Aleks
Just as Nik was about to respond, Aiya came into the room. Her hair was tied up and she was wearing a big t-shirt. I must have not realized how late it was, it explains her pajamas.
"Jesus Christ Aleks, what happened to your face?" she raised her voice in frustration, "What if Valeria saw you like that?"
I rolled my eyes at her, "Just love the concern, Aiya."
"How can I lend sympathy if you are so determined to get yourself killed!"
"Get myself killed? That's rich coming from you," I spat at her.
"You're so invested in killing all these people just so you can avenge Mom and Dad, did it ever occur to you that you're overcompensating because you couldn't stop Guillermo from shooting them in the first place!" she yelled.
I took a step back. Did she really just say that?
"Out of line Aiya! You don't come into my office yelling and carrying on and saying shit you can't take back!"
"Oh go to hell Nikolai. Fuck do you think you are! You're not Dad!"
There was a soft knock on the door, "Hey guys the hospital called, " Valeria opened the door slowly and came in her long blonde hair was messy and she was wearing pajamas,"They said that dad is awake."
It had been so long since I had last seen my father, I had no idea what to expect. The car ride to the hospital was silent, I didn't have much to say to Aiya regardless.
Once we had reached the hospital the lead doctor on my fathers case led us to his room, we got stares but it was expected because none of us had bothered to change.
When we got to my fathers room it wasn't at all what I was expecting, his dirty blonde hair had grown long and his beard gruff. He still had his built and sculpt figure that were hugged by dozens of tattoos. His eyes cold as he yelled at the nurses. I smiled to myself, Dear old Dad.
We all piled into the hospital room eager to finally speak to our father. Once his eyes set on us, his face softened and we all piled into his arms as he hugged us all. We all stayed like that as the nurses left the room giving us a few moments alone together.
However the moment was quickly interrupted, "Where's your mother?" he asked looking at us with a bright smile.
My eyes fell, "What's the last thing you remember Dad?" Nik asked.
He paused and began to think for a while, then suddenly his eyes turned cold, "Where is your mother?" he asked again with a firm voice.
"She's still in a coma, Dad," I said softly.
He looked down at me and his eyes widened, "Aleks, your face! What happened?"
I could hear Aiya sneer under he breath. I whipped around to face her, "Shut the fuck up Aiya," she opened her mouth to speak but I had already turned around to face my dad.
"There's a lot we need to talk about dad," I quickly caught a glimpse of Val's innocent green eyes, "That we should discuss in private."
"No, I'll go down to the cafeteria. You guys should talk," Valeria said getting up and leaving the room.
I took a deep breath, "Two nights ago, I tortured and killed Julio Ramirez, second in command to Guillermo's people. I was unable to get any answers, but Nikolai had him followed and we got the location of Luca and Rafael Giovanni. I went undercover with Lorenzo Smirnov at a party, however they recognized me and tried to question me, hence the bruises," I said watching my fathers face harden at my words, "They didn't get too far into before I took them down. Lorenzo and I later brought them to Aiden and Aunt Santana's for interrogation. Once I got a location on Guillermo, they were terminated."
My father was obviously in deep thought, before he spoke, "You've obviously had some time to practice your skills Aleksandra," he turned to Nik, "And you Nikolai? How well have you done as acting boss in my absence?"
My brother smiled, "Everything else is easy compared to keeping Aleks controlled."
My father laughed, "You'd have better luck willing the sky to bring rainfall."
They both laughed and I couldn't help but smile, I missed my father, more than I realized.
"How are you doing in school Aiya, still as smart as ever?" he asked turning to my sister.
"Classes are running smoothly, I'm doing very well father," she said smiling at him.
"Good, this always suited you best," he smiled, "You're brother and sister were best suited to follow in my own very footsteps."
Her smile faded, "Nik yes, but Aleksandra isn't exactly following in anyone's footsteps. She's acting like grandfather."
"Jesus-
"Honestly I'd have to agree," Nik said cutting me off, "What you've been doing for six months isn't healthy, Aleks. You chastise Aiya, but she's only looking out for your well being."
"What are you three talking about?" My father said, raising his voice slightly.
"Julio wasn't my first interrogation, if anything he was the end of a very long list that started six months ago," I said.
"Jesus Christ Aleks-
"No don't!" I said getting up from his beside and back in into the wall to face all three of them, "I saw you and mom get shot, dad. I saw two of the people I loved most in the world fall to the ground and sit in pools of their own blood as Guillermo and his men laughed! No one else saw that, not Nik, not Aiya, not Val! Me! If you expected anything less than my extreme retaliation, I'm sorry to have been a disappointment after waking up three years later!"
"Aleks," my father began, "I can't say that I'd do things any differently if the roles were reversed."
Aiya sighed, "Aleks...I'm not always riding you because of the reasons you think. With your position, killing comes with the job. But what happens after you kill Guillermo. Do you think the feelings you've been shoving down for six months will just go away? One day you are going to snap and I don't want that to break you."
"And I thought you were majoring in biology and not psychology," I folded my arms across my chest, "I'm not gonna break. I trained for three years in any and all skills to prepare me for this. After I kill Guillermo Del Castillo he'll be dead, and I'll be the one who put a bullet between his eyes."
I marched toward the door and slammed it on my way out. Broken? I rolled my eyes. I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled through my contact list.
"Can you come pick me up at the hospital?"
"What's wrong? Is it your parents?"
"I'll explain it all, just please pick me up."
"I'll be there in five."
"Thanks."
I sighed and put my phone back in my pocket then headed for the elevator. I need to get the fuck out of this hospital.
Soon enough I found myself at the parking lot of the hospital and a long black limousine pulled up in front of me. The window rolled down and Brandi's face appeared.
Brandi Carter had been my best friend since we met in elementary school. Her father wasn't a leader of of mob, but he had strong connections as he handled many of the international shipments.
"What's going on Aleks?"
I opened the door, "Scooch over B."
Brandi scooted over and I got in the car and shut the door as her personal driver pulled off.
Brandi had brown skin and hazel eyes with undertones of green. Her hair was black and curly and mid back length. Her face was heart shaped and her lips were full paired with brown lipstick. Her eyes were painted with eyeliner and her eyelashes long and full of mascara.
I sighed, "My dad's awake."
Brandi excitedly smiled at me, "That's great news Aleks," her smile slightly faded, "Then why are you so upset."
"Apparently I'm going break...once I've killed Guillermo, according to my family, anyways," I rolled my eyes, "I'm aware that I'll have to deal with my feelings, I know that. But focusing on catching this zasranec (asshole) is just easier than coming to terms with being unable to protect my parents."
Brandi squeezed my hand, "You were a child Aleksandra. You were only 17, nobody expected you to be able to take out a room full of men that your very own parents couldn't, and your parents are the best fighters among some of the most ruthless powerhouses in this business. It's not on you."
"But it is," I turned my head to look at her, "Nikolai is busy being acting boss and running every single operation that both of our parents were responsible for. Aiya has been training to be a surgeon since she could talk, it's what she's best at," I smiled, "Valeria is still in high school and hasn't even figured out what she wants yet. I'm the only one left. I'm the only one who can do this...and I will."
"Good," Brandi let go of my hand and leaned back in her seat, "I was beginning to thing I was in the presence of a weak bitch."
I shot her a quick look and quickly enough we fell into a fit of laughter. She's the only person I can come to with shit like this and still be assured I'd be laughing by the end of it.
"Now that you're sure of yourself again, what the hell happened to your face Aleks?"
After explaining a long story for about the millionth time today she smirked at me, "Lorenzo Smirnov, huh."
I sucked my teeth, "Don't start with that crap, B."
She laughed, "Oh come on Aleks, you and I both know you can cut the tension with a knife."
"Ti dura (you're a moron), you know that right?"
She laughed some more, "A moron that has finally brought you're ass home. Not your family home, you're apartment. I didn't think you'd actually want to go home tonight."
I nodded and pulled her in for a hug, "I would invite you in but I'm literally exhausted."
She nodded, "I expected as much, but it doesn't matter anyway, I have to meet up with Dante."
"Later, B."
"Goodnight, Aleks."
I got of out the car and shut the door and watched as the limousine drove away. Nothing like a conversation with Brandi to put shit into perspective. I set my sight onto my my building. It was a penthouse fully funded and paid for by the mob, of course. I started walking inside and the sight of my car caught my eye. I left that at the bar...
I shrugged my shoulders and decided to ignore it and head inside. Once I reached my apartment door and realized the door had been opened before I got there, I took my gun out, the was tucked into my pants and quickly screwed on a silencer.
I just want to go to sleep, I complained to myself. I silently crept into my apartment making sure to scan the room for anyone. No signs. I quickly continued my search towards the living room and found Enzo sitting on my couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table.
I moved towards him while he was distracted and placed the gun against his head, "What the fuck are you doing in my place, Lorenzo?"
He smiled, "I've been expecting you Printcessa, I brought your car back from the bar. You really shouldn't leave a Rolls Royce just anywhere."
"Thank you for the concern, but I think we both know it's chush' sobach'ya (bullshit). Nobody would dare steal from the Black Rose and I think we were deep enough in Russian territory for everyone to know hose car that was," I pressed the gun deeper onto his head, "I'll ask you one more time, what the fuck are you doing in my place, Lorenzo?"
He turned his head slightly to face me and swiftly grabbed the gun and threw it across the room, "Don't point guns at me printcessa," he quickly got up and backed me into the wall.
"What do you want?" I asked still contemplating ways I could beat the shit out of him.
He took hold of my wrists and pinned them above my head as he leaned closer to me, "Don't want these pesky hands attacking my face," he smirked, "Brandi called me, says you need a distraction."
"Well Brandi was wrong," I said matter-of-factly, trying to contain the urge to knee him in the crotch. I'm so gonna kill her, I thought to myself.
Enzo released my hands, "Was she?"
I nodded, "She was." I swiftly kicked his leg as he lost his balance and fell to the floor, I straddled him and seated myself just above his waist.
"But why waste a trip."
- - End of Chapter - -