Fractured (The Volkov Mafia Series Book 3) (18 page)

I gently pull out of her and lower her to the shower floor, getting the shower gel I soap her up, washing her body gently.

“I hope it takes, Cami. I would have a dozen kids with you,” I say, then I gently lean down to take her in a passionate kiss.

She is laying on her side in bed – the quilt only showing her neck. I have dressed and have my bag at the door ready to go. I take one last look at her.

“I love you, Camilla,” I say as I head out of the bedroom ready to depart with the others.

Malc

We land in Russia, well, Moscow to be precise and I feel the light chill in the air as soon as we exit the plane. We make our way to the cars waiting for us, the black SUVs don’t scream inconspicuous, they say, ‘I am large and in charge’. Damien leads the way and the five men load up into both vehicles.

Arriving at the hotel it’s the same one we stayed at last time. You have to hand it to him, having money really does mean getting what you want. We are not camped out in some shit backstreet hotel all sharing one room trying to stay low.

Damien has planned this down to a T, he even has a fake business meeting scheduled for tomorrow so for all intents purposes we are only here on business. Well, that’s what the authorities will see if they find anything that could tie the upcoming massacre to Damien, which we know they won’t. Damien knows how to cover his tracks – he has been in charge long enough to know that you don’t get caught, you pay who you have to, you demand silence, or you take them out if they don’t play ball.

The room looks just the same as the last one. I have a room and so do Damien and Anton, the other guys are in the suite next door so they are on hand if we need them for whatever reason. The plan is simple: get in, blow up the bad guys. Simple.

My dad isn’t back from his latest mission yet. Today is his last day to gather whatever information he thinks will help us tomorrow.

I drop my bags at the foot of the bed not even bothering to unpack because I’m hoping that we won’t be here that long. I sit on the bed and pull out my phone; I quickly type a message to Camilla, letting her know that we have arrived safe.

Me: Arrived safely, missing you both already x.

Her reply comes instantly.

Camilla: Ok, stay safe. I need you to come home x.

With each word I strengthen my resolve to make it back to my girl. I fire off a quick reply not wanting to make a promise I can’t keep.

Me: I will never willingly leave you x.

It’s all I can say. Her response comes a little slower this time and all it has is a kiss – only an acknowledgment of what I said. It cuts deep knowing that she is at home and suffering. I hate that I’m not there to calm her down or to bring her out of her thoughts but this is something that needs to be done in order for me to get out. I want that life with her where we are not always going to be looking over our shoulders, I want to be able to watch my son grow.

I rub my hands over my face – the distressing thoughts are troubling to say the least, but I need to focus on the coming days. I need to try and put my worries over Camilla out of my mind because if I don’t I probably won’t make it home to her. I need to go and talk with Damien and I need to be sure we are ok. I have hardly spoken two words to him this past week so I leave my room and go in search of Damien.

He is sat at the table in the dining room of the suite. The amber liquid in his hand says that he is worrying – he is swirling the glass around then lifting it to his lips and swallowing the drink whole, picking up the decanter he pours another and repeats the process.

“You’re not the only one who is worried, Malc,” he says, sensing my presence without even turning around. I walk into the room and take a seat beside him at the opulent dining table. The plush fabric of the chairs has a regal charm to it and the deep polished mahogany of the table is so perfectly pristine you can see your own reflection in the shine.

“I know. I’m glad Alek is going to be ok and I am sorry for his loss. What would you do if it was Faith? You would do anything in your power to make her happy, to ease any heartache she feels and you know it. Look, what you did to Jake,”  I say with as much sincerity in my voice as I can. I don’t want to rile him up but he needs to know this isn’t a passing flimsy, that I’m not throwing everything away for nothing. She is my fucking wife and the only way he will understand is if I bring up his feelings for Faith because that girl brought him to his knees. She changed him and made him softer for her, made him feel again. After losing his sister something broke inside of him and he was never the same until Faith, he has his family to protect, but he needs to understand that I have mine to protect too.

“I get it, Malc, I do. But it doesn’t mean I’m not pissed. I gave you an out and you took it with no hesitation. What does that say for our friendship? After all these years you are just willing to walk away from us not just the work side, but the family side. How was I supposed to accept that? I didn’t want to accept it.” His tone is full of pain and loss and the mood in the room is somber. What can I say to that? I didn’t even think about the impact walking away would have on our friendship, I just wanted to quit the work. Is that really what Camilla is expecting me to do just give up everything I am, everything I have become? This family has helped to shape the man she fell in love with.

“You won’t lose me, Damien. I just have to be more than a glorified henchman for my family’s sake.” He turns to catch my eyes but before he can answer the door to the suite opens and my father walks in. Taking a glance at me and Damien he walks into the room.

“Everything alright? You might want to take a look at these, it’s the last information I have on the Dmitry family.” His tone is hopeful; like he might have something that might give a great boost in this mission.

“Can I have a word, Dad?” I ask him, just remembering that I have the message from Lilly to give him. I’m not sure what it means, even though I have been racking my brain on the flight over here. I can’t work out whether or not she kept Damien out of it for a reason and that’s why she asked me to tell him, I’m not sure, the only thing I have come up with is that she is sick of hiding their feelings for one another, I mean what else could it be?

“Of course, what’s up?” he looks as cool as a cucumber, not a care in the world, Is he really not concerned about what we are going to face tomorrow? I get up from the table and lead him towards my bedroom – I don’t want Damien overhearing if he is not meant to. I don’t think she wants to add to his stress; he has enough to deal with right now. Stepping inside my room I close the door behind me.

“Lilly asked me to give you a message as soon as I saw you.” His face suddenly forms into panic, but then it disappears just as quickly.

“Oh,” he says as if that would be an odd request, as if we don’t already know that my father is madly in love with Lilly. He has never even so much as looked at another woman the way he looks at Lilly.

“It’s time, it has to come out. This what she asked me to tell you.” His face drains of all colour when the words leave my mouth. His fists form at his sides and he turns and punches the nearest surface as hard as he can which just happens to be my door.

“Does she not think we have enough going on right now? I can’t, not yet,” he looks distraught. Is it really that bad if we know that they are together? Maybe if I tell him that I know it might alleviate his concerns a little because I need him on point tomorrow or this whole plan will go up in smoke. He is about to turn and walk out of my room, grunting and cursing about               women and how they complicate everything.

“Dad,” I say trying to get his attention before he leaves. “I know that you love Lilly, Dad. It’s ok, I’m not unhappy for you, Dad. I just want you to be happy.” He gives me a small smile before he storms out of the room, cursing as he goes. I look at the hole that my father has created, at least I can see who is outside my door now, no chance of a surprise attack.

Damien strolls through to my bedroom.

“What the fuck happened to the bloody door?” he demands.

“We had a disagreement and my dad punched the door, that’s all.” I keep my answer as simple as possible.

“He punched the door? You must have really pissed him off. He is not the sort to fly off the handle for nothing,” he says with a lighter tone to his voice now; he chuckles as he turns to walk out of my room.

The night, flies by, between eating and running over all the last minute preparations for tomorrow giving everyone their set tasks. Nikos is going to be on the roof of the opposite building, taking the strays that try to run out. He is the best with a sniper rifle. His years of service in the Russian KGB have paid off because he is the best there is.

Vlad and Paul will be round the back – they have their own set of skills being ground troops in the Russian Military. Damien and I will be going in through the front, Anton will be on hand with all the tech stuff, cutting power, phone lines, and then he will join us when the building is secure. He will plant the explosives that will take the building down when we have down, I don’t think we have missed anything. We know what time they will all be at the house having their weekly meetings, it should be simple enough to get in undetected as they should all be in the one room.

Time to catch some sleep before we execute our plan. But first I am going to give Cami a call, and see how she and Charlie have been; it feels like I’m missing half of my heart.

The robotic sound of ringing fills my ears, as I wait for Camilla to answer, it’s midnight here so it’s about 9pm there, Charlie should be tucked up in bed, so I don’t understand the delay in answering.

When she finally answers the phone the sounds of sobs fill the line,

“Hey baby what’s happened? God please tell me you’re ok babe.” I beg for her answer and wait in a looming silence for her to quiet and answer me. It’s not long before the heaves become a little shudder. The rising panic comes to pass.

“I’m fine Malc, I was talking with Lilly and Faith this evening and I just realised what we will be giving up when we leave, I just got upset at the thought of losing Faith all over again. I only just got her back, And Lilly, Malc, she has been through so much and yet she stayed in this life. She is the kindest, most caring person I know. How will they be able to help me if I don’t have anything to do with them, help me understand why I wanted this Malc because I am slowly regretting the choice Malc.” I’m reeling at her words, how has she done a fucking one eighty in just over a week? She was adamant that she wanted away from this life and now she is questioning her choice.

“What’s changed?” I ask her, anxious to hear her answer.

“Listening to Lilly and Faith, they told me what it’s like to stand by your man through thick and thin, that we are the glue that’s really holds the unit together. Obviously they were with the heads of the family’s, but you’re his number one Malc. Without you he won’t function fully. You’re the one he turns to for advice, you’re the one he goes to when he needs something. I may not like what you have to do, but you’d never kill a man that doesn’t deserve it, would you?” I try not to hesitate at the answer, but in our world there is always going to be collateral damage. We would never kill wives or children, and I’ve only ever killed when there was no other option. I chose my words carefully.

“I would never hurt the innocent, and I have only ever followed orders on a kill.” Her intake of breath lets me know she heard every word.

“I may not like it Malc, but if we go what would you do? This is who you are.” She is just saying out loud what I have been thinking about for weeks, what would I do? This is all I have ever known. I am good at what I do.

“I don’t have a clue, Cami. This is me being honest with you now, not trying to placate you, I don’t think I would survive long if I left for good, I would miss my family too much.” I wait with baited breath for her answer, it all comes down to this if she can accept all of me, I have never prayed so hard in my life. I don’t really want to think about what happens if she can’t. I would follow her to the ends of the earth, but I would die a little each day that I was away from everyone else. I might be a jackass, but that’s just me and they understand I won’t sugar coat it for anyone. Needless conversation just to fill silence, does nothing for me, I prefer the peace to endless noise.

“I know.” Is all she says but it’s enough, I let out the breath, I didn’t realise I was holding.

“How’s Charlie been?” I question, I really want to know what he has done today, it’s strange now that I know we have him. But for the first four months of his life all I had was a picture and a gravestone. I was angry at first, I thought I had lost them, that that was my punishment for every wrong turn I had ever made, I thought it was because I had taken lives, so it was justice that they be taken from me. It wasn’t until I had time to think, about it as time passed that I realised, I let them go to set them free. But I couldn’t let them go. How could I stay away from the most important people in my life. My son. Love may come and go, people grow and change but the bond between a father and son, will last a life time.