Ivan Read online

  It was a question like I wasn’t sure it was me. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

  “Listen to me very closely. My brother is dead, and Ivan is home,” he said.

  My stomach shrunk as it sunk. He was home early… did that mean… was he...?

  “Shit he’s fine, I guess I should have started with that. I need him here, not off in Layla land,” He said.

  My heart twisted as my chest sunk in. I felt relief and took big gulps of air before I spoke.

  “Why can’t I see him?” I asked.

  “Shit just went down sweetheart, and I need him here,” he responds.

  The words Michael, was dead, finally sunk in.

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Kell,” I whispered.

  “Don’t worry about it Layla, just steer clear okay?”

  He responded.

  I nodded then laughed as I realized he can’t see my head move.

  “Yeah, I understand,” I told him quietly.

  And I did. They were mafia, and this was going to be a shit storm. Besides, what was I going to say to him? I wanted to know how he got out early, but I was too afraid to ask.

  The phone went silent, and I knew the conversation was over. I couldn’t get what happened out of my head. Was he wounded?

  Chapter 6

  Ivan

  The world went from quiet to gunfire exploding around us. The dirt was stirred up as bullets landed closer and closer to us.

  I turned and yelled, “move Donny!”

  I watched as his head tilted back then he flopped to his side. His eyes looked lifeless. I reached for him and threw him over my shoulder as more bullets rained down on us.

  I couldn’t and wouldn’t leave him behind. He was my brother. I grabbed my gun and ran. There was no cover, and the bullets were getting closer to their target.

  Finding a burned-out car, I hid behind it, and slowly lower Donny to the ground. Climbing into the backseat, I set my gun down and lined it up.

  I looked around searching for the shooter. Taking a deep breath, I pulled the trigger and watched as he fell from a rooftop. Scanning, I looked for more and didn’t find any.

  I climbed out of the vehicle and called it in.

  “Man down. Need evac.” I shouted into the army issued phone.

  I gave them our coordinates and sat down next to Donny. I waited for the chopper to come and get us. I knew what was going to happen next.

  I was going to be discharged honorably, but it was three weeks earlier than the original plan. I was going home. It was time to rejoin the family.

  The killing wouldn’t stop here, and for the first time, I was looking forward to it.

  Chapter 7

  Ivan

  Welcome home! I laughed to myself as this was my little party. Sighing, I leaned forward and continued to wrap the bodies in plastic as Kell slowly killed them, one by one. There was going to be a mass grave for them.

  I’ve been home a week and in this house for one day. These men were family, but they followed Michael. I enjoyed every moment of this party. I especially enjoyed dragging them away.

  The way they begged was comical. You would think, after seeing ten dead bodies, they would realize there was no saving themselves.

  “Please, Kell,” one of them begged.

  “Look at you beg. How many begged while you laughed?” Kell asked.

  His eyes were full of fear and grew bigger.

  “I’m not my brother, and the shit he did is over.” Kell’s, voice had gone ice cold as he said those words.

  “I can change,” he tried again.

  “No. Some diseases can be cured. You? You’re like fucking cancer, there is no saving you,” Kell, growled.

  Turning, he looked at me, and then the bodies behind me.

  “Ivan,” Kell, called out.

  Nodding, I started to drag them away. Before I left the room, Kell, looked at the man on his knees.

  “Anything else to say?” he asked.

  “I… I don’t want to die,” he replied weakly.

  “And neither did all those women, but they did and so will you,” Kell, tells him darkly.

  I turned the corner, and the sound of a gunshot echoed through the hall and the room behind me. Another body for me to haul away.

  Walking through the open doorway. I took a deep breath of fresh air. Death had a stench, even new death. Taking a few more steps, I leaned forward and dumped the heavy bastard into the truck before walking back into the room. As soon as the door to the outside closed behind me, my phone dinged telling me I received a text.

  Darian’s, at the bar.

  “Kell,” I called out with a smile.

  He turned and looked at me.

  “Darian, went to the bar,” I said.

  We finally had a location on his brother’s second in command.

  “Guess we’re going out. Have someone else clean this shit up,” Kell, said.

  Nodding, I headed in the direction that I was sure Jacob, went. I was about to make his night a whole lot better. The thought had me smiling.

  He had bodies to load and a big hole to dig. Poor bastard.

  Chapter 8

  Layla

  Grocery shopping was supposed to be about food, and all the relaxing nights I would spend cooking all this delicious stuff.

  That was until I walked into him. The man who wanted to marry me. Anger and fear warred within me as he slowly cornered me in the meat department.

  My heart started to race as my palms started to sweat. I scanned the white and red checkered floor and aisles looking for help, but there was no one in sight.

  He closed the space between us. His eyes were dark and full of anger. Swallowing, I tried not to blink. I couldn’t look away, not even to save myself.

  When he finally reached me, it felt like hours later but, it was really only a couple of seconds. His chest was maybe a foot in front of mine, and I tried hard not to inhale too deeply.

  The air seemed thicker all of a sudden. Was it hot in here? The wall’s closing in?

  “Layla,” Mr. O’Sullivan, said.

  The way he said my name had my skin crawling, and my mind screaming for me to run.

  “Jacob,” I replied.

  I learned his name from my mom, Jacob O’Sullivan. Just the thought of his name made me feel dirty and had my body shaking slightly.

  “Ah, sweetheart. I love to hear my name leave those beautiful lips.” Jacob said huskily.

  I resisted the need to cover my mouth with my hands.

  “You’re mine, Layla,” he told me.

  My head shook side to side even though I tried to stop it, it just kept going. The world blurred slightly as it moved faster and faster.

  “No?” He asked.

  His fingers grabbed my cheeks with a biting grip. He started to squeeze slowly. He kept squeezing them harder and forced my lips to form a fish mouth. Tears of pain and fear filled my eyes.

  “You will be my wife!” He all but shouted in my face.

  My eyes closed tightly as the tears that I had been trying to fight, leaked out.

  My head tried to shake in the no motion again, and my brain screamed to stay still and not to move. Like an animal being hunted, I was his prey, and every molecule knew it.

  “Do you understand me, Layla?” He asked.

  I wanted to nod, but I just stood there. My eyes were closed tightly as I begged, for someone to come along, anyone to interrupt what was happening to me.

  “Now, go get your groceries, and then tell your mama that there will be a wedding to plan,” he said firmly.

  He didn’t wait for me to answer and honestly, I was afraid of what I might say. When I felt the warmth return to my body and the feeling return to my cheeks, I opened my eyes to find the aisle in front of me empty, again.

  If not for the discomfort on my face, I would have believed it was all a figment of my imagination. Rubbing my cheeks, I tried to stop the constant flow of tears.

  Chapter
9

  Ivan

  I walked into the bar behind Kell and scanned the room to find our missing target. The room was loud, and people were talking over each other causing a dull humming noise in the background. There was also a stench of alcohol and smoke that perfumed the air.

  Slight disappointment took over. All the excitement of finding Darian, and it ended with the shit being gone. I was soon ready to head out.

  Kell, locked on to the beauty at the bar drinking and flirting with the bartender. I watched as he walked over to her. What little hope remained was crushed when he opened his mouth.

  “Little sweetheart, what are you doing here?” Kell, asked.

  He was laying it on pretty damn thick.

  “Working and you?” she replied.

  I wanted to laugh.

  “Working?” Disgust dripped from Kell’s, voice.

  “Yeah, and not like that, you sick fuck,” She replied coldly.

  His eyes crinkled around the edges as she put him in his place.

  “Thank fuck,” Kell’s, voice went from disgust to full of desire. I almost felt the whiplash from the quick change.

  “I need a drink, and it seems you have people wetting themselves. So, if you don’t mind, please move the fuck along,” She told him.

  She stood up to him, and for the first time in a long time, I felt amusement. Kell, just laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked.

  She was irritated, and it was loud and clear in her voice, and in the way she shifted in her seat.

  “Nothing. What’s your name?” He asked her.

  “Texas,” she replied.

  The venom that leaked from her voice was almost as poisonous as a cobra.

  “Texas. Real fucking funny. What’s your name?” Kell asked again.

  “It’s fucking Texas, you prick,” she replied darkly.

  “The lady needs a drink,” Kell, announced.

  “Don’t you want to know my name?” He asked.

  “Why? You’re not worth the memory,” She replied, and I fought the laugh that wanted to escape from her reply.

  “I like you, Texas,” he tells her.

  “And that’s supposed to make me what? Drop to my knees and beg you to let me suck your dick? Beg you to pet me and tell me how sweet I am? Not happening,” She said.

  She looked around the dingy bar.

  “You really know how to clear a room,” She said when her eyes returned to his face.

  “I would say it's nice meeting you, but we both know that would be a lie.”

  “You’re not going anywhere, Texas,” Kell, told her firmly.

  “What the fuck do you want?” She asked in frustration.

  “Why are you here?” He asked.

  “Drinking, or at least I was until you scared away the natives,” she replied.

  “They should run,” he tells her.

  “You are such a cocky bastard,” she replied back.

  Again, I fought the laugh. He was getting his ass raked over the coals. His pretty face was not getting him what he wanted. It was well worth standing on this filthy floor to watch.

  “Oh, little sweetheart, you have no idea,” he said.

  “You really should move along, I’m not going to fuck you,” she tells him coldly.

  I laugh quietly to myself.

  “Challenge accepted,” Kell, then said.

  “That wasn’t a challenge,” She quickly replied.

  “I’m going to fuck you,” he tells her quietly.

  “Get the fuck out,” Kell’s, voice was cold, and I watched as the bartender scrambled.

  I didn’t need to be told to leave, I knew what was about to happen. Following the bartender out of the room, I fought to forget Layla and all the things I wished I could do to her body.

  She wanted to wait until I married her. It was something I was okay with back then, but now that it was over, and she was gone, I wished I convinced her otherwise.

  Looking around the storage room, I tried to clear my mind. All the screams and moans coming from the other room had my dick hardening.

  But instead of Texas’s, voice, I heard Layla’s. I pictured Layla, spread out in front of me begging. Fuck! This was going to be a long fucking night.

  Chapter 10

  Ivan

  He sent me out to look for the girl from the bar. I’ve been out here for two days searching for hours, and I have to admit she was good. The ringing of my phone had me pause outside of a run-down house that’s been empty since before I was a teen.

  “Ivan?” Kell asked.

  “Da?” (yes) I responded.

  ‘We need to meet the buyers,” he informed me.

  “I’m coming,” I replied.

  “Have you found her?” He asked.

  “Nyet, (No)” I told him

  “Fuck!” he shouted.

  “She is still elusive. Are you sure you need me?” I asked.

  “Yes, we need to put the rest of the plan in motion. I want all of these bastard’s dead,” he replied.

  “Da,” I couldn’t agree more.

  I turned and looked at the shack, and fought the urge to go look inside. A small trip down memory lane. Layla, and I use to hide out here talking. Sighing, I turned back to my car. I had shit to do and people to kill. I needed to put her back in the past, for now.

  Chapter 11

  Ivan

  Looking around the warehouse, I took in the well-dressed men. All of them were filthy on the inside, and every one of them needed to die. I fought the urge to put some bullets in a few needed places and looked around the room again.

  “Where’s Michael?” A balding man asked, his tone was angry.

  “He was a little laid up if you know what I mean. I’ll be taking care of things today,” Kell, sounded amused.

  “Is that the merchandise?” Again, the balding man was the one to speak.

  “Da,” Kell, answered

  Kell, was trying to hide the merit in his voice and was only partially succeeding.

  “Fucking Russians,” the bald man mumbled the words, but I heard him. I was going to love watching him bleed out.

  “Come, let’s have a look,” Kell, told him.

  Kell started towards the truck, and I stayed right on his heels. Close enough to cover him, if needed.

  “Would you do the honors?” Kell’s, voice was full of happiness.

  “Of course,” the bald man replied.

  I watched in amusement as the bald man puffed up like a peacock. I watched as he slowly lifted the door to the delivery truck.

  “What is the meaning of this?” The bald man asked.

  He was scared, I could smell it on him.

  “Business is over,” Kell’s, voice was cold as he reached for the gun that I held out for him.

  “I want one man from each buyer to raise their hands,” Kell, demanded.

  Hands quickly rose.

  “Step to the side. Next, I want the bosses to join the others. Ivan?” Kell, continued.

  Walking over to the four bosses I stood there with both of my hands holding guns. They pointed at the four men cowering. I listened as the men poured from the truck.

  The sound of gun fire crackled through the air, and bodies started dropping to the concrete floor beneath their feet. Blood slowly spread.

  “Dig a hole and drop them all in it,” Kell’s, voice was ice cold. The men scrambled and started dragging the bodies away.

  “Now, I have some cages that need to be filled, and a room that’s a little too empty,” Kell, tells them all.

  I wasn’t surprised when I heard whimpers.

  Chapter 12

  Layla

  My house was dark and silent as I walked in. The paper bags crumpled as I shifted to close the door behind me. Could things get any worse?

  My life was so... empty and lonely. Watching him walk away did something to me. Only a few friends lasted, after that no matter how much I pushed, they stuck around.

  Walking i
nto the kitchen, I set the bags on the little round table. The dark top made the lighter bags stand out. I thought about dating, and Lesley, had once tried to set me up on a blind date. I just couldn’t bring myself to go.

  He wasn’t nor will he ever be Ivan. Reaching into the bag, I pulled the individual frozen dinners out. It was sad to see such an assortment.

  Placing them in the freezer, I returned to the bags and pulled out the steaks, and chicken. I needed to portion them into individual pieces. Reaching into the cabinet, I pulled out my food saver.

  I tore into the thin wrapper which covered the chicken. I sighed as the slimy feeling of the meat touched my fingers.

  I placed each piece individually into the vacuum seal bags and set them aside until everything was in their respective bags. I then plugged in the food saver and slowly, one by one vacuumed out the air and sealed the bags closed.

  It really hit home how lonely I really was. I had no one. Who would I tell about the man who thought he owned me? Lesley? She would be gung-ho in her need to defend me, and all she would do is get herself killed.

  I knew his type, and Ivan, lived that life. He screamed Mafia.

  Chapter 13

  Ivan

  The screams of the men I was helping to cut into was followed by laughter. Kell, was enjoying this. I couldn’t really blame him. His fucked-up family was involved in human trafficking. After his brother’s death, he started cleaning house.

  The men we captured from the warehouse were involved with buying all the victims. They were now in cages, just like all the woman they maliciously tortured.

  I knew they could hear the screams, and it had a smile spread across my face. Slowly, I placed the scalpel to the back of his ear and pressed down. Blood welled and streamed down his neck.

  Applying more pressure, I watched as the ear slowly separated from his head.

  “Please,” his voice was painfilled as he continued to plead.

  “Nothing you say will change what I’m doing,” I said.

  That was the truth. I fucking enjoyed removing parts of his body. I revealed in cutting into his flesh.

  “I know things,” he blurted out.

  “I know, and you will tell me everything,” I informed him.