“Try to drink some of it, if I can find an IV bag with saline, I’ll bring it, but I have to be careful about helping you.”
His eyes run over my face in pity. I don’t care; they did this. It’s their fault I look like this, why I ache like this. Keep looking at me that way and feel bad. Hopefully I’ll get more water because of it.
I attempt to swallow but it’s raw, even with the warm water coating the inside of my mouth.
“Can you speak now?”
I try but have to stop and clear my throat, “ErrErrmmm.” I sip a few more drops of water and attempt it again. “Heiiiii” It comes out shrill and hoarse, but it’s a start. “Huuurrts…throat huuurts.”
“Your throat hurts you too?”
I nod and let the water run through my mouth again. The man pulls out a tiny flash light and clicks it on.
“Open your mouth and let me check it out.”
I move my head a little, adjusting my sore neck, and open my mouth as much as I can.
“Goddamn it. You need antibiotics; it looks like the inside of your throat went through a fuckin’ meat grinder or something.”
“Huuurts.” I gasp again and he tilts his head, staring at me sadly.
“Okay, I’ll go look around and see what I can find around here to help. I know you’re wet…do you want like a blanket or something?”
“Yes,” I whisper gratefully.
He walks over to the door, opens it, and bends over into the hallway. He comes back with two thin blankets and I feel like I could weep.
A blanket.
He covers me from my toes all the way to my chin with both blankets, tucking it snugly around me and if I could smile at him right now, I would. This has been the first smidge of kindness anyone has shown me here, and I wish I could repay it with a smile.
Once he has the blanket fixed to his standards, he leaves the room and I actually say a little prayer, hoping that he comes back again. Then I start to drift in and out of sleep like usual.
I know I must be sleeping, because this time I see the man coming back, but now he has Nikoli’s face.
Nikoli
We arrived home exhausted from such a long flight, fitting everything into such a quick trip. Even with sleeping on the plane I have a bad case of jet lag. An anxious Viktor met us at the plane. He insisted on taking care of Chek for us until we’re ready to question him. We had him gagged on the plane, so he would have to wait to speak until we want him to. Personally I wanted to question him right away, but Tate told me to wait until he’s set up at Viktor’s warehouse. He thinks it’ll get bloody, and I am fully confident that it will, especially if my sister recognizes him.
We’re not even completely through the front door before Tate is bum-rushed by his wife, Emily. She leaps at him and he catches her, spinning her around, just like you’d see in a movie or something. I’m usually very happy for them and I love them both and they deserve happiness, but right now I feel like telling them to fuck off. I wish I could be doing that right now with my little pixie.
“Niki!” Vishna yells and gives me a big hug. Her cheeks have some healthy color in them now and she’s dressed in one of my huge hoodies. She’s tall but it swallows up her thin frame.
“Na-na! I’m happy to see you say straa!” I grip her tightly back, over the moon to have a piece of my family in my arms, alive. “Let us go to my room, I need a shower and some comfortable shorts.”
“Okay moy brat. How was your trip?”
“It was educating. I think we found who we’re looking for.”
“Really!” She says surprised and lies across my bed on her stomach. She watches me as I go to my closet and grab a pair of basketball shorts and a plain T-shirt.
“Da, I’ll show you soon. I must shower.” She nods and I head into my private bathroom.
I think I removed all the blood off me on the plane, but you can never be too sure, so I give myself a good scrub over. I’ll get dirty again at the warehouse, but no need to freak my little sister out now. She’s been through quite enough already.
Once I’m clean and dried off, I dress quickly and head back out to my room. I don’t want her sitting out here waiting on me for a long time.
“Na-na did you eat yet?” I probe and slide on my comfy house shoes.
“Da, breakfast with Emily. That bossy American has been shoving food at me every two minutes—not that I’m ungrateful.”
I can’t help but to let loose a belly laugh. “She is Southern. It is custom for them to feed you a lot, one of the many reasons why Tate loves her so much. They both cook religiously. Did you enjoy yourself while I was gone? You weren’t too scared?” I inquire and head towards the kitchen. I’m always hungry so I love having the food around constantly.
“No, it wasn’t bad. I hope you don’t mind, but I slept in here instead of the room Emily gave me. I just needed to be close to you while you were away. I never want to be apart again,” she murmurs and trails behind.
“Of course I don’t mind. You are welcome to any of my things. I will take care of you from now on, I promise, Vishna.”
She nods, her eyes swelling with tears. “It’s just, we-we were practically babies when we were separated…I can only remember your eyes and white hair from when you were a child. Now you are grown man, full of accomplished markings and strong—Niki—you are so handsome, I am proud to have a brother that is you.” Tears tumble down her cheeks as she stands and I can’t help but hug her again. My poor sister has had too much persecution in her life.
“I’m proud of you, too, and we will never separate again. I won’t lose you, either.”
“Brenna was right; she would always say that you would grow to be a good man. She said you were a Phoenix inside and would overcome to prosper, never becoming one of the men that they feared.”
“They feared men, but you didn’t?”
“No, their lives were different than mine. We slept in the same room for a time, but then they grew faster than me and their bodies changed, but mine stayed looking like a little boy. The master put me to clean, but the others were not lucky.”
What she’s implying makes me fucking retch inside. If I could gut each one of those filthy pieces of trash, I would—happily.
“And Mother? Was she in the same room?” I busy myself stacking bread with turkey, ham, cheddar cheese, pickles, olives and mayo, and place it on a paper plate and grab a full bag of Doritos.
She starts to breathe faster, blanking out as we stand in the middle of the kitchen.
“Na-na? You okay?” I set my plate on the counter, stepping closer to her. I don’t want to freak her out, but offer comfort if needed.
“She did not stay with us; she was taken away very quickly. Mother was so beautiful,” she replies hauntingly, her gaze set on the window leading to the backyard.
“I remember,” I mumble and, as if on autopilot, take a bite of the sandwich. Time to change the subject; I need her feeling well for when I show her the picture I snapped of Chek.
ELEVEN
NIKOLI
REVELATIONS AND WAREHOUSES
So, I showed Vishna the picture of Chek. I probably
should have waited longer, but I couldn’t. I wish it went over well, but it was an arctic fucking meltdown in the kitchen after I had my lunch. First with her upset and then again afterword’s with me ready to take my revenge.
Once I got her to stop hyperventilating and she was actually able to speak, she confided that Chek was indeed the man who prepared her to be sold. I felt like a total dick for putting her through it, but it was necessary. The few details she spilled were horrifying, and I know that was just a small part of it. I hated that my sister had gone through that.
What is it with men hurting and defiling the greatest gift given to us? I will never understand it. Do they not realize that a woman is like a butterfly? She can be pure and beautiful the more you encourage her and let her spread her wings. My Bina was kept closed off growing up, but once she was with me and free, she was such a wonderful person to be around. Her parents had never given her the chance to show them.
I have to find Sabrina now, and this Chek guy could be the only link I have to her. I’m hopeful my sister will be able to heal over time with the right kind of doctors and the love and support from me. Bina, however, may be on her way to death at the moment or already dead. I need answers, and I’m tired of waiting, I’ve already lost too much; I won’t lose Sabrina as well.
I’m honored that Vishna feels comfortable enough to open up to me a little. My sisters must have built me up over the years for her to have such trust. I’m afraid I may let her down though once she gets to know me. I’m no hero. If I was anything of the sort, I would have saved them all long ago.
Wasting no time, I leave my sister with Emily to comfort her in my absence. I text Tate that I’m headed to the warehouse. I can wait no longer; I need to do something and it has to be now.
Chek needs to pay for what he’s done. Life is no bed of roses, and Chek needs to realize that goes for him as well.
The trip to the warehouse takes no time at all and I’m happy to see that Alexei is here. It’s good to know that Viktor has his best man on guard duty. I watch as he sends a quick text message. No doubt, he’s logging my time and alerting Viktor of my arrival. I would do the same thing if I were in his position.
I doubt either Viktor or Tate want me to kill Chek. He probably has much more information than only where Sabrina is or what he’s done to my sister and countless other women. It’s clear Perfectcore is no business to help women become their idea of perfect; it’s a place for sick, powerful individuals to go and order their idea of perfect, then the woman gets ‘broken in’ until she fits their fucked up mold.
There’s no such thing as perfect. I could eat right and spend countless hours in the gym and I would never achieve perfection. Who wants perfect anyhow? Perfect is boring. All these men involved need to be taught their own type of lesson. Too bad I’m on my own mission or I would be interested in taking on an extracurricular project like that.
Climbing out of my truck, I decide to leave my black leather gloves behind. I usually like to hide any type of evidence that could lead back to me but I want to feel his blood on my hands too badly.
“Niko.” I’m greeted immediately.
“Lexi. You spoke to your Boss?”
“Yes. He said you’re welcome to his tools, but you are to leave the prisoner alive for future questioning. He also wanted me to inform you that you’re welcome to finish him after the Boss collects more information.”
“Now
that
is perfect,” I utter and Alexei stares at me confused. “I was just thinking about it on my way here.”
He nods and knocks on the thick metal door.
“Yeah?” is called and Alexei rambles off a sequence of random Russian words. After a moment the door screeches open and I’m met with two men loaded with AK-47’s ready to do damage if necessary.
“Alexei?” they question.
“Da, Nikoli.” He nods over at me and the men move away.
Once I’m inside, the heavy door closes and locks, leaving Alexei outside to stand guard. I’m finally faced with the pathetic creature that tormented my sister, putting her through torture and sadness. You ever want to slice someone open and then bathe in their blood? That’s me, right now.
He yells something but with the gag on, his words are too muffled to understand.
“Oh you wish to talk?” I mock and he yells rubbish again. “It must be horrible to be kept somewhere, like a prisoner with no voice. I won’t speak in circles like Viktor or Tatkiv; I’ll let you know exactly why I want you here. The Boss’ reasons are separate though, so rejoice in knowing you have much suffering ahead.”
Untying the gag, I remove the material so the ‘canary has a chance to sing.’
“So, they send the dog to gather their information?” he angrily spits.
My hand connects with his cheek in an automatic response of his disrespect. He coughs and spits. No doubt I just busted the inside of his cheek open.
Making my way over to the long surgical table Viktor has set up, I’m pleased to find he’s left behind a variety of specialty tools he likes to use. He’s one creative fucker when it comes to his signatures. He’s not like most Bosses pawning the work off; he likes to do the torture himself.
I discover one of his favorites—the mini torch—and chuckle. This could work nicely and quickly. I tend to get overheated easily when I fuck with someone, so I lose my shirt, stretching my muscles in preparation to dole out punishment.
With the torch and lighter in hand, I approach Chek with a giddy smile.
“A-a General?” he stutters taking in my markings.
“Oh, you thought I was a mutt, yes? I am the right hand to the Mafiya, you fool.”
“Please for-forgive me, I wasn’t aware. I can get you a woman as well, whatever you wish, just name it, and I’ll get you one also.”
“A woman?” I growl angrily.
“Yes, that’s why you’ve taken me, is it not? I never offered you a woman and was disrespectful.”
“Fuck, for being a man as warped and wealthy as you are, you really don’t get it, do you?”
“Excuse me, but what am I missing?”
“You
took
my woman!” It spills out in a furious roar and he blanches.
“Impossible,” he mumbles and instead of igniting the torch, I take the bottle and slam it into his knee cap.
“Aghhhhhhh! Nyet!” His face bunches in pain.
“Do you work with a man by the name of Kolya Minski?”
“Nyet.” He pants and I slam the bottle down on his other knee cap. He screams out again and I break a sweat, my anger boiling up inside ready to explode.
“Then let’s talk about my say straa and we’ll come back to my woman.”
“Say straa?” he gasps and I nod. I think the severity of my hatred is finally starting to sink in.
“Da, Vishna, blonde, eyes like ice, very thin; take a good look and you will see resemblance.”
He shakes his head, looking away.
“Nyet, you do not get to forget her. My family was taken and I find my last sister in a shipment—sold. Tell me her buyer.”
“I-I don’t know the buyers for the containers; only the Master knows.”