Fractured (The Volkov Mafia Series Book 3) (14 page)

“Yeah that works for us. We will be there,” Malc tells Faith.

“Thank you for today, Faith. I’m glad I have you back,” I say to her, not leaving Malc’s embrace – it feels really good to have his arms wrapped around me. Faith nods at me as she heads out of the house, I think she hears the truth in my words, so she doesn’t give me any smart answers back. And just like that a little bit of the weight has been lifted, I just hope that they continue to keep lifting in the coming months. It’s going to be a struggle but I am willing to do whatever it takes.

“So what did you and Faith chat about then, not me I hope?” he says with a smile in his tone. The little grin that is threating to rise up at the corners is showing me his mischievous intent.

Now do I play along or keep him guessing? I do like to see him squirm a little.

“Never you mind,” I say to him playfully, wriggling out of his grasp.

“Oh, so it’s like that is it?” He tries to pin me against the unit caging me in his arms and I can’t help but giggle even louder.

“Yep,” I say between giggles. His smile widens lighting up his whole face.

“I can get it out of you,” he whispers against my lips just as he brings his mouth gently down to meet mine. I close my eyes and meet his kiss knowing full well he can get it out of me; in fact, I am relishing the idea of him trying.

Alekzander

I have been attending classes for a couple of weeks now. It has been really hard but I have strived to do my best to get control over this. I won’t let it beat me, I can’t. I have spoken with my mother a couple of times and she insists that she is well, but missing me dearly. She said that some of my friends came to the apartment to see if I was ok, that they hadn’t seen me around. She told them I was fine and spending time with my brother and his family. She said they didn’t say their names, so I reassured her it was fine and that I knew who it was. I just hope she didn’t say where my brother is.

The evening air is mild as I make my way from the tube station to where the gamblers anonymous meeting is being held. I walk into what used to be an old church. The high ceilings with exposed beams show of its past grandeur, the stone columns that look to be supporting the beams, and the stain glass window right at the back of the room, their bright colours showing that there is light to be found through the darkness. In the center of the room sits the small circle of chairs, Nick, the reformed gambler, sits on his chair waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. I like Nick, he knows what we are going through so he doesn’t talk down to us or make us feel more like shit than we already do. He listens to what we each have to say. We are free to speak as much or as little as we like. The steps he is trying to give us to try and avoid walking into a casino are great, telling yourself that you’re in control and that you don’t need to go inside helps me. I have not made a bet in two weeks and for me that is one hell of an accomplishment. I just have to keep attending and hoping that they don’t come looking for me.

We are all here and ready to begin. Nick makes his introduction and tells us of his journey to stop his addiction. It was one hell of a story – it got so bad that he was taking money away from his wife and kids to go to the casino to gamble it away. He lost his family, his home, and his job. He ended up on the street with nothing but the clothes on his back and a shelter helped him get into accommodation, set him up with a group to attend and after six long hard months his life started to turn around. Five years he has not gambled, not even bought a scratch card. All his hard work has paid off because now he helps others on the road to their own recovery. It’s still not all sunshine and rainbows for him – he sees his kids, but his wife, however supporting she is, won’t risk a relationship with him again. So they remain friends and she supports him in his quest to stay strong and on the ball.

“Hello, everyone. Today we are going to go around the group and have our introductions,” Nick says addressing the whole group. Over the next thirty minutes or so everyone introduces him or herself and gives a brief look into their life.

My turn: “Hello, my name is Alekzander, I am thirty years old and I have a gambling problem.”

“Hello, Alekzander,” the group says collectively. I nod at them indicating that I don’t really want to dive further into it today, I am just reflecting today, taking notes and tips on how to apply what we need to avoid the laptop. The call has been getting stronger these past couple of days but I have immersed myself into working for Damien.

The meeting lasts another forty-five minutes, so once it’s wrapped up I think I am going to go and grab something to eat before I head home. Getting to see that little girl really does lift my spirits, her smile lights up a room, her energy making you forget all about your troubles while you are in her presence.

I find a little café around the corner from the church, walking in I notice it’s very warm and inviting. The wooden tables and chairs all lined up in uniformed rows, the counter at the end showcasing all sorts of cakes and sweets. Sitting down at one of the tables I look over the menu and decide on what I fancy having.

After a few minutes the waitress comes over to take my order. I order a scone and jam with afternoon tea – something light to tide me over until I get home and we it down for dinner later. I know that we have Malc and Cami over for dinner this evening. I don’t really know Cami that well but if she is anything like Faith then I am sure we will get on great. I like Malc, however mean looking he is he does his job well and has the respect and loyalty of my brother. That’s enough for me.

The scone is heavy and bland; nothing like what we have at the house. Faith tells me Lilly makes them by hand and I can say that they are a little slice of heaven whenever I have one.

I have seen Lilly I few times since I have been living with Damien and Faith and the past couple of times she has been nicer to me, not glaring at me with hatred in her eyes. I wouldn’t say we are best buddies but she understands that I am not to blame. So it has made things a little easier at least.

I pay my bill and head out of the café. I walk along the road back to my car. The car park is in the wide open so I can clearly see the hooded figures looming around the car. A feeling of dread forms in the pit of my stomach, the panic consumes me, and how have they found me? I know it’s them, there is no doubt about it.

Oh God, is mother ok? I won’t forgive myself if they have hurt her to find me. There is no running now that they have found me. I walk slowly over to the car, might as well get this over with no one else is going to be hurt because of me. Four heads snap in my direction as they take notice of me and I’m wondering what I should do now. Do I try to run or do I stay and try to fight? I pull out my phone on the way towards the car, I send Damien a quick text to say that I need help and where I am. At least if they don’t get here in time someone will know where to come and find my body at least.

“Alekzander,” one of the men drawls. His thick Russian accent hits me hard, confirming my suspicions they have found me.

“Nikolai, how not nice to see you here. I presume you had a good flight?” I say to him, trying to draw out the inevitable as long as possible.

“It was long, but as I now see was very much worth the time and effort. Now do you have my money, Alekzander?” he snaps at me, his henchmen waiting in the wings for his approval to do whatever they see fit.

“How did you find me? And no I don’t have all of your money I need more time to get it, please,” I say, not above pleading for my life because let’s face it, that’s what I am about to fight for. I feel the gun rubbing against my back, giving me that little boost of confidence. But it won’t matter too much if they decide to pull out theirs, I’m out numbered four to one.

“We have our ways. Have you spoken to your mother since yesterday? She might be a little worse for wear, you know how brutal the cold can be.” I cut him off not wanting to hear anything else about my mother.

“If you’ve hurt her I will make you pay, Nikolai. I don’t care how or when, but mark my words I will make you suffer,” I vent at him, my rage is building. Hurting me is one thing, I owe them, but my mother is innocent in all of this, she doesn’t even know what has been going on all these months.

“And how do you suppose you will do that when you are six feet under? That is what you are going to get. I don’t like thieves, especially ones who try to run. It makes me look weak and I can’t have that now can I?” My blood turns to ice at his words, this is it then, no more stalling for time, I can’t see a way out of this, shit. 

I hear the screeching of tyres coming into the car park, the car suddenly stopping behind me. I don’t dare to turn around for fear of who will be behind me. Will it be more of his men or Damien? Either way I am screwed. If Damien does manage to get me out of this then I will have to come clean and face his wrath and at the moment, I don’t know which would be a worse fate.

“And who would this be, Alekzander?” his tone has a hint of hesitancy in it.
Blyad Damien.
I didn’t think he would be this quick but when you only live around the corner from the church car park then I suppose it would only take them minutes to jump into the car and get here as fast as they could. I turn slightly so I can see the car behind me and I watch as the impressive form of my brother steps out of the driver’s side, then I snap my eyes across to the passenger side and out steps Malc. Shit, he puts me and Damien to shame. He is huge and he is all muscles and raw power, he doesn’t need to bring a knife to a gun fight, all he has to bring are his fists.  

“Ahh well that would be my brother, Damien Volkov. Perhaps you have heard of him, Ivan? He is head of the Volkov family and that beast at the side of him would be his number one, Malc,” my tone is brave and sarcastic to say the least, the odds have been evened up a little, and four on three is a lot better.

“Alek, what’s going on?” my brother’s voice booms across the open space, every bit of the hard ass mafia boss he is.

“He owes me money and I’m here to collect,” Ivan answers my brother’s question.

“Shut the fuck up. When I want you to speak I will ask you. I was talking to my fucking brother, now either shut up or you won’t walk out of this car park under your own steam. Right now your odds are dwindling the more you speak.” I cringe at his tone. Fuck, I am in more shit than I thought with him, I know he will not lose face and he will make them go away for threating me, but it won’t be without repercussions to me. I suppose now is a good a time as any to come clean.

“He is right. I owe him money. He has tracked me down from Russia.” My voice is quiet as I tell him, even though I am a little older he is the boss in this world and I am lucky to even be a blip on his radar. The warm safe environment he has let me into with his family is disappearing, with the cold hard look that is descending upon his face.

“How dare you talk to me like that. Do you know who I am?” Ivan says, his tone showing his anger at being disregarded. Damien gives a little snigger at his words, showing he is unaffected, he doesn’t even respond to his statement. Giving him the highest insult that he really doesn’t care who the hell he is. Ivan seethes at Damien’s blatant disregard of him. With a nod of his head his three men move in to attack us. Malc moves in front of me to head off the attack and Damien is right beside me. With the quick flurry of movement, they are upon us.

Fists fly from all men. Malc is taking on two men; his arms powering into their heads, arms, torsos, he ducks, punches, aiming at his body, steps back as one swings for his face. I quickly realise that while watching him fight I am distracted and before I can respond I am knocked to the ground. Ivan’s repeated kicks to my stomach prevent me from getting back up, I am laying on the floor while he gets the bloody better of me. I try my hardest to stand but each swift kick just plants me back on the ground. 

I hear a grunt and the kicking stops briefly. As I stand to my feet I see Damien over Ivan’s body, swinging punch after punch into his face. I run across to help but see that I am not needed, Damien has it under control. Spinning round I see Malc still keeping the other two at bay, I get a couple of punches in and distract one of them long enough for them to turn on me. The fighting seems to last forever, everything happening in slow motion. The other man that Damien knocked out rouses and staggers across holding his head, trying to regain his composure, his arms swinging profusely in the air trying to hit anything they can. It’s then I notice the glimmer of the blade in the darkening light.

“Malcolm!” I bellow at him, trying to gain his attention above the noise of fighting. The sound of flesh hitting flesh isn’t quiet with the force of the blows, the heavy breathing from exertion, and the shouts of pain as bodies break.

He spins around but doesn’t see the knife coming towards him until it’s too late. The hiss of his voice as the steel slices through his upper arm, is pained. I run over not thinking, jumping the goon with the knife I hit the back of his head a couple of times as I cling to his body trying to take him to the ground. His weight falters and we fall into a heap on the floor. My arms lose their grip from around him, and he gains the advantage pinning me down on the ground, the thrust of the knife doesn’t miss, his aim gets me right in the side of the chest and I scream. The weight leaves me, the knife pulled from my side, the flow of blood seems quick and I feel the air leaving my body. I’m trying hard to gulp in as much air as I can, the flashes of light in front of my eyes, tell me I’m not long for this world.

“Damien,” I shout through my gurgled voice, trying to draw his attention. In an instant I feel pressure against my side, I try to turn my head hoping that they have not come to attack me again.

“Alek, Alek, hang on. Don’t you dare give up, help is on the way, just stay with me.” He sounds panicked, the emotion pouring into his voice, gone is the mask and in its place is concern.