by KJ Dahlen
This trail she’d found...Sebastian Smith. To his phone. She didn’t know if it was right or not, but she risked sending him that photo of the kid inside a sniper’s scope. It was a long shot at best, but it was all she could do. If it were this man’s phone, he would get it this morning as she had set the photo on a timer to be delivered. If this didn’t work, she would have to find another way to stop her brother.
Then at the last minute, she left off part of her ritual that would hide the place of origin of the message. She knew it wasn’t much to hint at who might be after him but hopefully, he would be able to remember twenty five years ago and the name of the man he’d allowed to live. It was like betraying Grigori, but she just could not let him harm an innocent child. She knew Poppi would never forgive this, if he were alive.
The next few days would be hard for them to get through. She tried to talk to Grigori just after Poppi had died but he didn’t want to listen to anyone. Their mother had died five years ago and that had been tough. After losing her, Poppi had gone downhill at a fast rate. He lingered bedridden for his remaining time. He and Grigori had had many talks, some of which she listened to as well.
He’d made Grigori promise not to go after Jessin for revenge. He’d said back then that he had deserved the visit and the punishment for his actions back then.
Poppi had confessed to Grigori that he had stolen from the Vory V Zakone and he had gotten caught. He was just lucky to be alive. And that was due to Jessin’s sense of honor.
Grigori had promised Poppi not to seek his vengeance but now, he was breaking his word to their father.
She had a feeling that nothing good would happen on this trip. Kisa looked out the window and watched as the scenery blurred past her eyes. She almost felt as if she were on a freight train, heading straight for the pits of hell.
Silently, she vowed that she would do what she could not to let her brother hurt an innocent child.
Grigori wouldn’t admit it right now, but he was in pain. Poppi had been his mentor, his teacher and he had taught him everything he knew. Now, Poppi was gone and they were all hurting but Grigori no longer had that person he counted on holding him back anymore.
Death could leave scars and this she had learned too early in her life. But Grigori’s scars never seemed to heal.
A single tear rolled down her cheek... Kisa didn’t bother to wipe it away.
Chapter Three
Lake Ontario, Wolcott New York
Bane went back to their rooms and began packing his bag.
Sarah joined him to pack her own bag.
He looked over at her and frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Where you go, I go.” She paused and looked up at him. “I’m not in this for the short term, buster. I’m here for the long term. I know I’m not your wife but I’m not going to be left behind either.” She walked over to him and reached up to cup his cheek. “I love you. I’m not afraid of saying that because it’s what I feel here in my heart.” She raised her free hand to her chest. “That means something to me and I hope it means something to you too. I know you have a problem with emotions but I can’t help that. You mean something to me and I will stand behind you one hundred per cent whether you need me there or not. This is a threat to your family and family means something to you. I’m not going to let you face this alone.”
Bane closed his eyes and snuggled his cheek into her hand. He couldn’t say the words she needed to hear but he nodded. “Ok, let’s do this together then.”
They went back to their packing and soon, they had everything ready.
Then before they left, Bane walked over to a cupboard he always kept locked.
Sarah knew what he kept in there and why it was locked but she didn’t say anything.
He opened the cabinet and grabbed a couple of small duffle bags.
These were the tools of his old life. They both knew that as much as he wanted to leave that life behind him, there would be times when he couldn’t. This was one of those times. But this wasn’t for money or power, this would be for family and family was beginning to mean something to him.
While he carried his bags, Sarah grabbed their suitcases. Without a word, they made their way back to the shared rooms of the house only to find Bastian, Sawyer along with their son as well as James and Sydney and their luggage as well.
“What’s all this?” Bane asked as his eyes narrowed at the sight of the luggage.
Damon and his woman, Aly Bella stood to the side of the room.
It was Bastian that replied, “We’re going with you. You need us and we are all partners in whatever case comes our way. Damon will hold down the fort here and we’ll work beside you.”
Bane shook his head. “I can’t ask that of any of you.”
Bastian snorted. “You aren’t asking. This is what we do, we protect the little man, and this little man is your grandson.”
Bane’s head shot up and he glared at the other man.
James cleared his throat and said, “Whoever sent Bastian the photo and the text made a serious mistake this morning. They didn’t hide their base. We know where the photo came from.”
Bane turned his head swiftly to stare at him. “Where?”
“Bath, New York,” James told him.
Bane shook his head and let out a long, heavy sigh. “Damn. Why now, after almost a quarter of a century, why now?”
“Do you know who this is?” Bastian cocked his head to one side.
Bane lifted his head and nodded. “I have a pretty good idea.” He looked over at James. “I need you to run a name for me. The name is Boris Komperov.”
“What did this Boris guy do that required a visit from a man like you?” Bastian wanted to know.
“He tried to cheat a very powerful group of men. They didn’t like it.” Was all Bane would tell them.
James nodded. “I’ll check him out and have some information for you when we arrive in Troy.”
“Let’s get on the road then, we have a three-hour trip before we even get there.” Bastian motioned for Sawyer to lead the way.
Bane and Sarah broke away from the others and went over to his SUV. He put his duffle bag and secured them inside before he lifted the suitcases in.
Sarah went to the passenger side and got inside. She buckled up and waited for him to join her.
When they got on the road, Sarah waited for Bane to speak. As much as she wanted to know the story behind this, she didn’t feel it was her place to ask. If he wanted her to know, he would tell her.
About an hour down the road, Bane looked over at her and asked, “Aren’t you the least bit curious about the reason behind this trip?”
Sarah turned to him and smiled, “Of course, I am. I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t. But here’s the thing, this is your past not mine. And you don’t talk about your past. I can respect that. Do I want to know? You bet I do, but I also respect you enough not to ask. However, if you want to share, I’ll listen.”
Bane shook his head. “I swear I have never met an unusual woman like you.” He stared ahead at the road they were traveling for a moment then he finally began, “About twenty five years ago, I was contacted by a bastard of a man named, Aloysha Petroff. He was a man from the group, Vory V Zakone, Russian underground. He didn’t tell me why he wanted this man found and taken care of but he paid me a lot of money to do what I did best back then. I found the man and he knew exactly why I was there and what I intended to do to him. Only when I found him, he had his young son with him. He didn’t beg me to spare his life, he was well aware of what was going to happen, no he begged me to spare his son’s life. When I informed him that I didn’t kill children, he didn’t fight back.” He shook his head. “Most men would have fought back but this man didn’t. He told me what I wanted to know and he never fought me. I must say that did impress me. I did what I was hired to do. I literally beat him close to death. The Vory V Zakone wanted his death but I couldn’t finish what I started. He didn’t have to beg for
his life and he refused to do it when I asked him to. I left him lying in the dirt, broken and bleeding. I heard his spine snap and I figured he would be dead within hours. I left him alive to send a message to those who would try and do what he did. I told the man before I left, if he lived that he should go underground and not make any stupid mistakes ever again. That if he did, I would be back and he would never see me coming. I told him if I had to return, I would make him watch me slit his family’s throats before I got to him.” He shrugged. “What can I say? I was a true bastard back in the day.”
They traveled more miles before either of them said another word.
Then it was Bane that asked, “Does this change your mind about loving me?”
Sarah shook her head. “No, it doesn’t. That is your past. I knew it was a brutal one all along and that some of it I wouldn’t be able to stomach but I haven’t changed my mind about loving you.”
“Why?” he asked quietly.
Sarah snorted. “Because I’m not a stupid person. I heard the backstreet rumors about you. But over the last two years, I’ve been watching you. You didn’t go after anyone that didn’t deserve it. Back in the day, you never would have turned the Connors over to the law. They would have simply disappeared, never to be seen again. If you were this bastard as you say, you never would have spoken to Cricket and told her who you were. You would have just snatched Dusty and not care one whit that you were separating him from his family. You still watch over the boy but you know he’s safe and you know he’s being cared for. You are at least trying to stay within the parameters of the do over Bastian offered you.”
Bane nodded. “You’re right, I did try.” He shook his head. “But I can’t put the boy’s life on the line. If he’s being used to draw me out, they have succeeded. This job might get bloody and I never wanted you to see this part of me.”
Sarah looked over at him. “Do you think I didn’t know what you did? Who you were? That I didn’t know your hands were stained with blood?” She shook her head. “What did you think I would ask or demand? That you stop killing if you wanted me stay?”
Bane shook his head. “So unusual.”
Sarah took a deep breath as she looked out the window. “I learned a long time ago that evil really exists in this world. That some men and women just deserve to die for their crimes. The job you, Bastian, James, and Damon are doing now needs to be done. The world needs more men standing up for the people.” She looked down at her hands and clenched them into fists. “My own hands aren’t very clean either.”
“You only did what you had to do to protect someone you loved. I don’t think it would have happened otherwise.”
“And you don’t think that this is the same thing?” Sarah asked him as she looked back over at him. “Whoever this is has threatened your grandson. That was his first mistake. His second mistake was coming after you in the first place. His third mistake will be in thinking you won’t fight back. You will and you would be justified in doing so.” She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it in hers. “You make this mission a message to the rest of the world. If they come after you, you will put the threat down and down hard.”
Bane moved his eyes back to the road but his lips turned up in the corners of his mouth. Sarah might not know it yet, but she was the only woman in the world for him. Then he glanced over at her belly. Did he want another chance at fatherhood?
What if this child was like his other two children. Cordy had been a monster, hiding in a human’s body. Torturing Cricket for all those years, playing people off one another and yes, killing a few people she had thought were in her way, even killing Bane’s brother finally. Then Michael had been just a cold and dead inside. He had plotted to kill Bane and take his life over. He made a fatal mistake in planning that and Bane had ended him. The thing that bothered Bane all this time was that he had felt nothing when he had done it.
To this day, he was still learning about feelings and how to assimilate them. The cold feelings, he refused to look at, they were impossible to disassemble.
He put those thoughts out of his mind for the moment. He knew he needed every bit of his focus to be on what was coming. He couldn’t afford a mistake on this mission. He might not be able to claim Dusty but he was still his grandson.
The stakes were too high for him to make a mistake. Any mistake. He couldn’t hesitate either as the two parts of him battled. He had to be Bane Jessin again. There was no choice in it.
Chapter Four
Redemption House, Troy, New York
Joey was still searching the dark web as the sun came up. He tapped into a dark website he’d been tracking and then he saw the picture and the text that was sent. He took a snapshot of the photo and printed it out. Amos would know what to do with it but Joey bookmarked the site, so he could return later.
He picked up the photo and shook his head. He might not know the local MC but he knew this would just piss them off something royally. He carried the photo down the hall to Amos’s room. Knocking quietly on the door, he hoped he wouldn’t interrupt anything. Amos got himself a new woman and Joey thought that was wonderful.
Amos answered the door in only his jeans, when he saw who was standing there he glared at him. “What you want at this time of day?”
Joey didn’t say anything, he just handed the older man the photo.
Amos stared at him for a few seconds then looked down at the photo in his hand. “Holy shit!” he swore. Snapping his gaze up to Joey he asked, “Where the hell did you find this?”
“I found it after it was sent out this morning to an unknown phone number. I know this kid, he comes here sometimes with Ms. Paige, and I know she belongs to one of the brothers at the MC. Can you get it to the MC? I know that’s where he is.”
Amos nodded. “I’ll just get dressed and get it right out there. Deke will more than likely want to know where you found it, so stay around to talk to him, you hear me boy?”
“I hear ya old man. You be careful out there, you hear me? If whoever took this picture is out there, they might be watching the compound and they just might shoot your ass for sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.” He stepped back. “I’ll be here if this Deke guy needs me.”
Amos watched him go back down the hall to his room. Shaking his head, he looked over at the bed in the room.
Jemmia was laying there watching him. When he got closer to her, she asked him softly, “Is everything thing okay, Amos?”
“No, it’s not. Things are going to get very crazy very soon. He held out the photo to her.
Jemmia took it then sat up and frowned. “Isn’t this Paige’s little boy?”
“Yes, he sure is.”
Jemmia raised her gaze to his face. “What does this mean Amos?”
“I’m not exactly sure honey, but Deke needs to see this fast like.”
“Let me go with you. I need to be there for my girls.” She pushed the covers off and grabbed her cane, so she could get some clothes. Amos did the same and fifteen minutes later, they were walking out the front door.
They found Frankie and a couple others out front.
Frankie looked over at the two of them. “Amos what’s got you and Ms. Jemmia up so early?”
“We gotta go out to the biker compound this morning.” Amos looked around at the men assembled. “Can you boys keep an eye on the House while we’re gone?”
Frankie raised and brow at his friend’s tone. “You expectin’ some trouble?”
Amos shook his head. “Lord, I hope not but I’d rather be safe than sorry right now.”
Frankie glanced over at the other men and nodded. “Yeah, we’ll stand guard, you know that.”
Amos nodded and escorted Ms. Jemmia to his vehicle. He backed out of the parking spot and drove off, headed for the MC compound.
When they got there, Wiley opened the gates and let them in.
Amos escorted Jemmia into the clubhouse and found Deke, Sam and Gator, sitting there having coffee.
“I had to come right away, boss.” Amos stared back at him. “I got something you need to see.” He reached into his backpocket and pulled out the picture and the text Joey gave him. He passed it over to Deke. “Joey found that this morning and I knew you’d want to see it right away.”
Deke stared at thim for a moment then opened the paper and smoothed it out before he looked at it. He growled when he saw it and glared at Amos. “Where the hell did he find this?”
Amos shook his head. “I don’t know, he said it was sent to someone on the dark web this morning. He didn’t know who but he’s got the site marked.”
Sam grabbed the photo and stared at it for a few seconds. Then he looked at Deke. “You have to tell Black Jack and Gambler about this right away. They need to keep an eye on the boy.”
Deke reached for his phone to call Black Jack and Gambler. Then he also texted Cricket. He knew she would need to know about this.
Twenty minutes later, the two Moore men showed up at the clubhouse.
Gambler snarled. “Tell me why I kept Dusty home from school today? You said someone was coming for him. Who is coming after my son? And why?”
Deke shook his head. “Settle down Gambler, we don’t know yet, but we aren’t going to let anything happen to him either.” He gave him the photo of Dusty.
Black Jack and Gambler stared at it and their expressions were ominous.
Gambler growled low in his throat as he pounded his fist on the table.
Just then, Deke’s phone rang and he frowned when he peered down at his caller ID. He looked at the men assembled there with him and swiped his phone to accept the call. “Priest, this is a surprise, what can I do for you this morning?” Deke listened for a moment then put his phone on speaker, so everyone could hear him.
“I got a disturbing photo on my phone this morning—”
