by Tijan
I was second.
Abram brought up the rear.
The guys were going fast and quiet.
Me? I was fast, but not as quiet.
There was no way I could be like them. Raize changed paths, maybe because of my noise. We were hitting dense grass instead of leaves and sticks. Our feet were a constant and steady thump thump thump.
It was matching my heartbeat and I was trying to keep my breathing steady.
We drew up on a hill, overlooking the house and garage.
Nothing looked amiss.
Smoke traveled up from the chimney, but all of the hairs on the back of my neck were up. Straight up and I had chills running down my back.
Jake never responded. Jake would’ve responded.
They were inside, whoever they were.
Raize motioned for Abram with some hand motions. I wasn’t fluent in hand language, but Abram was. He gave a nod and took off to the left.
Raize gazed at me.
I gripped my gun tighter and waited, knowing he wanted to tell me to stay.
His eyes narrowed.
So did mine.
Then he sighed and started down a path.
I followed right behind.
I won that fight.
The closer we got to the house, the more those chills were doubling, but nothing looked out of the ordinary.
We got to the treeline. Two steps forward and we’d be in the open.
Raize stopped and drew me close. His mouth went to my ear. “They’ve got three men inside. There’s two in the garage.”
I had no clue how he knew this.
“I need you to stay here. You see them, you shoot them, but only if they can’t see you. Got me?”
I wondered how they were keeping Gus quiet.
Raize’s hand tightened on my arm. “I need an answer.”
If they hurt Gus…
“Ash.”
Right. I jerked my head in a nod.
My lines were gone. There were no lines here.
Raize pressed one last kiss to my forehead, swift but strong. He pushed me down so I was hiding behind a fallen tree, and then he took off going south.
I waited, my heart still pounding.
My palms were sweating.
Nothing happened at first.
Different world and I’d be enjoying the weather, the scenery. Montana was beautiful, but then a guy stepped out from the garage. He started going to the left, looking like he was going for a patrol.
Raize came around the corner behind him.
I watched, but no sound was made.
He stepped up, wrapped an arm around the guy’s mouth. His other hand made quick work, slashing the front of his neck, and then he clamped down on the guy. He held him in some kind of hold, paralyzing him so he couldn’t struggle. It didn’t last long.
Blood gushed from his throat and Raize lowered the body, leaving him to bleed out. He stepped over him, checking inside the garage before moving. The door was opened; he slipped inside. I could hear thuds, but no shot.
Raize came back out a minute later, more blood on him.
I took all this in, but a part of me was thinking.
Raize was good at what he did. I knew this. There was a reason he was Roman’s ‘field’ guy. But even if I hadn’t known that, I would’ve known Raize was extremely good at what he did.
But. There was a big but coming.
I had no doubt Raize would do fine.
He’d go into that house and take out whoever was in there, but there’d be a day when it wouldn’t work in his favor.
There’d be a day when he’d be on the other end of a knife or a gunshot.
Damn.
Just damn.
Blinding pain sliced through my chest and I blinked back sudden tears because damn again.
I was too far in, too far gone.
I was in.
I loved him.
I chose this world because subconsciously I chose him.
When I made this decision, I didn’t know, but I made it. I was cementing it right now. I was choosing. Raize. It was Raize. It had always been Raize.
It was first about a girl given the name Brooke, then it became about Raize.
I took a breath because my chest was so tight right now.
I was so far in that I knew if I looked behind me, I couldn’t see the starting line.
A shout sounded from inside the house, followed by a gunshot.
More gunshots.
Gunfire.
More shouting.
A guy broke out from the house, running to the garage.
He was directly in my line of fire, and this was the line.
I couldn’t let him get free.
He was trying to get away. Maybe he didn’t have a phone and he was going in search of one. Maybe he was going to the car. Whatever it was, he couldn’t get away. I had to stop him.
I raised my gun.
I aimed.
I shot.
Yes. There were no more lines here. None whatsoever.
I missed the first shot, and he kept going. He didn’t know that shot was for him. He didn’t know he should duck or hide or shoot back.
I aimed. I shot again.
I got him, hitting him in the shoulder.
Abram crashed out the door, running after him.
The guy started to go down, but Abram had his gun up.
I turned, knowing I was also choosing not to see another man die in front of my eyes.
Was that a cowardly thing to do?
I knew he would go down and I knew Abram would make the killing shot, and I still couldn’t breathe any easier. I didn’t know. I didn’t care at this moment.
I looked back.
Abram was staring right at me, waiting. His hand holding his gun was still half-raised.
He started toward me, but then Raize yelled from the house and he turned, going back.
I stood there, not knowing what to do. But, I guess, there was nothing else to do. So I stayed and I waited, and I had my gun ready in case anyone else got free.
That was when my phone buzzed.
Raize: Come in.
I took off running, my chest still so tight until I heard Gus barking.
I hit the door and raced inside, and then I could breathe.
Cavers and Jake were both peeling tape from their mouths.
Raize came out from a back room, saw me, and let Gus dart around him. He came right for me, his collar and leash still attached. As soon as I had my wiggling pup in my arms, I burst into tears.
“Take him for a walk.”
I nodded, my throat swelling up and I’d walk Gus for an entire day if that’s how long they needed. I didn’t see the men, but I knew they were in there and they were dead.
We went outside. I felt like my lungs could expand again, but everything was swirling inside of me. Emotions. Sensations. Thoughts. Memories. All of it was compounding me.
Because of that, I wasn’t watching where I was going with Gus.
I wasn’t thinking.
I was assuming we were safe.
I let Gus choose what direction we took.
So because of all of that, we were away from the house, down a walking path. I had no idea what direction we’d taken.
I had no idea how long we were gone.
All I knew is that we got to a clearing.
There was a car.
Gus burst forward, smelling something, and I heard the sound of a gun’s safety being taken off.
“Nice to see you again, Miss Marakov.”
“I wanted you to have a friend, my sweet little girl.”
63
Not Miss Marakov
“Miss Marakov.” Marco was leaning against the side of one of the SUVs, and he looked down, his shoulders shaking. A dry chuckle came from him. He had his hands folded over one another in front of him, the bottom hand holding a gun, but the safety was on. “I am assuming that your presence here,” he motioned to Gus with his gun be
fore his other hand folded over it, returning back in front of him, “is an indication that my men are dead inside.”
His whole stance was casual. He wasn’t alarmed. Scared.
Nothing.
The corner of his mouth lifted up and he nodded to himself. “Right. Of course they’re dead, because they’re not my best men. My top man was Clay. My second was Abram, and I have myself to blame for neither of them being my men anymore.” He pushed up, but he stood there. He made no move to advance toward me.
I was holding Gus back, whose tail was wagging at first. That was when he caught Marco’s scent, or I was assuming for the reason he pulled me here. Now, seeing a man, Gus was growling and straining to get free.
I held on. I wasn’t ready.
He had that gun.
I had a feeling he’d be a better shot than the other guy outside of Gus’ original home.
“So, Miss Marakov.” Another grin from him, like we both just shared an inside joke. “Let’s talk, you and me. I figure I have precious time before there’s more gunfire or a dog tries to attack me or, who knows what could happen. I won’t get this chance again, not for a long time if ever.”
With that said, he went to the second vehicle, a car, and he sat on the front. One leg could still touch the ground. The other was bent, his foot resting on the tire just underneath him. He leaned forward, an elbow resting on his knee. That gun was still in his grip, but it was being held casually.
I was dumbfounded. That was it.
Dumb. Founded.
“I did my research on you. I know your name, know your mother killed herself, your sister was reported missing. You were reported missing, and your father’s done rehab. That’s what my private investigator told me. Are we caught up?” His eyes sparked. He looked casual, but he wasn’t. His gaze was sharp. “I also know what you can do. I’m assuming you’re the ‘gift’ Raize was offering. You could tell me if a man named Jorge Miller killed my brother?”
My gut flared.
“I could tell you, yes.”
His eyes narrowed. He raised his chin up, going to the side. “How does that work? If you’re not ‘psychic’, how do you know?”
“...your mother killed herself…”
I was back there, sitting in the hallway, as they took her body from the room.
I pushed that aside.
“People get good at deciphering how a footstep sounds when a drunk father comes home, especially if he’s angry. If a door shuts a certain way. How a bag is rustled. You know, you just know to hide or if you can keep breathing.” I lifted up a shoulder, lying through my teeth but not at the same time. “It’s kinda like that, I guess.”
“You lived with an abuser, you mean?”
Goddamn.
“I’ve worked for six mafia bosses. My gut sharpened, real quick, after the first two.”
It had nothing to do with them. Again. I was lying. He didn’t get to know where I learned this skill, or where my gut did.
His eyes were steady on me, and he measured me. He raised his face. “Right. I guess that makes sense. Somewhat.” He frowned to himself, looking around.
But he still wasn’t worried.
Why wasn’t he alarmed?
“So.” He extended a hand toward me, waiting. “Did Jorge do it? Did he kill my brother?”
I knew the answer. “Go away and I’ll tell you.”
Surprise flashed over his face, and he let out a chuckle. “That’s funny. I’m sure, I’ll leave and you’ll call me with the answer? Maybe you and I can start texting each other? How about we do that, too?” His grin faded and his mouth tightened. “Do not insult my intelligence.” He looked over my shoulder before focusing on me again. “I’m not sure what Clay has shared with you, but I am not a stupid man. I might be selfish, ruthless, but when you think you’ve outsmarted me, that’s when I’ve killed you.”
My chest felt an invisible hand pressing down on it.
I stiffened.
“There’s a reason I’m sitting here and why I haven’t just shot you or your dog, and then driven away— because I could. Clay has let you out of his sight. He dropped his guard, and there’s only one reason he would’ve done that, and that’s the reason I’m staying. My guess is that Verónica is already gone. He’s stashed her somewhere, and he’s feeling that pain. It’s the only time he ever messed up, when he was in agony over someone he loved. And don’t take it personal. If he stashed you somewhere, he’d do the same thing then, too. I can tell that he cares for you, which is the second reason I’m sticking around.”
Well, crap then.
“The other reasons are that I want you to come work for me.” His eyes dropped to Gus, who was still growling. “If I hurt you or your dog, I have a feeling that wouldn’t work out in my favor. And, yes, I’m intrigued if Jorge actually did kill my brother.” A low chuckle slid out from him. “Though, that’s a question I’ve had for years now and it’s becoming a punchline in some joke. I’m the punchline, I’m sure.”
I gritted my teeth. “I’m not going to work for you.”
“Not yet, but you will.” He stood from the car. “Maybe one day.”
I jerked back and Gus tried to lunge free.
I held on to the leash.
Marco paused, watching both of our reactions before he put his gun away. “You can tell Clay I’ve changed my mind. I would like to accept his boss’ offer on a working relationship. You can also tell Clay that I have a death order in place. When I’m killed, the first sicario to find my sister and kill her will earn my empire.”
I was stricken.
That—no…
He laughed. “She’s missing. I’ll accept that, which I’m sure will shock Clay and his employer, but there is a part of me that loves her. Other than my empire, mi familia is the only thing that’s important. The other part of me wants her dead when I’m dead, but we’ll work with the good part today. Hmm?” He walked to the SUV’s driver’s side. “Tell Clay I’ll be in touch, or tell Roman Marakov I’ll be in touch when you see him yourself.” Another smile, one that had me tasting bile. “Has Clay told you that his boss considers you his personal asset? If he hasn’t, you can bring that up as well, too.”
He left and I stood there, remembering…
“...mi familia is the only thing that’s important…”
“Sisters, sweetie. She’s your friend that’ll never leave. You’d like a new friend, wouldn’t you? Family is the only thing that’s important.”
It was all coming back to me. All at once. All together.
The memories. They were haunting me, pressing to get out.
My brain was swelling.
They wanted out, out, out.
I couldn’t—my head. It was like a chainsaw was being used on it.
My heart was thumping, so hard, so loud, so strong.
I couldn’t do anything.
Then, arms picked me up and I heard Raize say, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
“This is your new room, sweetheart.”
She opened the door and inside were two beds. A little girl was sitting on one of them, a doll in her hand.
She looked up…
Thump.
...the girl got off the bed and walked toward me.
She held her hand out. “My name is—”
Thump.
“—my name is Ashley. What’s yours?”
64
Raize
Ash was in Roman’s basement, curled up in a corner of a couch, a blanket around her, and having that same pale color she’d been having since I found out Marco could’ve killed her. She was holding a mug of hot tea, her request, and she was staring at no one, talking to no one.
Gus was on her lap, curled in, his head on her stomach and looking up for pets.
Ash wasn’t having it.
After that day, after hearing her screams, a sound that I will never get out of my head, Gus hadn’t moved from her side. He would piss on the floor if she wouldn’t go with him ou
tside. It was that kind of relationship happening right now.
Roman came into the room, seeing Ash, me, and choosing to come to me first.
Good choice.
He stood at my side, looking around the rest of the room. He had his usual men positioned throughout his house, but he’d asked his usual personal blockade of guards to let him have the basement for this event.
He lingered on Gus, whose tail was thumping into Roman’s black leather couch, but moved and took in Jake, Cavers, and Abram, all who were lounging throughout the room.
“This is so very not smart.”
I grunted. That was the most obvious statement of the century.
I gave him a look. “It’s her stipulation. She’s going to talk. This has nothing to do with you or me, but she’s gotta tell someone. She’s going insane.”
“Plan a mafia coup, swoop in to surprise everyone, and what? Invite a detective to your house to let him see that you’re here. This wasn’t in my plan, Raize,” he clipped out.
“You want her to work for you, this is her demand. Her and I have talked and I am not going to let you use her if she decides against it. This was her request. She’s doing it here, where you are, and it’s two fold. You know about it. You know what’s being said. It won’t look like we’re snitching and again, you know what exactly it’s all going to be about. You’re my employer. If we went without you knowing, we both know how that would’ve looked. You control the environment. You control what detective it is. You’re here and this works for you, too. You want to be somewhat legitimate, so you’re going to deal with the authorities. This is a good start to that relationship.”
He grunted, nodding to himself. “Right, because you haven’t been a pain in my ass lately at all. I’m really controlling a whole lot.”
Ash glanced our way, her eyes narrowing and no doubt, just seeing how we were standing. Both with our backs to the walls. Any firearms were supposed to be hidden, not that the Boston detective, whichever one walked through those doors, wouldn’t know they were there. They would know, but after Ash told me enough that she needed to talk about, we both put together this plan.
