131.
David’s POV.
I’ve been worked up since Vera went missing. Same as Andrei. The both of us have not slept a wink and I’ve avoided Claire like a plague, ignoring her calls and text messages.
It’s all because of her that I’m in this mess but I seek to correct my mistakes. This time, no turning back.
I’m damming all consequences now. If it’s reputation, I don’t mind losing it again.
Fuck! My girl is out there in this cold weather with my baby in her belly.
Thinking about Vera being helpless and alone is driving me crazy.
I wonder how she’s coping with our baby.
This is literally the third day she’s been missing and I’m broken. So broken.
Stepping out of my room after brushing this morning, I see Irene waltzing towards me.
“Good morning, sir.” She humbly greets.
The tray of food in her hands already tells me why she’s here. Answering her greetings, I order her. “Irene, please take it back. I’m not hungry.”
There’s a compassionate look in her eyes as she stares at me.
It’s no longer news that Vera has gone missing. Sometimes, I see Irene crying in the kitchen or laundry room.
Wordlessly, she nods and takes the food tray back but as she leaves the hallway, Andrei comes rushing in.
His broad chest is puffing as he breathes harshly.
“Boss, we got a call. She’s somewhere in New Paltz.”
Those words make my blood run cold. Looking him hard in the face, I ask to be sure. “New Paltz?”
Andrei nods.
Snapping my fingers together, I order. “Tell Leo to get the jet ready. We’re flying over there.”
My pulse quickens as I rush back into my room to dress up.
I hope to hell she’s there.
*
*
*
***New Paltz***
Leo lands the jet on a private tarmac in New Paltz.
Andrei and I storm out of the jet, our steps hurried as Andrei rattles off the information he got.
“The information reaching me is that she was seen in a local motel three nights ago with her carryall, boss,” Andrei says.
We created a small APB through a local TV station to help us find her. The deal was that whoever found us would get the sum of a hundred thousand dollars.
I’m guessing Andrei and his team got the information through the APB we created.
“What’s the name of the motel?” I ask as I waltz through the sidewalk, Andrei hot on my tail.
“Holiday Inn, boss.” He says.
I wanted to ask if it was a woman or man that called but I don’t see the need.
Andrei and I ask for directions and finally get to the local motel.
Indeed, everything about it looks local but convenient.
As we’re about to step inside, a man walks up to us.
“Hi, Mr. Truman. I was the one that called having seen Vera.” The rambles, making Andrei and I stop.
We give each other a look before turning to the man.
“Are you Mr. Payton?” Andrei asks and he nods.
“Yes, I am. Also the town’s mayor.”
Hearing that, I jump into questions.
“Where is her room?” I asked after he told us how he and Vera boarded the same train and how he helped her settle in.
“Room 004. However, it’s been three days since I last saw her. Mr. Truman.” Payton says.
“What?” I gush, surprised.
Payton nods. “I’m afraid, yes. However, her room still contains her properties.”
I exchange a dreadful look with Andrei, confused.
“Where must she have gone to?” I ask no one in particular as thoughts rush through my mind.
“I don’t know if she left with the man I saw her in a pub with after that night,” Payton whispered in thought.
A man? Fuck!
Let it not be what I’m thinking. But my thoughts were confirmed when Payton described Peter’s features.
“That bastard!” Andrei roars while I fist my hands in anger.
The urge to punch someone has never been this strong.
Fuck, I’m going to kill Peter.
Laying hands on Vera can only mean one thing.
He has given her to the mafias.
I see red. White noise fills my ear as I think about that shit!
In anger, I storm away, leaving Andrei to settle Payton.
Confusion fills me while we get on our way back.
I don’t know what to do next.
Shit! This is what I’ve been running away from for the past twelve years she had under my care and protection but it finally happened.
Who knows what those mafias are doing to her now? Are they taking her down the altar already? I don’t know what to think cause my mind is a jumble of thoughts.
“What if we trace her to Russia?” I ask Andrei.
He looks at me briefly before gritting his teeth.
“That’s going to be a suicide mission if we don’t get any help. Especially someone that knows the loophole to their security, boss.”
That douses my hope. My girl…she’s gone in their hands.
But even if it’s a suicide mission, I’m so fucking willing to embark on it.
I’m going to die finding her.
At that, I reach for my phone and call him.
Nathan.
“I need your help, Nathan.” I rasp into the phone.
“What’s happening?” He asks.
Swallowing, I let out. “Vera has been kidnapped.”
Nathan cusses and smashes his fist somewhere. Afterward, he says. “I’m gonna help. Bringing my guys over.”
As I drop the call, I turn to Andrei and tell him.
“Get the gangs ready. And the weapons. We’re leaving for Russia tonight.”
Andrei knows, yet the doubt clouds his features. I know why.
This is a life-and-death mission.
It’s the mafia’s we’re talking about, after all.
Getting back at the mansion, Andrei and I begin our preparation.
While Andrei makes the call to gather the new criminal gang in New York which helps in supplying weapons to us, I go to the courtyard where I keep practicing shooting techniques.
The bay of hay sits perfectly on the grass. It’s what I’ve been exerting my anger on for the past three days.
Shooting has become a way to release my pent-up rage.
I tread close to the guns lined up under the gazebo and I pick the longest of them. A rifle.
Donning a sunshade, I move within range and set the rifle in position.
Taking a stance, I start releasing bullets, shooting with rage while also imagining how I’ll blast the brains of those fucking mafias.
They took my woman and I’ll not let them scot-free.
I’d rather die than let them marry Vee.
She’s pregnant with my child, and that adds to my spite against anyone wanting to take her down the damm altar.
Blinded by rage, I shoot, arranging and cocking and shooting.
I won’t stop until I run out of bullets. That’s when I see Andrei approaching.
But a bloody man is in his hands.
Peter.
At a blinding speed, I rush over to Peter and land two blows on his face, cussing the day he became Vera’s father.
“Bastard!” I growl, punching his jaw. Bones crack and the sounds echo in my ears, sending bliss through me.
His grunts of pain makes me smile darkly as I hit him an inch to the grave.
“Where is she?” I bark while Andrei keeps holding me back. “Let me finish him off!” I roar, my chest puffing as I breathe heavily.
“Boss, wait. He has something to say!” Andrei says aloud, holding me back.
“What the fuck does he have to say about giving her to the devils?” I bark, seeing red. Bile rises in my throat and I spit it at Peter in the form of saliva.
“I messed up, David, but I want to amend things. The mafias held me prisoner for twelve years. I was their puppet. They made me believe I’ll get freedom after all that suffering but it was all a lie. But now, I’m regretting it.”
I don’t pity him or any single tear that spurts from his eyes.
“Rot in hell.” I snarl.
“Definitely, I’ll but not until I kill those traitors and free Vera. I’m sorry I realized late but she fucking loves you. Just like Helen did.” He smiles bitterly. “It’s crazy how mother and daughter fell for the same man but I now see why. Your devotion to their happiness and protection of their lives is one I cannot do even as a husband or father.”
Peter wobbles as he stands on his feet, his bloodied face coming into view. “That’s why I choose to stand with you and fight them.”
I step close, closing the distance between us. Then I pin my eyes into his and sputter. “I’ll never work with a filth like you, Peter. Go kiss your ass, motherfucker!”
At that, I whirl on my heels and start walking away. Only Peter’s next words make me halt.
“What if I help you break through their security, hm?”
I turn only my neck and stare at him, long and hard.
“You see, David. The Sokolov twins have tight security. Only I who have been with them for twelve years will know how to breach it.”
My veins pulse at his words. I know he’s telling the truth at the moment.
At that, I share I knowing look with Andrei.
Looking back at Peter, I spit. “Better don’t mess up else I’ll blow your brains out.”
***
Sometime around eight P. M., the gangs, Nathan, and his guys all arrive at the scheduled tarmac.
And we all embark on a suicidal mission with two things in mind…
Wipe the Sokolov twins.
And bring my woman home.
TBC.