by Vi Carter
He swallows his pain, while shaking his head wildly. “The wedding.” His words are quick; his wide eyes are filled with horror and pain. “Some girl gave us three grand each. She said take a piss for ten minutes and that was it.” Andrew starts to cry, his wild eyes looking at his wrist again. Blood continued to seep out of it.
“What did she look like?”
“Tall, red curly hair. Freckles.”
I stand and press on the pliers. “Anything else Andrew?”
“Please Mr. O’Reagan that’s all I know.” His tears fall from his eyes and I glance at Gregor. He was like a human lie detector.
“He’s telling the truth.” Gregor confirms, his deep voice rattles through his chest like he needs to cough.
Andrew hears his words and starts to cry with relief. His body slumps but his arm is held rigid. “I’m telling the truth Mr. O’ Reagan.” The alarm in his voice rings loud.
I move to his wrist with the pliers in hand. “I know,” I say.
He’s shaking his head. “Don’t touch it.”
His hysteria has him trying to move his body away from me.
“When Gregor takes you to the emergency room, what will you tell them?”
“Whatever you want.” He’s watching his wrist.
“You can tell them you are bad at DIY,” I say and tighten the pliers around the nail.
Andrew’s pleads are screams across the space, and when I pull, the final roar turns into sobs and cries. The bloody nail I hold up to the light, the surface glistens with red. I walk to the small sink. The sounds of Gregor removing his restraints are drowned out as I turn on the water and wash the blood from the nail. Turning off the tap I pat it dry and move to the long wooden table that holds a single black case. Opening it, I place the nail back into its pocketed home.
When I close the case Gregor has left the basement through the small tunnel that will lead him outside the premises and to an awaiting car.
Blood splotches along the front of my shirt has me peeling it off. While moving into the private part of the basement, concrete gives way to an oak floor. A black dragon catches my eye as I pass a wall of mirrors, it flexes and stretches above the muscles on by back. The mirror catches the room as I open it and remove a clean white shirt. Once it’s on, I clap my hands once and start to button up my shirt as my system comes to life.
“Good morning. What would you like me to do?”
“Good morning Wanda. Can you ring the front gate please?” I finish off buttoning up my shirt as the ringtone fills the room.
“Hello?”
“Stephen. I want you to keep me informed of who leaves and arrives at the gates,” I say as I put on a black tie.
“Like every time Mr. O’Reagan?”
Removing a black waistcoat from the mannequin in front of me I put it on. “Yes Stephen. Has anyone left since last night?”
“Shane and Una left last night. Also so did Mary, but she came back this morning.”
“Very good. I would like an update every time someone comes or goes. You can message it to me.”
“Just you Mr. O’Reagan?”
“Yes, just me, Stephen.”
“No problem.” Stephen ends the call.
“Wanda,” I say as I gather my car keys and wallet from the side table.
“Yes, Mr. O’Reagan.”
“Lock down the basement,” I say as I start to leave.
“Lock down commencing in one minute.”
I make my way to the steps that lead out of the basement. “In fifty seconds.”
The countdown continues as I leave the basement and enter a small hallway that arches off into the main one.
Entering the kitchen I pour myself a coffee. “Good morning Mary.”
She gives me a tight smile, like she always does. Mary is as unsure of me as most people are. Yet, she would never try to have a conversation with me. Taking my coffee I join Finn at the table. He’s sipping his own coffee while wearing sunglasses, they don’t hide his disarray.
My phone vibrates and I remove it from my pocket.
Your father has left the premises. It’s from Stephen. I push the phone back into my pocket. There really is only one person I’m concerned about leaving and that’s Darragh. I can’t let him leave the premises. If I do, he will go straight to his friends and try to save them. Which isn’t possible.
“I don’t know what to do,” Finn speaks up.
I’m not entirely sure if he’s looking at me or not. But being the only one at the table with him I feel obliged to answer him. “You should work. Keep your mind occupied.”
“I don’t want to work.”
“There is a difference in knowing what to do and not knowing what to do. Right now you just don’t want to do.” I drink my coffee.
Finn whips off his sunglasses. His angry eyes remind me of Darragh. “You have no idea what I’m feeling.” He’s shaking his head at each word.
“I’m not pretending to understand,” I say while standing.
“You’re not even pretending to care.” Finn’s sharp words have me pausing.
“I do care,” I say.
His snort is loud as he slaps his sunglasses back on and leaves the kitchen. Placing my cup near the sink I make my way to the garage and slip into my Bentley.
Starting the car Wanda comes to life. “Good morning, what do you need today?”
I reverse out of the garage, the door rising on my departure.
“When is my next appointment?” I ask driving down the pass.
“In fifteen minutes at Cabra Castle.” Wanda’s robotic voice fills my car.
I find comfort in her. “Thank you Wanda.”
“You are welcome.”
Slowing down, I approach Stephen. He’s hanging out of the box that shelters him. “Mr. O’Reagan.”
I pause at his window. “If Darragh tries to leave, I want you to keep him here until I get back.”
He’s nodding but his eyes tighten with how uncomfortable my request is making him. “I’m not very strong Mr. O’Reagan.”
“I’m not asking you to restrain him. Just tell him there is a problem with the gate.”
His smile is quick with relief. “I can do that.”
“The barrier Stephen,” I say as I face forward and he scurries to lift it so I can get out.
***
I enter Cabra Castle through the side door. “Shane,” I say the moment I set eyes on him. I focus on his arm that’s still in a sling. “I told you to rest.”
“I know what you told me. It would look weak if I didn’t show.” He was right, but he looked even weaker with his arm slung up.
“You will be a reminder that we aren’t safe. That they aren’t safe.” I remind him, that they were more important. They were our survival.
Shane groans as he removes his arm from the sling. He stuffs it under a cushion on a chair beside him before standing up straight. His arm hangs loosely at his side and the pain is too evident on his face.
“Try not to look like you’re in pain,” I say and turn knowing he will follow me. We move towards the back of the castle where a set of double doors come into view. A gold plaque has been placed on the door, the words ‘Mens Club’ scrawled across it shines at us now like some kind of beacon.
Gregor is at the door. His large bulky form doesn’t flinch as we arrive. I don’t have to ask if he did his earlier job, because I know he did. He was one of my most loyal men. He opens the door and we walk in.
“Judge Cody.” I take the eager and outstretched hand of the Navan Judge. “Did you get a drink?” I ask ignoring the glass that’s in his hand. He raises it and the ice cubes rattle around the empty space. Catching the eye of one of the servers, she approaches us.
“A fresh drink for Judge Cody,” I say and she takes his empty glass. Being an alcoholic and a judge proves fruitful for us.
“I hear you had a family situation.” His words are delivered with a smile.
I find Shane in the crowd and
point at him, Judge Cody follows my finger. “We are all fine. An exaggeration to frighten our most powerful and important clients.” His ego grows at my measured strokes. I leave him and move deeper into the room. Catching glances of Shane I’m impressed with how good he is acting. He appears relaxed, and his laughter floats across the room as he entertains our guests.
“Gardai Brady. I’m glad you are here.” I say approaching him at the back of the room. He’s sitting with two other Gardai that are on our payroll. I had thought he might jump ship, so him being here was one less person for me to dispose of.
“Of course Liam. But I was wondering if I could have a private word.”
I nod. “Of course. I will seek you out once I’ve finished my rounds,” I say, and he sits back in his seat.
“Eric.” I greet our solicitor who hunkers at the bar. He likes our money but not the association. He comes because he has to but the moment the meeting ends he will disappear.
“You did a great job on the assault case,” I say as I sit beside him. He looks shifty for a solicitor. His nerves are why I picked him. He wasn’t nervous enough to mess things up, but he was nervous enough to be smart and not to get caught.
“Thanks Liam, but it was your money that bought off most the Gardai.” The bitterness is there as it always is.
“Yet, it was your skill and education that executed the plan,” I say but he isn’t seeking my approval only my money and the power to bury secrets.
“I have a new case for you that won’t be easy, but a challenge will do you good.”
Eric doesn’t look at me as he nurses his drink. A pat to his back has me returning to the room and making sure everyone knows their worth.
CHAPTER THREE
SVETLANA
The fan that whizzes in my face isn’t enough to keep me cool. Sitting at the double doors that open onto the patio gives me a little relief from the sweltering heat we are experiencing. I keep my fingers buried in Jan’s fur as Holic walks past us with a bottle of beer in his hand. His eyes are heavy on me and when he pauses, I try to look out to see if my uncle is watching. He was the one who hurt me the most, but he was also the only one who could protect me.
“You must be hot.”
I don’t look up at Holic as he speaks. His bare feet come into view as he steps closer. “I’m good,” I say. The trail of sweat that drips down between my cleavage makes me itchy.
“If it’s the marks, don’t be ashamed of them.”
My head snaps up at his words. He was a monster. It was one of the reasons I was sitting here in a long white dress that covered my damaged back. His marks.
Air lodges itself and my ribcage tightens. The urge to wrap my hands around my middle has me tightening my fists. Jan shifts under me and I loosen my grip on him.
“You earned them, they …”
I couldn’t sit here. I knew he wasn’t right but his words had bile climbing up my throat.
“Jan,” I call as I leave the kitchen.
“Svetlana.”
I stop and swallow the horror that’s choking me. My uncle calls me two more times before I find some composure and turn to him with a smile. “Yes Uncle.”
“What did you say to Holic? He seems upset.” My uncle isn’t angry, he seems curious as he takes a step toward me; his head tilts to the side as he runs his tongue along his teeth removing whatever greasy food he was eating.
“Nothing.”
He smiles and wags his free hand at me as he sucks the grease from his fingers. “Come now, Svetlana. I know when you lie.”
No you don’t.
“He just asked me if I was hot. I simply told him I was good.”
My uncle studies me, and I hold still even as his eyes drag across my body.
“Maybe you are too hot.” Alcohol has lightened up his eyes.
I drop his gaze and shake my head. “I was just going to lie down,” I say. One of the guys comes into the kitchen and gets more beers; the rattle of the glass distracts my uncle.
“Okay Svetlana. Go lie down.”
I’m moving before he changes his mind.
“Svetlana.”
I swallow again before turning to him. He is pointing at his cheek with his index finger. I let out a strangled laugh and walk back to him. Planting a kiss on each cheek, he seems satisfied as I leave. I walk up the stairs slowly as I know he still watches me. Once I disappear around the bend, I’m taking the steps two at a time.
My room holds no air and I immediately feel bad for dragging Jan with me. Opening the windows as wide as the steel bars will allow I close my bedroom door. The only way to lock my room is from the outside, and when my uncle says so. The need to strip off has me pushing a chair under the door handle.
I stand at the window in my bra and underwear and smile as the breeze, which lucky enough is blowing in my direction, kisses my sweat soaked skin. Holding my hair up I let it touch my neck and I shiver as cold meets hot. Jan lies at the foot of my bed and I smile at him. I stand still and allow the air to cool me down, it’s only then I dare step away and get a clean dress from the wardrobe. I see a hundred images of myself stare back at me from my cracked mirror on the inside door of my wardrobe. I have never let my uncle see it. It was after my first punishment, I couldn’t look at myself or the marks that Holic had inflicted on me. It was the only mirror in my room and I couldn’t bear to look at myself. My fingers run across the cracked glass but I jump away as Jan barks. Someone was coming. Pulling out a clean dress I pull it over my head before racing over and getting the chair away from the door. The knob rattles and I quickly sit down on the chair, out of time to move it further away.
Beda narrows his eyes before they slitter around my room. “What are you doing?” He’s young, younger than me, and his age makes him dangerous. He’s always eager to please my uncle.
“I don’t understand the question,” I say sweetly as he steps into my room. He would never touch me, it’s forbidden. My mind goes to Andel. It was forbidden for him to touch me too, but he had tried. Under the disguise of night he had slipped into my room. I push the rest of that night away.
“Your uncle wants you.” He looks at the chair like he knows it shouldn’t be there, yet he had no proof that I was doing anything wrong. Standing I tap my side and Jan immediately comes to me.
Beda steps out of my room and I follow him back through the house and outside to where my uncle and his men sit. I can feel Holic’s eyes on me the moment my bare feet touch the hot slabs under me.
My uncle stands and comes to me wearing a huge smile. Everyone is looking at me and I feel a change in the air. The men are excited. My fear rises and I tell my heart to still.
“What is it that men truly want?” My uncle asks his own men as he reaches me and places his hand on the small of my back making me walk further out onto the patio. I let my hand hang telling Jan not to follow. I don’t know what’s going to happen and I can’t let him get hurt. I hate how Holic watches me, sees my movement and stares at Jan. If he hurts him, I would kill him.
“Money.” Beda speaks up and all the other men drink to his words.
“Yes. Money and women. But not just any woman but a beautiful woman.” My uncles hand leaves the small space at my back. He pushes my hair back away from my face and touches my cheek, looking at me as he speaks to his men. “And not just a beautiful woman, but one who is untouched.” My skin burns at his words and I breathe deeply through my nose.
“She will be our bargaining chip.” He releases me and my legs wobble.
“What?” I speak before thinking. I’m waiting for my uncles wrath but he smiles at me far too sweetly.
“You always want to get out of the house don’t you? Well, now I’m going to take you to Ireland.”
My stomach twists painfully, the air grows hotter and I shift my burning feet on the slabs beneath me.
“Don’t look so afraid Svetlana.” My uncle laughs and his men join him. The only one who isn’t laughing is Holic, his eyes burn as
he stares at my uncle.
“You will only be on loan as good faith. Do not worry you will not be touched.”
I’m shaking my head. “Uncle I love it here. I don’t want to go.” I try to keep the fear out of my voice and force a quivering smile.
“Go rest as we leave tomorrow.” He turns his back on me and I’m taking steps away from them, the moment I pass Jan he’s beside me and I can’t see the stairs as my eyes blur. I don’t make it fully up the stairs before I crumble on the steps. I was being handed over like … a gift. What would happen to me? I’m standing as I hear footsteps in the kitchen, and race the rest of the way to my room. I could try to escape again. Closing my eyes the tears fall, I know how useless that would be. Running only led me to one place. Jan barks and I turn as someone enters my room.
“What are you doing here?” It’s Holic. Crystal blue eyes bore into me and I take a step back. “You can’t be in here.” He has never come into my room, but the room doesn’t hold his interest, I do.
“Are you going to run?” he finally asks.
“No. I want to run to get away from this place. But I won’t. Because if I do, I have to be in your presence and that thought alone turns my stomach.” My pulse spikes as I lash out at him with my words.
“I want you to run.” He takes a step deeper into my room and I want to move back away from him.
“Now I won’t run. I will go to Ireland where you nor my uncle can hurt me anymore.”
Holic’s jaw clenches along with his fists, my words are hitting a nerve. “They will treat you bad Svetlana. You belong here with us.”
Laughter bubbles up my throat and leaves along with angry tears. “You’re sick and twisted and I’m not like you. I don’t belong here with you. Get out of my room.” My voice rises but Holic doesn’t flinch.
“I know you will come back to us.” Are his parting words that I refuse to accept.
“Yes I will-” I shout after him as salty tears find their way into my mouth, “-in a box.”
He’s back in my room, he’s too close but I’ve lost everything. “I will die over there.”
“No, your uncle assures your safety.”
