck am I going to do now?

  “Can we have a moment alone?” Dimitri asks. “I think that we just need to process this.”

  As the attorney leaves the room, I half expect him to jump down my throat and to give me a load of shit for that, but thankfully he doesn’t. Dimitri seems to understand that this isn’t my fault, and it certainly isn’t what I want. Not at all. Instead he turns to me, takes hold of my hands and gazes into my eyes.

  “I know this isn’t ideal,” he tells me. “I don't think any of us were expecting this, but I think that I have a solution for you.” He pauses thoughtfully for a second before continuing. “I have a stake in that business too, and not just the one the guy was discussing. I would really like all of it, so I am willing to buy Damien’s shares from you. That would give you more than enough money to pay off the debts on the house, and it’ll give you something to live on too.”

  I stare at him, wondering if he’s serious. He’s offering me exactly what I need—a way to get out of this, but it seems too good to be true. Of course I don't really want the house, I don't want to have anything that links me to the man I married, but I can sell it and buy a place of my own wherever I want. I can escape this nightmare and finally be free.

  But is that the best move for me? For all of us?

  “I... I... I don't know,” I admit. I want to talk to Alexi first, to see what he thinks about it all. He’s much better at this sort of thing than I am. I’ve never been in the position where I’ve needed to make this kind of decision before, and I really don't know what to do. “It might be best for me to speak to my lawyer first, to see what he thinks that I should do.”

  I brace myself, again expecting the worst, but to my surprise, Dimitri sends me a calm, serene smile and tells me that he understands. “That makes sense, I just want you to know that you have choices so you don’t feel stuck. As you know, I’m well aware of what my brother was like with you, and I don't ever want you to believe that I’m the same.”

  He stands up and I imitate him, wondering where the hell we go from here. “Shall I go and get that guy back in? Does he need to know what we’ve discussed?”

  “No, not at all. I’ll just grab him and tell him that we’re leaving and we’ll be in touch. Beyond reading the will to us, he doesn’t need to know anything.” He looks at me for a second, a curious expression on his face which I can’t quite read. “Would you like to go for some lunch after this? It feels like forever since I’ve seen you.”

  I’m touched by the fact that someone in Damien’s family is still being nice to me. Dimitri doesn’t seem at all affected by what his mother thinks of me and that warms my heart. He has no reason to want to keep in touch with me now, and I’m pleased that he does.

  “That sounds lovely, thank you,” I tell him, smilingly.

  Outside, I wait on the sidewalk while Dimitri says goodbye to the attorney, feeling surprisingly positive considering how that turned out. Yes, I’ve been left in something of a mess by Damien—almost as if it’s his final fuck you—but thanks to Dimitri there are ways around it. Perhaps I’ll be able to have that nice, quiet anonymous life after all.

  I follow Dimitri to a nearby café for lunch. When we arrive, he opens the door for me chivalrously and I can’t help but revel in more of this newfound male attention that has recently come my way in droves. Sitting in the cafe with Dimitri eating lunch doesn’t feel as strange as it should. Considering he’s my husband’s brother and he’s always had a thing for me, he’s really easy to just get along with. He’s like a breath of fresh air in the complicated world that I’ve managed to find myself in, and there’s a small part of me that still can’t seem to stop myself from thinking things would have been better if I’d met him before I met Damien.

  I try to picture the life that I could have had with him—an easy-going, happy marriage, complete with laughter and children. I guess for someone like me who has never really had a solid family unit before, it’s tempting to contemplate because it’s all that I’ve ever wanted. I even start to wonder what it would be like if we got together now. Of course it would be very complex, and we would
have a whole lot to navigate around not least the opinions of others, and his deplorable parents.

  If I hadn’t met Alexi, I might be considering it.

  But I have met Alexi.

  The thought of him has me reaching inadvertently for the chain hanging around my neck. It’s so delicate that it can’t really be seen, which makes it even better. It’s a gift that’s just for me, not for the rest of the world to see. Then there’s the adorable heart that hangs over my chest, which makes me feel like we’re always together, even when we aren’t.

  I have Alexi now, and I like to think he’s all I’ll ever need.

  “So, if you want to get away from it all, do let me know.”

  I suddenly zone back in to Dimitri’s words, and realize that I’ve clearly missed something vital along the way. My face flushes red when I have to ask him to repeat himself—I hate acting so rude to someone who’s been nothing but nice to me.

  “I said don’t forget I have a villa outside of the city, if you ever need a break from it all. I know how stressful things have been, and I’m sure you don't want to be back at that house with all those memories. I can take a few days off work, and we can just relax if you like.”

  There’s an undertone to his voice that I’m trying not to think about. In all of my daydreams about Dimitri—not that there have been many–—I’ve never actually imagined having sex with him. It’s always been about how well he would treat me. I suppose that tells me something, it strongly suggests that there isn’t much chemistry between us, and now that I actually have that with someone else, I know how good it can feel.

  “Thank you for the offer,” I smile, wanting to let him down as gently as possible. “But right now I just have so much to do. You know how it is with paperwork and stuff.” But when his face falls, I can’t stop the next sentence from rolling off my tongue. “But maybe sometime soon, okay?”

  “Sure,” he nods, instantly perking up at my suggestion.