Page 8 of Bratva Past

This was when he made the decision to rid the world of Rostova for good. He didn’t care if he died. In fact, he felt like it was a guarantee. One man against the whole Rostova Bratva. Only, he was one of the scariest motherfuckers out there. No one could best him. Not even the teachers in that training school. He was that fucking determined, that fierce, no one was ever going to stop him.

It took the Rostova Bratva three decades to get where they were. Blackmailing politicians, having crooked cops on their payroll, and having the authorities look the other way. He dismantled the entire organization within two weeks. They had bred him to be an unstoppable force, but they never expected that force to turn against them.

“Hey.”

That soft, feminine voice pulled him out of his past, and he shoved himself out from under the car. His dad had never owned a mechanic shop, but he had wanted to. Instead, he went into laundry, because apparently that had been what the Rostova had wanted. His father always dreamed of being a local mechanic, which was why Isaac owned this place. It was why he took his father’s name.

Isaac Flynn had died ten years ago, but he was going to keep him alive. As it happened, he shared his father’s name, only he scrubbed “Junior” from the title. Now, he was going to do something with his life to make his father proud.

There was no one looking for him. No one would dare to. That monster was at rest, and no one better wake him up.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said, looking into Lucy’s smiling face. Was this what his father described all those years ago? If so, then he was more than happy to settle down.

****

“And are you going totell me what happened?” Marge asked.

Lucy didn’t need to look over at Harry to know he was paying attention to Marge’s question. She offered her friend a smile as she handed out the cups of tea she’d just made. This was part of her job as well, serving everyone, which she didn’t mind. She loved it.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play coy. I may have been tired yesterday, girlie, and it was your day off, but news travels fast around here.” Marge looked behind her. “Tell her, Betty, that people were talking.”

“Don’t get me involved. You’re the one that told the poor girl to stop coming in on her day off, and I don’t think that is right.”

It was true. Lucy usually came to visit her friends, because working here and getting paid for it, well, she considered everyone a friend. She loved and adored them all, and it wasn’t because it was her job. They were her family.

She offered a smile to Betty as a thank you.

“The only reason I didn’t come yesterday is because you threatened to beat me with your walking stick, don’t you remember?”

“Oh, I remember, but I also recall telling you to get a life, and you’re being a pain in the ass about that too.” Marge gave her a forced glare, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m doing what I can,” Lucy said. “It’s all I can do.”

“Besides, I heard she was at the mechanic shop anyway,” Betty said. “So, there you go, Marge is doing exactly as you ask. She’s not coming to see us, and she is finding a life for herself.”

She looked from Betty to Marge, and hoped neither woman was upset with her.

“You went to him?” Marge asked.

“Yes, just to hang out.” She held the tray out for Marge to take her cup, and then it was all empty.

“Well, tell us how it went,” Marge asked. “That’s what I want to know anyway. Come on. Give me the juicy details of the hot mechanic.”

Lucy chuckled. “There’s not a lot to tell. We had a lot of fun Friday night. Shared some chicken wings, danced for a long time to some country music. Ate some burgers, danced a little more, and then he took me home. He ... walked me home.” She felt that was the sweetest thing of all, for him to walk her home. It showed that he cared.

She hadn’t sat inside a car or automobile since her parents’ accident. It wasn’t on purpose, it just kind of happened. She loved walking, and she could order online anything she needed that wasn’t available in town. Most places in town were also within walking distance. To her, it was a win-win, and she didn’t mind that.

“Is that all?” Marge asked.

“And he kissed my cheek and told me he had a good night,” Lucy said. It was sweet. Yes, it hadn’t been what she was expecting, but still, her cheek had tingled for a few hours afterward.

“What is wrong with men nowadays? I thought they were supposed to be like the men on those television shows. You know, horndogs and such,” Marge said.

Lucy heard Harry coughing, and she glanced behind her to make sure he was okay, before turning back to Marge.

“I loved that he was the perfect gentleman.”

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