130.
Third Person POV.
Peter was bubbling with excitement inside of him now, knowing his ticket to freedom was now within reach.
Years of searching for that daughter of his has come to an end.
Fuck his dead wife, Helen, and yeah, fuck David Truman, Peter smirked inwardly.
What he loved most about this minute is the fucking hatred and confusion he’s implanting in Vera’s mind.
He’s not here to just take the girl to Anton but he also intends to change her notion about David Truman.
He wants to paint the man black before Vera and that’s working.
The very dark, distant look on Vera’s face is a pure indication.
Oops, Peter smirked again, wondering about the emotional turmoil Vera must be going through.
It’s obvious the girl had been seeing the man as her knight in shining armor but now, that same man is the bane of her existence.
Damn, Peter loves this.
It only means…he’ll finally settle with his true love and live peacefully with this grandmother and child. That’s the family he loves.
While he was thinking all of that, his phone buzzed and he got it out.
It’s a message from Anton, telling him everything is set for them to leave the States if he had gotten the girl.
Peter sighed and stuffed the phone back into his pocket. Inside his pocket, he felt the prickly syringe waiting to be used.
A sob broke out, bringing his attention to the girl beside him.
Peter used that moment of Vera’s grief to study his daughter. No doubt, Vera took looks from him.
She has just the same as him, her brows and hair color. She got them all from him.
For a moment he wondered, so truly, the girl is his. Vera is his child. Those features are enough proof.
Peter only hated the girl because he never loved her mother. But looking at Vera now after twelve years, he felt a flare of possession. Or was it fatherly responsibility?
Hell, as quickly as that flared inside him, it went off. He only thought about his beloved family and…freedom.
“I can’t believe he could do that…” Vera’s voice rang out, breaking him away from his trance.
“I know it’s hard to take in.” He said, shrugging.
Time was ticking. Roaring in his mind.
He watched Vera again as she swiped her eyes.
“But he made me believe my mother was his first love. That they both loved each other.” Vera rambled on.
Hell, that made Peter uncomfortable. Fuck it!
He couldn’t stand hearing what Vera’s saying because he knew it was the truth.
Peter had never seen two people who were crazily in love with each other the way Helen and David had.
And now, his daughter was feeling that same shit for David.
He couldn’t stand it! Peter chirped in his mind, slipping out the syringe.
It’s about time he ended all these.
Peter points the syringe at Vera’s arm without her knowing.
“And now I’m carrying…his child…”
As those words slipped from Vera’s mouth, Peter nicked her skin with the needle, injecting it into her sleep-inducing drug.
Only when he tilted backward did her words make sense to him.
Vera’s pregnant with David’s child.
*
*
*
Four hours. That was what it took for the cab driver to drive Peter and the unconscious Vera to a private airstrip somewhere in Woodstock.
The small town seemed to be the perfect place for them to escape without David knowing.
Peter’s heart was roaring, both with anticipation and dread.
“Thanks, man!” He hummed and stuffed the driver’s hand with money. He hovered over Vera and carried her outta the car.
“Hmmm…” Vera stirred awake but her surroundings were still blurred and she felt her head pounding. “Where’s…” she croaked out when she noticed someone carrying her.
With effort, Vera forced her eyes open and saw her father taking her away.
She couldn’t see much because everywhere was dark.
She only managed to see through the faraway light shining on Peter’s face.
Panic shot through her and she began to squirm.
“Where…are you taking me?” She asked, scared as Peter held her strong and kept walking.
“You’ll find out soon, child.”
The undertone of his voice scared her shitless. In that moment of panic and dread, Vera remembered something prickling her skin back at the pub.
That made her eyes widen as reality crashed through her. Her father had drugged her…
Fuck!
She felt something weird about him, her instincts never lied.
Before Vera could open her mouth in protest, Peter planted her on her feet.
She wobbled, eyes dizzy but she managed to steady herself as she took a look around.
“You!?” Vera snapped in utter shock when she saw men standing before her, dressed in black.
But someone stood out amongst those intimidating men….
And that’s Anton.
“Hello, bride!” Anton drawled, his lips tipping up in a mischievous smirk.
“It’s finally good to have you after years of searching and waiting. Dammit! David did a great job hiding you from us. But I’m glad to know it’s over.”
Confused, Vera looked between Peter and Anton but she remembered the words Anton said to her before.
The time he told her he had come to claim his bride here in the States.
So that metaphoric bride had been her? She thought in shocked horror.
“What’s going on here?” She asked Peter but Anton spoke up.
“The thing is sweetness, you’re our bride. Me and my brother. You’re the only ticket for us to gain those territories your grandfather owned. Through you, Vera Ivanovna, we’ll be the Pakhan of the underworld.”
The truth was too much for her to take in, Vera wobbled on her feet. She was still trying to soak up the news when Peter said.
“Boss, am I free to go now?”
Vera whipped her head to Peter.
“You’re giving me to him?” She was bewildered at Peter’s next words.
“I’ve been seeking this freedom for years, Vera. I’m sorry.”
“You lied to me!” She barked at the realization. “Does that mean David didn’t hold you prisoner in Alcatraz?”
A scoff emitted into the air, slamming into her ears.
“Of course not. I held him captive, only to get freedom if he delivers you to us…”
Vera saw black at the spike of rage. She rushed to her father, wanting to hit him but Anton’s men stopped her as Anton commanded.
Anton marched towards her as she struggled in the men’s grips.
Stopping he smelled her hair that fell over her shoulders. Releasing the tresses, he whispered a short laugh.
“Honey, don’t be so fast. Your father is mine to punish…” Anton spewed.
Peter thought Anton had forgotten his disappearance for months when he recently came to the States but Anton was a mafia and mafias don’t forgive nor forget.
Anton only used Peter to achieve his final aims.
Now that it has worked, he found no use of Peter again.
As Anton said those words and turned to meet Peter’s gaze, Peter got the idea immediately.
Next, he felt his flight instincts kick in and Peter bolted off immediately, running away from the airstrip.
Anton chased after him, shooting several gunshots at him.
By chance, one of the bullets hit Peter. Though Anton didn’t see well enough to confirm, Peter’s warbled cry was an indication.
Anton then barked a laugh, satisfied with the turn of events.
“Rot in hell, Peter…” Anton said gruffly.
Satisfied, he turned back on his heels and trailed toward Vera who was now screaming at the top of her lungs.
“Dad! Help me please!”
“Someone help!”
“Help!”
“Don’t touch me!”
Regardless of her cries for her, Anton didn’t relent. Peter didn’t save her.
And…David will never find her.
Tears sprung from Vera’s eyes as Anton smacked her hard on the face.
“I hate you!” She cursed at him and spat on his face.
Anton growled like a predator as he smacked her harder on her both cheeks.
Looking at his men with fire in his eyes, he ordered. “Get her into the plane.”
They did as Anton had ordered and the flight left the States.
Vera feared.
She screamed.
She fought for a way out but too bad, her fate was already sealed.
Again, she was betrayed by someone who should have protected her.
Her father.
To be continued.
*
*
*