Page 5 of P.S. I'm With You
“Really?” His laugh is weak and a near sob. “You bit my dick! I’m not telling you shit!”
“You stuck your dick where it didn’t belong. Be grateful it’s still attached. Now…” I grip his hair and ram the back of his head into the wall before grinding his scalp in. “Who. Sent. You.”
He laughs before suddenly headbutting me. I stagger back, hands on my head as I will the stars in my eyes to stop. “Tell me,” he breathes out as he circles me. “What could the heartless butcher have in her palace built on the bodies of the damned, that could matter so much that she would lock herself in this cell with me instead of running away?”
“I don’t run,” I spit. “Not when there is no threat.”
“Ha!” His laugh is bitter and cold. “You think because you got a couple shots in, you can take me? Please. You are nothing without your men. Have you ever really killed a man?” I raise my brow, and as he steps forward I grab him, throwing him off balance as we hit the floor. I hear the commotion of the others trying to locate another key and I roll on top of the man, pulling his hair and bashing his head into the ground, over and over again.
“You took her from me!” I shout between each violent slam. Blood splatters all over the floor and across my face, and I can feel his skull breaking in my hands. I feel arms roughly pull me from his motionless body as his men rush in, evidently having found another key. It’s too late though, that fucker is gone.
“You fucking psycho!” the one holding me screams. I flick a piece of brain matter off my sleeve before looking at him. He’s trying to act tough, but there’s fear in his eyes—good.
“One down,” I state, my lip snarling in disgust at the dead body before looking back at the man behind me.
A wicked smile spreads across my lips
“Six to go.”
Four
DOMINIK
“Idon’t fucking care what time it is, who you’re fucking or if your god damn mother is on her deathbed. You fucking find her!” I slam the handset of my phone onto the base. The loud bang isn’t enough to calm my anger though, and I grab the phone and slam it repeatedly on my desk before turning away and pulling a cigarette from my pocket. I light the stick and inhale deeply.
She’s gone. We have a rat in our midsts; someone has let it out that Kasapin is a woman…a mother.
“Fuck!” I scream, while driving my fist through the wall. I should’ve been there. I could’ve protected them. They weremyresponsibility and I failed them. I failed them because Nika refused to let me in—to allow me to fill the role that belongs to me.
Orbelongedto me.
Three days ago my heart stopped beating when I received word that Nika’s house went up in flames and she was taken by multiple armed men. Only Nika, meaning Zora…
“Goddamnit!” I sob out through gritted teeth as I shove everything that’s laying on my desk off. “God fucking damnit!”What’s the point? What’s the point of any of this? Of continuing to even breathe if they’re gone?
A rapid knocking on the door grabs my attention and I hear loud crying and screaming as I move through the living area and rip open the door. My heart nearly stops as all the air leaves my body.
“Zora.” Is all I can manage out as the bleeding man shoves the girl into my arms.
“I made sure we weren’t followed,” he states softly. “My debt to her is paid. I'm leaving now, disappearing. Make sure she understands that.” The man looks at the small girl shaking in my arms and his features soften. “You, little one, never forget how brave you are. For being so small, you are fierce, just like your mother, and I will never regret my time spent protecting you. It’s been an honor.”
Zora nods her head as the man walks away, and I shut the door before setting the small girl down. I go to my knees and look into her watery blue eyes. “Zora,” I breathe out. “You’re okay, I thought—” I clear my throat to stop the cracking.
“Who are you?” Her small question is a knife in my heart. Nika never let me see her. Only from afar could I take care of her.
“My name is Dominik.” I give her a small smile. “I’m your—”
“Father?” Her eyes are bright and wide as she says it. I swallow dryly and nod.
“Yeah.” I manage, over the growing lump in my throat.
“Where is mama?” she asks while taking a step back. “M-Mama said that you can’t be a dad. Why am I here? Why did Rigo leave?Whereis my mama?”
“O-Okay.” I hold my hands out to try and calm her. “Zora, I don’t have all of the answers yet. I just need a moment to figure this all out. I won't lie to you, ever, I hope you won't lie to me either. Deal?” Her eyes look to the fallen items on the floor. She walks over and picks up a picture frame and studies the imagebehind the broken glass. I know the picture too well. It’s of Zora and I, the day she was born. She’s wrapped in a yellow blanket and nestled tightly in my arms. It was the only time I got to hold her.
“What happened, Zora,” I ask softly. She looks over the photo once more before turning to me.
“Mommy hid me. She told me not to leave the room, but I did. I ran out the back and Rigo found me. I watched men in masks with guns hurt mommy before putting her in a truck and driving off.”
