Third Person POV.
The blasting music from the dance floor could be heard at the back of the Red Room. The club is one of the most popular clubs in the whole of Moscow and it’s owned by the mafia twin brothers, Anton and Alexei.
Usually, the club is open every night but on Fridays like this, it’s filled with mafias that are allies to the twin brothers.
Just a peek around the room dimmed with neon lights, gave a clue of the randy mafia men either sitting on the couches or rocking asses on the dance floor.
The DJ does his part well, blowing everyone’s mind with music that guides someone in the mood.
Every corner is either filled with addicts taking coke, pot, you name it. Or it’s filled with sex workers, delivering services to the mafia men.
Though, some normal civilians are in the room but mostly the crime men outnumber others.
However, at the back of the Red Room, Anton sat in the midst of his best of men doing calculations, arranging their latest supply to their fellow.
Wraps of coke covered the desk while Anton watched one of his men, counting and stuffing them into the two briefcases on the desk.
Anton’s face holds a note of seriousness as usual.
He hadn’t let up some steam. Always his mind had been on getting answers from Vlad whom he sent to America to get the record of all the students at Dame High School.
Alexei hadn’t taken things seriously since then. It was obvious to Anton that his brother had given up the determination to find the formal Pakhan’s daughter.
But still, Anton doesn’t
know why he’s clinging onto the fact that there are some loose strings they need to pull together and get the answer they want.
Of course, Vlad had kept him updated from the very minute he arrived in America. He told Anton how he had breached the security
cameras at Dame high school.
How he had lured the new receptionist to his bed, gave her some good fuck just so the woman would talk.
Oh, that had vexed Anton. He didn’t send Vlad to New York to have some fun but to find the girl. Their ticket to being the ruler of the underworld. However, Vlad was quick to defend himself, saying something about the receptionist wanting to get under his pants before she started talking.
Vlad had made Anton believe the tricks worked. So now, Anton was anticipating Vlad’s return after he announced having gotten the whole school record.
Damn, it felt great knowing the answer to his question is just a few hours from reaching him.
His blood was zinging, smile inwardly kicking his lips up.
Vera…definitely must be alive.
However, as he waited for Vlad’s return, he got their shady business done.
He had sent his sex workers to send a deluge of pleasure on his mafia allies while preparing to send out the demanded number of coke they got from Poland.
“Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. Thirty…” The Byki counting the wraps continued his accented English filtering through the air.
The back of the Red Room is where their drug deals and weapon deals are being carried out.
No one would say this literally happened here. The police had believed the Red Room was just a debauchery club but it was more.
Anton did have some crooked policemen working for them, however, the overly righteous police kept getting in their way.
“All complete.” The Byki said, erecting his body and looking at their boss.
“Good.” Anton croaked, running his thick fingers over his jaw. “You know what next to do right?” He asked the Byki and he knew.
Words don’t need to be said because this Poland client is a regular one so all his Byki already knew who the drug would be given to.
When the Byki leaves the room to embark on delivering the goods, another Byki stepped outside to guard the entrance to the room.
Anton then basked in the silence that followed everyone’s exit. He got out a pot and lit it.
Anton took a long drag, puffing the strings of smoke into the air. It wasn’t about ten minutes the Byki in charge of delivering the drugs returned with a harsh breath and anger gleaming across his face.
Alarmed, Anton emerged on his feet, perching his hands on the desk. “What’s wrong?” words left his lips in an accented tone.
“Boss, the Red Kings men are wrecking havoc outside…” The Byki said but Anton cussed.
He looked around for his gun, sliding bullets into the revolver.
The Red Kings again? He thought, marching away through the back door.
He can’t let those fuckers ruin business for him and Alexi.
*
*
*
Alexei’s tires squealed as he abruptly pulled the car to a stop in front of the Red Room. The gun fires hitting against his windshield.
He ducked into the car with a cuss, looking around his gun.
There was no doubt these attackers were the Red King’s men and their allies.
So, it has gotten to the extent that they now aim for their lives?
Oh, now, Alexei knew the struggle was real. The struggle for power is real. He hadn’t taken things seriously the way Anton had but now it was clear that without Vera, their lives would be in danger.
Claiming the girl would be their ticket to staying alive.
His mind warred with thoughts as his hands scrambled around until he found his assault rifle.
Alexei was totally spurred by rage at the fact that these men wanted to kill him and Anton just to claim Vera.
Where in hell is that pawn? He howled in his mind. Not like Vera would mean something special to them and yet their rivals are aiming their lives because of the girl.
Dammit! Alexi swore that Vera’s life would have been hell if she was alive.
How can such a small creature be the cause of hunky men of the underworld aiming to tear each other apart?
He fluttered his door open, cocking his gun.
His bullet rang through the air just in time with Anton and their men.
It all happened so fast, that for the next five minutes, the air was designed with the stench of gunpowder.
Blood bathed the ground as the mafia brothers aimed at the Red King’s men.
Howls pierced the air as well as the cusses and thuds of bodies falling against the floor.
Anton released his own flurry of gunshots without remorse.
It now made sense to him that this wasn’t just a mere coincidence rather the men had come to either kill him or Alexi.
The thought of losing his goddamn brother urged him to fire.
In a sweeping movement, they killed all the men. Now, their breaths were harsh, hearts beating with rage against their chests.
“Fuck!” Anton yelled, smashing his feet over the ground.
Without further words, their Byki already hurried to clear off the dead bodies.
When they don’t see even a single soul of their men, the Red Kings would know Anton and Alexi took them down.
Anton sustained a minor wound and he only noticed it now the adrenaline had worn off.
“This is getting out of hand,” Anton says.
Alexi was still a bit shocked but he responded. “Those bastards thought they’d kill us.” He scoffed.
Alexi doesn’t need to be informed again because what happened now has informed them of how serious the war was.
It had gotten to the point of men going rough against others.
Alexi found himself asking. “Any update from Vlad regarding the mission?”
Anton wasn’t much surprised. He knew Alexi only needed a push before he acted and now he was serious about finding their bride, Vera.
“He’s on his way. We’ve got to wait.” With those grunted words, Anton veered to make his way back into the secret place.
*
*
Both brothers had been tensed all the hours they had been at the back of the Red Room.
It was almost dawn now and the people on the dance floor had begun heading out.
During the crossfire out there, people inside the club rarely knew what happened because of the loud music and also the fact that everywhere was soundproofed.
However, their mafia allies had sent most of their men out to ensure the Red Kings’ men ain’t still out there.
The information reached them saying it was only those at the fight scene that were sent.
It helped the twins to calm down but who knows when next another unforeseen attack would come?
Well, that attack had made them keep their heads up above water for any further attack.
However, now they’re more tense waiting for Vlad’s return.
Alexi helped Anton disinfect and placed a gauze over his wound, thankfully it was only a light graze.
A while later, the door to the back room where the mafia brothers were burst open with Vlad’s presence being known.
He was clutching a big black file. On seeing him, Alexi jumped to his feet.
Now, he was more tense than his brother, Anton because he had known how serious Vera’s case was.
“Did you find it?” He questioned Vlad who nodded at the brothers by way of greeting.
“Yes boss. I managed to get it from the receptionist. The file here contains the names of the students that had been in the school since its grand opening.”
A smile clouded Anton’s face. Alexi chuckled with satisfaction watching as Vlad perched the black big file on the table.
“Great then. Start looking.” Anton hurled.
Settling on the seat across from Anton, Vlad opened the file and began looking for Vera’s name. Alexi stood by his side with his head tilted toward the file.
Two hours in, the search was still a dead end. No signs of Vera. Nothing.
Alexi was already sweating. Anton had his fists balled and teeth gritted.
“Are you sure you got the right one?” He asked Vlad who nodded eagerly.
“I fucking did. The receptionist promised this is the main record for the whole school.” Vlad recounted the woman’s words.
“Then why isn’t it here?” Alexi barked, smacking the desk in frustration.
Their hopes dimmed when Vlad turned the last page and still Vera’s name wasn’t there.
He knew he failed…totally failed because they sent him to do this for over three weeks. Bykis don’t fail on their assignment, if they do…then it meant death.
Anton had already raised his gun pointedly at Vlad. The huge man’s body quaked with fear.
He surrendered his hands and as Anton unclicked the safety to release the bullet, Vlad burst out.
“But… What if they had her name changed to something else?”
Vlad’s words made Anton pause. They never considered that before.
The brothers exchanged an uncertain look and then drove their gaze back at Vlad.
If Vera’s identity was changed. They can only trace it to the man they spread the news about her death.
And that is…Truman.
He knows something. As that knowledge sheathed in place, Anton ordered. “Track him. Get me information about his life, and family. Every shit he does. And be fast about it.”
A second chance at life doesn’t come easily but now he has it, Vlad swore to get tangible information regarding the case.
To be continued…