Bane Returns

by KJ Dahlen

  Joey printed off the message, knowing it would disappear soon. He stood and walked out to the main room to show the message to Deke.

  After Deke read the message, he looked at Joey. “So it’s the girl, huh?”

  Joey nodded. “It seems so.”

  “Did you locate them?” Bane wanted to know.

  Joey turned to stare at him. “I got the general direction, yeah.”

  Bane got to his feet slowly while staring into Joey’s eyes the whole time. “Tell us where they are.”

  The man was scary as hell, but Joey suddenly didn’t care. “Only if you allow me to go in and get the girl out of there before you go in,” Joey stated. “She doesn’t want this and she’s an innocent. Are you going to kill her because she shares a last name with her brothers?”

  “I might.” Bane raised a brow at him. “If she gets in my way.”

  Joey turned and headed for the door.

  Only when he got close to the door leading to the hall did Bane yell out, “Where are they?”

  Joey kept walking. No way would he allow this to happen. This poor girl wasn’t responsible for this mess. One man should not be alone. He figured a woman should not have to be either. He knew how she felt in an odd way. Being blamed for something that you could not stop.

  He got back to Zipper’s room and grabbed his two weapon’s. then a few things he might need to surveil with. He stepped out of the room and down the hall to the window at the back side of the clubhouse. Opening the window, he slipped out into the late afternoon. He didn’t run and he didn’t call any attention to himself but he made his way over to the fence line. Joey scaled the fence. Dropping down on the other side, he headed away from the compound.

  A half hour later, he sat in the shadows and watched the house in front of him. It wasn’t a big house by any means. The lawn was overlong and at first glance, it seemed abandoned. Then he saw movement from inside and a young woman came to the back door.

  She just stood there for a moment then she came outside and sat down. She was dressed in a tank top, jeans and she wore tennis shoes. Her long, dark hair had been drawn back into a ponytail that rested at about her midback.

  He couldn’t see her eyes as he was too far away but he could read her body language. And it was screaming at him that she didn’t want to be there.

  Just then, he saw a young man come to the back door and the two of them exchanged words. He couldn’t make out what they were saying but it wasn’t a pleasant conversation.

  The young man went back inside the house and the young woman got up to go back inside herself.

  Joey sat there and waited. He had no idea what he planned to do, but wait until he saw a chance to get in there.

  She came back out about five minutes later, carrying a small bag with her. She turned and headed away from the house. He could tell she was crying as she kept wiping her eyes.

  He waited for her to reach him, then he stood and followed her.

  She didn’t seem to have a destination in mind other than leaving the house behind her.

  He followed her for three blocks before he stepped up behind her. He had to move quickly before she hit the open streets. He came up behind her.

  When she turned at the last minute and saw him, she opened her mouth to scream.

  He clamped his hand over her mouth and leaned close enough to whisper, “I know who you are and what your brothers plan to do. If you want to live, please come with me.”

  Her grey eyes widened and she nodded.

  Before he removed his hand he said, “Let’s get out of sight in case someone is watching.” He moved his hand and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the shadows. They crouched in the brush and Joey watched the house she had just left. There was no outcry and no one came running out, looking for her.

  He turned his head and stared at her for a moment before he asked, “Where is the man who was there earlier?”

  “Maksim was in the bathroom when I left, so I took advantage of the fact and left. I wanted to get as far away in the shortest amount of time as I could.”

  Joey grabbed her hand again, leading her into the back streets and away from the house. When they were far enough away, he stopped again. This time, they were in a park and he dragged her to a hidden spot. They could watch the area, yet be hidden from view. After checking out the area well, he had to ask, “What is going on here? Why did you run just now?”

  “I think you know that already.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “If you are who I think you are, then you know who I am and what we are doing here. You also know that I did not want to be a part of it.”

  “I need to hear the words straight from the source sweetheart,” Joey urged her.

  Chapter Twelve

  Kisa looked around and then whispered her answer, “Twenty five years ago, my father did something stupid. Even he admitted it was stupid but once it was done, he couldn’t undo it. He stole form his employer. He had grown up in Russia and when they came here to this land, he joined the Vory V Zakone. He served a man named Aloysha Petroff and had for seven years. Then he took something that didn’t belong to him. He always told us he didn’t even know why he did it, he just did it. Aloysha contacted a man known for being brutal and he hunted down my father, then he got most of the money back. But he also left my father broken and bleeding in the dirt. My father expected to be killed and he begged my father not to hurt my brother Grigori. Jessin told him he wasn’t going to hurt the boy because he hadn’t been hired to kill a child. My father knew in his heart, he had the beating coming to him, it was just the way of the Vory. They wouldn’t take what my father did without making an example of him so no one else would be so foolish. We had to hide for a number of years and my mother had to work hard to provide for all of us, because my father couldn’t work anymore. I think he was more embarrassed by that than he was by the beating. The night Grigori watched our father get broken and left in the dirt changed my brother. I know my father often told me he never thought Grigori was the same little boy he’d once been. He was always a silent kid but there was a rage in his eyes after that night. When we were alone, he liked to bully me because he was bigger and meaner than I ever was. I know he and Maksim didn’t always get along either. Grigori used to throw punches when Poppi couldn’t see them.” She looked away briefly then she turned to face him again. “Mama died about seven years ago. She worked very hard to keep us going. Poppi always hated the fact that she had to work three jobs to put food on the table and keep a roof over our head, but Mama always told him, they were in this marriage as equals. Then Poppi wasn’t the same after she died. I think he just wanted to escape. We were all grown up at the time, so we were able to make our own living. Then three months ago, Poppi got sick. We tried to get him to go to a doctor but he never would. Then two weeks ago, he died. But on his death bed, he made us all promise not to go after Jessin or Petroff. All three of us promised him that, then after we put him in the ground, Grigori and Maksim betrayed that vow. I didn’t know it at the time but Grigori took a blood vow to get the men who did this to his Poppi.”

  “And what exactly does that mean?” he asked.

  Kisa looked over at him and with a solemn look in her eyes, she told him, “A bloody oath to our people cannot be broken or forgotten. If Grigori can’t fulfill it, then Maksim has to finish it. Neither of them can stop it, or call it off.”

  “Where is this man Aloysha from?” He wanted to know.

  “He comes from a small town near Bethal, Pennsylvania. He lives there but hides his business ventures from the world because he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s there. He has many businesses even here in New York.”

  “I wonder if the Family in Boston knows that?” He wondered aloud.

  “I don’t think so.” Kisa shook her head. “He hides behind a number of legitimate names but his business are anything but.” She looked over at him. “Poppi always told us that Aloysha liked to get away with as much as he could and that he ke
pt inching closer and closer to Boston. He only got away with it, because no one knew he was there. He said it was like giving the Italians the finger. Aloysha likes to live dangerously.” She shrugged.

  He just snorted. “I’ll say. And living that way is going to get the man dead one of these days.”

  “This situation isn’t going to be too good for my brothers either. Neither of them are going to give it up and they will both end up dead in the dirt, just like our Poppi.” Shaking her head she said, “This is why Poppi made them promise not to go after this Bane Jessin. Poppi knew what kind of man he was, but no one has seen or heard from him in over two years. Grigori said there was a way to draw him out and that would be to threaten his family.” She shook her head. “I didn’t know he had a family, then I found an article on the dark web about his daughter Cordelia. It said something about her son and Grigori was happy to learn about the boy. He had me send out that photograph and then we came here.”

  “Oh yeah, that got his attention, all right.” He nodded but didn’t look happy about the fact.

  “What’s going to happen now?” she finally asked.

  “I have no idea, sweetheart.” He ran his hands over the top of his head. “Bane is pretty pissed at your family. He wants you all dead for daring to even think about threatening his grandson.”

  Kisa shook her head. “I know, it was a cowardly thing to do.”

  “There are some men you just don’t want to ever cross and Bane Jessin is one of those men, honey.”

  “My name is Kisa. I’m not your sweetheart or your honey.” She growled.

  Shaking his head, he replied, “That’s true enough. I’m sorry. By the way, my name is Joey... Joey Conant.”

  “Ok, Joey Conant, what are we doing next? We can’t stay out in the open like this. My brother Grigori and his two Vory friends will be looking for me by this time.”

  Joey stared at her for a moment then suggested, “I think we need to go back to the Sin’s Bastard’s clubhouse. You need to make your case to Jessin, so he knows what you’re telling him is upfront and true.”

  Kisa shook her head. “Hmm, no thanks. I’ll pass on that. I don’t want to be anywhere that man can find me.”

  Joey stared at her. “He won’t hurt you.”

  “Excuse me, but my last name is the same as my brothers, the same as my Poppi. I have more than just him looking for me you know. I have a feeling Aloysha is still looking for us as well.”

  Joey looked confused. “Why? I thought Petroff got what he wanted from your dad?”

  Kisa shook her head. “I asked my Poppi about that one day. His answer wasn’t exactly truthful but he never told me. There was something more my Poppi took from Aloysha that day, something Grigori might know, but Poppi never told me about it.”

  “Bane needs to know that. He was wondering that very same thing but he never knew for sure. You have to tell him what you know.”

  Kisa looked around the park for some kind of escape. “God, I hate this. We shouldn’t even be here. I can’t stay here, not in this city. Not while my brothers are here. If Bane doesn’t kill me, they will.”

  Joey grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her slightly. “I won’t let that happen to you sweetheart. You’ll be safe as long as I’m alive, you hear me?”

  Kisa just stared at him. “Why? Why would you do that?”

  Joey sighed. “Something I heard just today. No man should ever be alone.” He looked into her eyes. “When we realized by your last message that you were a girl caught up in this thing. I figured. Well, no woman should be alone either.

  Kisa studied him for a long moment. “Are you for real with this?”

  He nodded. “I am for real. And I promise no one will hurt you. Not for as long as I’m breathing, sweetheart.”

  She bit at her lip. “Well then, you’d better hope this Bane doesn’t have a pillow to smother you with.” In a whisper, she said, “And I told you that already that I am not not your sweetheart.” Then she leaned towards him.

  He gathered her in his arms and just held her for a long moment. “Not yet you aren’t, but I have a feeling you soon will be.” Joey kissed the top of her head.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Come on, let’s get you under some cover,” Joey suggested.

  “Where?” Kisa asked. “Where can we go, where I’ll be safe?”

  “I already told you that he safest place I know right now is the clubhouse. Bane won’t try anything there. Deke wouldn’t allow it and I won’t allow it.”

  “I’m holding you to that soldier boy.” She motioned to his Peacoat. “The real trick will be us getting there in one piece.”

  Joey grinned. “Oh, ye of little faith, woman. We need to get there quick and the only way I know how to do that is to get a ride.”

  Kisa shook her head. “Well, I hope you know someone who has a car then because the only one I know is Grigori and I don’t think he’s willing to take us anywhere, except to send us both to hell maybe.”

  “Let me make a call and I’ll get us a ride.” Joey shook his head as he placed the call.

  Moments later, a van pulled up.

  Joey got to his feet, grabbed Kisa’s hand, and dragged her toward the van.

  When the door opened, a man sat there staring at her.

  Kisa got a little freaked out. She tugged her hand from Joey’s grip.

  Joey turned to see what was wrong.

  She was staring at the driver with suspicion. He wore a long beard and a hat. He was huge and she couldn’t see his eyes at all.

  Joey smiled. “You’ll have to forgive Jonesy. He doesn’t say much but he’s a friend. He’ll get us to where we need to be, no worries.” He got into the backseat.

  Kisa crawled in and sat next to him. She got as close to him as she could then she shut the door.

  Jonesy pulled away from the curb. Just as he did, however a giant head turned from the passenger seat to look at her.

  This sight scared the bejesus out of Kisa. She screamed a bit and practically crawled into Joey’s lap.

  Joey chuckled.

  She glared at him and snarled. “What’s so damned funny?”

  “I guess we should have warned you about Coop, huh?” Joey motioned toward the front seat.

  Kisa slowly turned her head and found herself looking into the eyes of a huge St. Bernard dog, sitting in the passenger seat of the van. Her face flushed red and she slid back down into the seat. “Oh, my god. I’m so sorry. Does he bite?” she asked respectively as she stared at the dog.

  Jonesy snorted. “No but he might lick you to death if you let him. I got him for protection as I live on the streets but he’s so friendly, someone could rob us blind and he wouldn’t care.”

  Kisa held out her hand.

  Coop sniffed it for a moment then licked her fingers.

  She giggled then reached up to pet him. “I always wanted a dog but Poppi wouldn’t let me have one. I guess now I’ll never have one.” Just then, something else caught her eye. They were a block away now but she stared out the window with fear in her eyes. Suddenly, she threw herself at Joey. Her lips crushed his and she kissed him with a fever.

  Surprised, Joey wrapped his arms around her, kissing her back.

  The kiss continued until Jonesy griped from the driver’s seat, “You two need a motel or something?”

  Kisa broke the kiss and for a moment, she just stared into Joey’s eyes. Then she pulled away from him and looked out the window.

  Joey had been shocked at her move but now he realized there might be another reason for her suddenly kissing him. He looked to where her gaze remained and he saw three men as they stood discussing something.

  One of the men had the same color hair as Kisa, only his dark hair was cut short, and his eyes were narrowed in the sunlight. The three men seemed to be having a discussion that wasn’t going very well.

  Joey looked around the area. They were very close to the turnoff for the clubhouse. “Jonesy, go around and
come in the back way.”

  Jonesy did as he was told.

  Joey looked over at Kisa. “That was your brother wasn’t it?”

  Kisa nodded. “I’m sorry I kissed you but I didn’t want him to see me.”

  Joey grinned at her. “Well, I’m not sorry at all.” He turned his head and watched as the sight of the three men standing there faded into the distance. “What I’d like to know is how they found this place so soon.”

  “What’s the date today?” Kisa suddenly asked out of the blue.

  “May 17th, why?” Joey told her.

  Kisa began to tremble a bit. “May 20th is the full moon isn’t it?”

  Joey nodded but felt confused by her statement. “So what?”

  “Some families where we come from believe in the old superstitions. They have rituals and custom’s they perform every day, Poppi’s family was one of those families and he taught us some of the rituals. One of those rituals was if someone crossed you and you were seeking revenge, it had to be before the first full moon after the injury was done.”

  Joey glanced at Jonesy and then back at her. “Yeah so, what does that mean here?”

  “Grigori will make his move before the first full moon and that’s in three days.”

  About that time, Jonesy came to a stop.

  Joey looked around. They were at the back fence of the clubhouse property. He looked around for a way inside. “Come on, we need to get inside the fence and find our way to the clubhouse, so you can talk to Deke.” He got out of the van and looked over at Jonesy. “Thanks for the ride, man.”