Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Chapter 54

ASH

I turn around slowly, my heartbeat, strangely beating in synch with every turn I make.

The first thing I notice is a young woman who can't be more than seventeen. I register the look of shock on her face before I'm taking in the rest of her features at a glance. She has long green hair that looks mussed up from probably a night of debauchery, blue eyes that are presently staring at me from half-closed lids, and blood-red shimmery lips like she just sucked on something wet. I glance down at the short, tight leather dress she's got on and the kitten heels in her hand before looking back up at her face.

"Looks like you're the one doing the breaking and entering," I say, affecting a bored tone.

Her eyes widen and she flicks her eyes up and down the length of my body appreciatively, before moving closer to me. "The difference between you and me is that this is my house, not yours. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't call the police?"

I smirk, realizing this will be fun. "I'll give you two," I look her straight in the eyes and cock a brow. "I'm going to keep quiet and not tell daddy dearest that you were sneaking in at two in the morning, and secondly, you've got no option but to turn off the sensor, otherwise I'll kill you and everyone living in your fancy mansion."

Her eyes widen, and her lips flatten into a thin line when I bring out my gun. She doesn't seem scared, or shaken, and why should she? She's Igor's daughter, after all. She's probably seen lots of guns to last her a lifetime. Thank fuck I found out about her from my contacts, just last week. She was sent away, tucked into a Russian boarding school but was brought back because of her wayward ways.

I wave the gun in front of her face. "Move it!"

She does the opposite when she screams. I see no other way to shut her up. I hit her on the side of her head and she crumples to the ground like a pack of cards.

Just great!

Now I have unwanted baggage to deal with. I resist the urge to roll my eyes, and instead, stoop and rummage through her purse. It's dark out, and the light from the overhead security, not reaching this part of the compound. My hand clamps around something flat. Something with a nob.

Something that makes my heart soar.

I pull it out and it's just as I thought. The sensor remote.

I flick the switch in the opposite direction and a red light blinks thrice, signaling the sensor has indeed been turned off. I turn back to the unwanted baggage lying sprawled on the ground. "Now, what?"

But I already know the answer to that. I can't leave her here. I shake my head and once again, stoop, and lift her onto my shoulders. She's lightweight. Barely weighs anything. Lightweight or not, the first chance I get, I'm dumping her. I walk forward, with her hands dangling forward from my shoulders and her legs hitting my back as I move. As soon as I get to the main house, I search for the garage which takes me almost ten minutes because the damn thing is underground and requires a button from the inside.

Luckily, I'm an expert in opening locked doors.

I knew coming here won't be a walk in the park, but I certainly didn't anticipate the wild card currently lying at my feet. Yep. . . I dumped her the first chance I got. I know when she begins to stir, but unluckily for her, her hands are now tied behind her back. I made sure to tie her legs as well because I can't be too careful with her.

I wait for her eyes to flutter open, savoring the shock and fear on her face before I smile.

"Welcome back, " and then I stuff a dirty rag inside her mouth.

That's finally settled.

I dust my hands on my jeans and make my way through the inner garage door leading into the main floor of the house. I feel for a light on the wall and when I find it, switch it on.

"Can't fucking believe this," I whisper to myself as I take in my surroundings.

The interior looks like a princess threw up everywhere. Wide-set twin spiral staircases, marble flooring, and diamond chandeliers. All in pink. My lips curl before I can stop them. I have money. Lots of it. I can't imagine spending it on creating a teenage girl's wet dream.

Everywhere is quiet as I make my way toward the stairs. They're long and seem to go on forever, even though I'm taking two at a time. I pause on the second floor, looking left and right. Knowing how much of a narcissist Igor is, I'm gonna bet my whole money that his living apartment is on the fifth floor. I decide to go for it, but first, check if there are any lifts. I'm beginning to get cramps from all this hill climbing.

After checking to see there are none, I roll my eyes, for real, this time, and continue my ascent until I get to the fifth floor.

Note to self: No need for any further exercises for the rest of the week.

I step inside a foyer and look around. A long corridor stretches out. Stifling the urge to groan takes a lot of effort on my part, but I manage it and walk forward. I get to the end and realize there are just three doors on this floor, so I skip the first two doors and on instinct, make my way to the last. The handle is pliant beneath my hands and the door opens easily. I move inside with the stealth of a panther. Everywhere is dark so I stand and wait, accustoming myself to my surroundings before I stoop to the floor on my hands and feet.

I walk forward a short distance like a crab, so I don't stumble into anything before my hand is reaching for the edge of a bed. It seems to go on forever until my fingers skim the surface. This time, I don't hesitate as I rise. The window is open, and light from outside shines inside the room and unto the person lying asleep on the bed.

Igor fucking Ivanov.

My gun is out within the blink of an eye as I place it in the center of his forehead. "Get up!"

Even though my voice is a little above a whisper, his eyes open immediately. At first, he just stares, and then he blinks, as if doing so would take away the apparition that I'm not. It seems his brain finally gets the memo when his eyes widen. There's fear in them. Raw fear. He jets up, and the black silk sheets covering him, slip from his body, flashing his tiny limp cock in the process. "Sorry, Igor. . . " I shake my head sadly. "I'm not into men."

"My wife-" he starts, his eyes filling with panic.

"Is on the fourth floor, so lie back down and get cozy." My gun is once more placed against the center of his forehead.

It's my turn to get cozy as I place one booted leg on top of his bed. "Who is Domenico, and what does he want with me?"

His eyes are twin pools of terror as he stares at me. He shakes his head and tries to rise once again, but I apply pressure against his forehead with the barrel of the gun. His tongue jets out of his mouth like a snake and licks his lower lip. "I-" I cock the trigger and watch him squirm. "I don't know him, I swear."

As I remove the gun from his head, I don't miss the look of relief that passes over his face like a shadow. Unfortunately for him, I place it at a more dangerous place. His cock. "I won't hesitate to blow your shit away, so don't fucking lie to me."

Beads of sweat immediately pop up on his forehead and he nods his head sharply. "Domenico. . ." He shakes his head. "I don't know any Domenico."

I know for a fact he's weighing his options, even now in this situation that a gun is pointed at his price jewels. He's picking his words and telling me what he wants, not what I want to hear, which is the truth. I believe he needs some incentive.

"Is that right?" I smirk as I dig into my pocket and bring out my silencer and attach it to the gun. I aim it at his thigh and shoot, watching as blood gushes out. "How about you start vomiting the truth now?"

His eyes almost bulge out as he begins to thrash. "You shot me! You fucking shot me." His Russian accent comes out thicker this time.

"You've got just five minutes before you lose all the lifeblood in you, so start talking."

"Alright, alright!" He puts his hands up. "Domenico called me about a month ago and told me we should work together on taking you down. Every time he calls, it's from a restricted number that I can't see. I've tried to. . . to get around it, but I've not been able to. Whoever he is, he doesn't want me to get through to him."

His words come out in a garbled rush and I know he's trying to get them out as fast as he can because if not, his time will be up. I watch as he gulps as sweat pools on his forehead and drips into his eyes. He must be in some really shitty pain. Too bad, because he's going to have to suck it up and finish speaking, or I'll let him bleed out like a pig.

He licks his lips and squeaks out some more words. "I've never met the man, even when I proposed a meeting. You have to believe me."

"And how did he propose to take me out?" Time to wrap things up. He actually is bleeding like a pig.

"He said he'll make his first move today. . . " He shakes his head in denial. "No! Yesterday. It was yesterday he said he would make his first move, that'll hear of it when he does."

He made his move alright. He made a really fucked-up move by killing Tanya because she was easy. Bile rises in my throat as I remember the video of him shooting her.

I nod and move back. "You did good, Igor, but guess who you'll be taking orders from now?"

He looks up at me with eyes that have begun to water. The poor fuck is crying. "You?"

"Aren't you just brilliant? Henceforth, I'll be the one giving the orders and telling you what to say to him. Henceforth, Igor, you owe me."

I walk away but stop at the door of his room and turn. "Oh, silly me. Your princess is in the garage. Pretty sure she's passed out by now."

I walk out of his room without looking back.

Twenty minutes later, I'm parking in my garage and walking to my room. I need a stiff drink like yesterday, but first things first, I need to check on Hazel eyes. In front of the bedroom door, Night eyes stands guard. I clap him on the back and tell him I'll take over from here before slipping inside the room. She's still fast asleep, curled onto her side like a kitten.

Great.

I make my way to the bathroom and slip off my clothes and step under the shower. I wonder how she will be when she wakes. I don't even know how I'll be able to face her now because of the guilt of the death of her sister sitting pretty inside of me. As I turn round, something prods the back of my head, and I know without being told, it's a gun. I hear it being cocked as a voice speaks. "Don't move!"