Ivan Read online

  Ivan

  The Valisk Mafia Family

  Book 2

  Roxanne Greening

  Prologue

  Ivan

  Five and a half years ago…

  My body ached, but I refused to budge. I made it through basic training, so this should’ve been a walk in the park. But, it wasn’t sniper training, and it was more grueling. I needed this, and I sure as fuck wasn’t turning back. The ground was hard, and I’ve been here for hours. I was under the hot sun and had the camo blanket for coverage.

  I would never admit it to anyone, but I was running. Running from the family, and from her, Layla Hopewell. Her sweet nature gutted me. She tore her way inside of me and became a part of me.

  “Three clicks to the right, man,” Donny’s voice penetrated my Layla fog.

  She was too good for me, and I needed to remember that. Adjusting the shot, I took a breath, and as I released it, I pulled the trigger. The target bounced back slightly as the bullet hit dead center.

  “Fuck man, only a few more days of this, and it’s over,” Donny said.

  Donny was my partner, the one who was with me while we did our tours. I needed to put the past in the past. That’s where she belonged. She wanted a marriage and a family. It was something that I couldn’t give her, not while Michael ran the family.

  Her heartbroken face flashed in my mind. The day I told her it was over ripped what was left of my soul from my body. We were high school sweethearts. When I turned twenty and watched the shit Michael did, it had me reevaluate everything.

  I took so many lives, and watched Michael, destroy more. The things he did made my skin crawl. I turned and looked at Donny, who was once again scanning for the next mark. The heatwave was something I needed to get used to. Soon, I would be in a desert landscape inhaling sand.

  “Two clicks to the right man,” Donny announced.

  I once again lined up and took the shot. This time, I almost missed it. I needed to pull her from my mind and focus on passing this fucking test.

  “Shit, that was close,” Donny said sounding every bit as relieved as I did.

  Donny kept talking, and I just grunted here and there in agreement. Layla Hopewell was like a disease that infested my blood. I wasn’t sure I could ever really let her go.

  Chapter 1

  Layla

  Present day….

  The class was focused on the craft of building gingerbread houses. All the frosting and gumdrops scattered across the little desks.

  Jimmy's, partial toothless grin was accompanied by a handful of the sugary confection.

  "Jimmy, what have I told you about eating the decorations?" I ask him.

  Jimmy, shrugged his little shoulders and went back to his masterpiece. I wanted to be mad, but his sweet round face made it difficult.

  I loved teaching kindergarten. Not only was it full of learning but it was also full of fun little adventures.

  I helped the kids with their fine motor skills as well as their imagination. This was truly a rewarding job, and the pay was nonexistent, but the time spent here was well worth it.

  "Daniella, that is a beautiful gingerbread house," I told her.

  It looked like it was a picture from a box. This girl seemed to have a knack for creating.

  "Miss. Hopewell?" I turned and looked at Isabella.

  "Yes?" I asked.

  "I need to go to the nurse. My tummy is, ah hurting me." Isabella said.

  Sighing, I fought a smile. She had too many sweets.

  "Okay, go on down but don't dilly dally," I told her.

  She gave me a hard nod and rushed from the room.

  As the day progressed and came to an end, the room had slowly been put back together. All the little houses sat on the window sill, slowly drying.

  Walking to my car, I enjoyed the silence after a long day of sugared up children. Even though the day was hectic, I still loved every messy moment.

  I realized that I forgot to take out something for dinner and had to stop by the local meat market. I tried to buy local, something I prided myself on.

  As I walked into the store, the bell jingled causing Luke to straighten behind the counter. Today he had a strained smile on his face something I wasn't accustomed to.

  Normally he greeted me with a big smile. Guessing he probably had a rough day I looked at the display without a word.

  The chicken coated in some maple BBQ sauce looked divine.

  "Can I have one of those?" I asked.

  I pointed without touching the glass to the yummy looking chicken.

  "Of course, Layla," Luke, replied.

  I smiled sweetly at him and watched as he packaged a generous piece. I was so focused on Luke that I didn't notice the man who came out from the back.

  I looked at him and felt a chill dance down my back. He looked terrifying, with dark eyes and dark hair.

  His eyes coasted along my body forcing a feeling that was almost foreign to me, disgust. It was something I rarely felt.

  "Such a beautiful woman. Have dinner with me?" He didn’t sound like he was asking.

  I was already shaking my head. My eyes darted back to Luke who quickly handed me my chicken and gave a subtle head nod towards the door.

  "I'm sorry, but I really must be going," I said quickly.

  I didn't wait for a response and rushed from the quiet room. My body shook and siged with relief as I climbed into my red Honda Civic, and turned the key in the ignition.

  I turned my head and caught the terrifying man’s eye. He was standing in the doorway watching me as I pulled out onto the road. An ominous feeling overshadowed me as I headed home. It didn't leave even in my sleep.

  Chapter 2

  Ivan

  The stiffness settled in days ago as I haven’t moved from my post in days. The curse of being a sniper was that you were stuck in one place for however long you needed to be.

  “Four clicks to the left man,” Donny’s, voice sounded just as tired as I felt.

  We’ve been up here for over a week with no sleep. Soon we would need to bug out and get some rest. This was our fourth tour together, each one lasted fifteen months.

  Lining up the shot I took a deep breath as I slowly released it and pulled the trigger. The rifle jerked back into my shoulder slightly, something I was accustom to. Just as it reached its target, a rusted blue car came out from around the corner about seven hundred feet out.

  “Dude, that’s a bomber. I bet my left fucking nut,” Donny, broke the silence with his over exaggerated tone.

  “I don’t want your nut, man. Keep that shit to yourself.” I told him with a laugh.

  Donny. laughed slightly. I followed the car with my scope. The closer it came to the troops, the more my finger twitched. I wanted to take the shot, but I needed to be positive.

  “Take the fucking shot, man,” Donny demanded.

  Taking another deep breath, I focused on the driver and pressed the trigger. His head jerked to the side as the car swerved. One of the men stood to give us a random thumbs up, acknowledging my kill. Then he launched a grenade at the car as it slammed into an already burning vehicle.

  I watched over them, that was a part of my job. The men had to go to places they weren’t sure they would walk out of. My job was to give them some comfort, some relief.

  Then, the car exploded. The explosion was louder and larger than it should have been with just a grenade. It told me that it was loaded with explosives. Another stupid fucker willing to die for some prick.

  “Fuck man, that was close,” Donny said.

  Donny, was right it was close, and that shit was on me.

  “Two clicks to the right,” he announced.

  Adjusting my scope, I looked and saw another group. They were armed
and headed for a building. If I didn’t take them out now, soldiers could walk blindly into a trap. Aiming for the first of three I took the shot, and quickly took the other two out.

  “It’s time to head back to base,” I told him.

  Donny, nodded in response.

  “Yeah, I see Colt, five clicks to the right. He’s in position,” Donny, said.

  Thank fuck, another snipper to cover this group. Sleep was screaming my name.

  Chapter 3

  Layla

  I knew the moment my mother called me and said that I needed to come for dinner. She had an ulterior motive. I loved my mother, but she never did anything from the bottom of her heart.

  The red and gold wallpaper was adorned with paintings, and the cherry table had a vase of flowers. Always in the same spot, and it had me sighing.

  My childhood home hasn’t changed. The marble tiled floor and all-around emptiness of the hallway had my shoes echoing as I made my way in.

  She was waiting for me, and as soon as the door closed, she started talking.

  “You will marry Mr. O’Sullivan,” she demanded. There was no hellos, no how are yous.

  “I will not marry him,” my voice was firm. Showing her a bravado that I hadn’t felt.

  Once again, we were having this conversation. I have told her over the phone, more than once, that I wasn’t going to marry that horribly, terrifying man.

  My family needed the social standing that he offered, and I was what he wanted in return. It was never going to happen. He disgusted me. I wanted freedom, I wanted to marry a man who loved me, not a man who wanted a trophy wife.

  I wanted Ivan. I needed him even though he told me it was over. He even went as far as joining the army and going overseas. I still wanted him.

  The pain hit me before I knew what happened. My mother’s angry face stared back at me as she lowered her hand. She hit me.

  “How dare you?” I asked her, my voice full of shock.

  Anger replaced the shock. She has never hit me before, but I was determined to never marry that horrible man.

  I wish I could go back in time, and never enter the meat shop. It took two weeks before he had finally hunted me down.

  Apparently, he decided to ask my parents for my hand. I’ve only met the man once. What I remembered had waves of ominous fear surrounding me.

  I haven’t dated, I haven’t even really looked at another man, since Ivan. Two days after he broke my heart he had joined the army. Effectively leaving me with no answers.

  My heart would always belong to him. People told me you didn’t find the one meant to be yours when you’re a teen, but I had found mine. Ivan was my other half. The one who completed me.

  My heart lurched in my chest like it always did when I thought of him. I tried to think of memories of happier times.

  Fighting them back I focused on my mom.

  “I need to go,” I told her.

  “Layla Hopewell! You are not to step out that door! Do you hear me young lady!?” she demanded.

  For the first time, I wanted to tell her to fuck off. But, I didn’t. Instead, I turned from her and opened the door I had entered only moments ago.

  Thoughts of Ivan made me stronger. My feet pressed hard into the stone steps as I stomped to my car.

  It was always about them. My parents only had me to further their social life. I was literally a placement in their lives.

  Signing at the pathetic story I called my life, I climbed into my car. Quickly starting it, I slowly continued around the horseshoe-shaped driveway.

  “I miss you, Ivan,” I whispered to no one.

  Kell gave me updates, and it’s been some time since I’ve heard from him. Coming to a complete stop, I closed my eyes.

  I feared it was going to be bad news. News that he was never coming home.

  A small sob choked me. No! I believed in him. I knew he would survive, no matter what. Opening my eyes, I once again started the journey home. To my empty house, a model of my empty life.

  Chapter 4

  Ivan

  Instead of bombs and targets, I dreamt of Layla. She was consuming my thoughts. Slowly, I dragged myself back into the past and back to her.

  I remember the moment I ended it with her, the moment I told her the truth. At least the truth I wanted her to believe.

  She knew what I was, and what I did, and she loved me anyway. I was a killer. She didn’t bat an eye the day she found out I was in the Mafia.

  Four years later, and I told her I no longer wanted her. The look of devastation haunted me like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

  “I can’t pretend anymore, Layla. It’s over. Move on,” I told her in my firm voice leaving no room for doubt.

  Her beautiful brown eyes had become wide as I tore the heart from both our chests. The wind had blown her long dark hair over her face, blocking it from my view. I watched as her hand tugged the strands down behind her ear. Turning I walked away from her and my life.

  My chest rippled with pain the more space I put between us. My lungs hurt as I took deep breaths trying to keep my cool when I wanted nothing more than to run back to her and beg her for another chance.

  The solution was joining the army after the war started getting me overseas quickly. Away from temptation, away from Layla.

  She whispered to me. Telling me how much she loved me, and how much she wanted to be mine forever.

  My throat felt dry, and sand from the vast desert coated my tongue. The heat giving the world a slight blurry appearance.

  “Come on man tell me more about her,” Donny, begged

  Donny, always asked about Layla, I’ve given little tidbits of information over the last five or so years. Nothing big and nothing elaborate

  “No,” I say.

  “What were you thinking walking away?” Donny, asked again for the fucking millionth time.

  I thought she would be safer. That my life wouldn’t consume her if she weren’t in it. Layla, had a chance at a better life without my darkness clouding it.

  Her beautiful golden tan face flashed behind my eyes. Quickly blinking it away I scan the surrounding area through my scope.

  “Jen left me, man,” Donny, announced.

  Pity. I felt pity for Donny. Jen, was his soon to be wife the day we headed for this hell hole he dropped to one knee and asked her to let him love her forever.

  I always thought I would propose to Layla, that she would be my wife, and we would have kids. A fantasy that belonged to the past.

  “I didn’t know I’m sorry man,” I tell him.

  Donny, nodded gravely.

  “She met someone else and waiting a few more weeks for me was just too much,” Donny, said the bitterness was loud and clear.

  We were almost finished only a few more weeks until we see the pine trees and feel the cool air of New England.

  “What a bitch,” the words were out before I thought them through.

  “Tell me about Layla, the perfect.” He asked.

  I laugh slightly, but it wasn’t a happy one.

  “She probably moved on has a bunch of kids,” I told him quietly.

  That shit was a lie. Kell, kept me updated on her everyday life. She went to college and became a grade school teacher.

  The only thing he wasn’t positive about was her dating life it seemed nonexistent. There was no way she stayed single I know she loved me, but it’s been over five years.

  “Layla is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met,” I stated.

  “She didn’t want to wait?” he asked.

  “She would have waited forever, Donny, but I chose to walk away from her. Joining the army was to make sure it would stick,” I said.

  Her picture felt heavy in my pocket. Letting her go was something I should have been able to do, but she latched on and hasn’t let go.

  Closing my eyes, I let her beautiful face surface before I pushed it away, and returned to the hell I was living in.

  “You need to settle d
own man. After all this, a good woman will be the only thing you will need,” he tells me.

  Donny, had a different view then I did. When this was over, I was going home to the family. Home to more darkness, and more death.

  Something I’ve perfected here. Funny how my family made me a perfect killer, but the army molded me into a machine killing without remorse.

  Chapter 5

  Layla

  Kell, said it was almost time for Ivan to come home. My heart leaped in my chest at the thought of seeing his handsome face.

  I kept thinking about his blue eyes, dark hair, perfect chin, and golden sun-kissed skin. My body tightened as my brain screamed.

  He didn’t want me, wake up Layla. It’s over, has been for years, and he never once tried to contact me. Also, Kell, never said anything about him asking about me.

  When he walked away, he pulled half of me with him. It ripped me in two and left me cold, and bereft. I was lost moving through life as half a person.

  “Mrs. Hopewell?” I looked down at Johnny and smiled, even though I wanted nothing more than to cry.

  “Yes?” I asked.

  “Tony keeps eating the glue,” he tells me.

  Sighing, I looked at Tony’s desk, and sure enough, he was sucking on the orange cap of Elmer’s glue. Thank goodness it was non-toxic.

  “Tony, we had a talk about this already. Please stop eating all the supplies,” I told him firmly.

  He shrugged his little shoulders and set the bottle back on the table. If only everything in life was that easy. As the lunch bell rung, I slumped slightly in my chair.

  It was my free period, and I wanted to call Kell, again. I know I shouldn’t, but I needed an update. Anything would do.

  Before I could talk myself out of it, I pulled my cell phone from the desk drawer. Three missed calls from mom, and one from Kell.

  My heart sunk in my chest since I always call him. Never the other way around. Gripping the little device harder, I hit Kell’s number, and lift the phone to my ear. As it rang my stomach twisted as fear rose within.

  “Layla?” Kell, asked.

  Taking a deep breath, I mummer.

  “Yes?”