SINNERS - 18

Jack Vasilief

I couldn’t decipher my own feelings especially with Valentina missing, her whereabouts remained unknown for two days until Enzio barged into my office at the early hours of the morning.

‘Aren’t you suppose to knock?’ I spoke, raising my eyebrow at his heavy breathing.

His hair dishevelled while his usual formal shirt was untucked, ‘She isn’t in Greece,’ he spat.

‘THEN WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?’ I yelled, standing up from my chair. The rage enveloping my body and ached to kill.

‘Natalia went with Joziah and they spoke to Benjamin, she isn’t in Russia either. Which means that she has been right under our main selling ground,’ Enzio gritted, frustration evident in the thick layered words.

I ran my fingers through my curls, ‘ Damn it, she has been in ‘Vengeance Town’ this entire time?’

This made me itch for that bastard who thought he could take her away from me, we have been in ‘Vengeance Town’, and our time had been wasted just to gather that Valentina has been here.

‘Tell them to catch a flight here, NOW,’ I instructed.

‘They will be here later, probably at midnight,’ Enzio ensured.

‘Good because we need to come up with a plan to get her back.’

MIDNIGHT (VENGEANCE TOWN)

Natalia Vasilief

If I didn’t have this amount of control over my actions, I would reign destruction upon those Greek bastards. Many situations didn’t affect me, emotions didn’t cloud my judgement but it did here. They took her, Valentina. It aggravated me, taking the most kind-hearted person away from a family full of sinners. The amount of rage that boiled my bloodstream, inwardly drowned my ears with the flow of my blood, each rapid heart beat echoing through my senses. Three days since our last drop of information of her whereabouts, schemers went under our noses and took her. Valentina had over thirty men guarding her inside the mansion and over twenty surrounding the land, those men ended up six feet under. Pathetic guys, couldn’t do a simple job of keeping her safe, they didn’t deserve to be in the family, I loathed those idiots especially people who couldn’t do their job properly.

‘So, are you going in there with a scowl on your face. Matching Jack’s temper again?’ Joziah questioned while he walked next to me with his hands in his grey slacks.

Turning my head towards his calm voice, his features void of any emotions. Walnut strands fell upon his milky forehead, sparkling emeralds that where soaked in gold gazed upon me with concern. Josiah, is the most agitated for the outcome of this situation. Chaos, those were the consequences of these bastard’s actions, kidnapping our precious Valentina.

Joziah is the oldest in the family, which is what made him the most determined to hold this fractured family together, even if it meant burning all those ‘SHITS’ to the ground.

‘I am not matching his, we equally want to skin them alive and those bastards just climbed up to number one on my hit list,’ I gritted, pushing the double hickory doors open into Jack’s estate.

Each gathering that we were called for, my stomach did flips. It wasn’t because of the outcome that would take place but rather the person that never failed to take residence in my heart. Others would view this as a petty crush, assuming the infatuation would dwindle. It is neither, nothing fizzled out of my heart and it wasn’t a simple crush, not anymore. When my gaze halted at his towering figure, the familiar vulnerable state drank in my essence. His features made me weak, the rush of adrenaline that courses through my veins outweighs my thrill to kill. He invaded my thoughts even when we are apart, I forgot how addicting those feelings would be, underestimating his power over me. The man couldn’t decipher affectionate words, even when they didn’t escape his lips. His heart is alive despite what others presume and they beat for the people he cares about, actions is his strong suite.

When we are in the same vicinity, I purposely masked my emotions. Pretending that the mere sight of him didn’t make my core ache. I did what I am trained to do, which is feel nothing. But for him, I feel everything.

‘What took you so long Nat?’ Benjamin smirked, assuming I would get in trouble for my late appearance.

‘I had to take care of business,’ I replied, brushing off his comment.

‘Oh, you mean that handsome red head,’ Benjamin grinned.

I glared at him, if my eyes could kill in an instant. Benjamin would be swimming with the fishes.

‘Watch your mouth Benjamin, I might kill your favourite whore if you continue.’

He pouted, a horrid expression as he lifted his hands up in surrender. ‘I CAVE.’

‘I didn’t call a meeting for you guys to bicker again,’ Jack stated, walking out from behind the bar with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

Dressed in a dark blue slacks with a formal shirt that had the few top buttons undone, revealing his muscular chest and sleeves rolled up to his elbows that displayed his gigantic arms as his biceps strained against the silk. Jack’s syrupy strands were falling onto his forehead, he had been running his fingers through them countless times. Those murderous stone-cold sapphires in his bloodlust, itching to bathe in his victim’s blood.

‘My apologies Jack, we had to deal with the distributors before we left so Benjamin went ahead,’ I informed.

His lips were in a thin line as he nodded his head in acknowledgment, walking closer to the glass table that we were standing around. It took up the entire portion of the lounge, Joziah stood on my left while Benjamin opposite me, Jack stood at the head. His steps halted at the end and I dreaded the figure that stood outlined in the shadows, instant jolts of electricity coursed through my veins as he neared the spot on my right. The taste of his vanilla cologne and bourbon on the tip of my tongue, coating his essence as a mark.

Luscious plump cherry lips glistened from the bourbon he downed before making an appearance, slight dark stubble adorning his creamy skin. Jet black curls that weren’t set, it appeared like he just took a shower from the droplets that stuck to them. Then his onyx orbs, hypnotising while the splashes of crimson stained in the darkness which made it bewitching and beautiful. Those eyes are magic, casting a spell of suffering over his enemies and me.

I had to tear my gaze away from him when our eyes locked, the arousal radiating through my pores would become more evident and the rapid beating of my heart could possibly be heard in this silence.

He towered over my petite figure, the earthy scent of him enveloping my nostrils through the vanilla. My focus appeared to be on Jack but they were completely lazered on Enzio.

‘Now, what have you found out Nat?’ Jack questioned, drawing me out of my analysis of the dangerous Enzio.

‘Each base in Russia denied the allegations that she is there, I checked and killed the informers, they stated that she is here,’

Benjamin interjected, saving me from my frazzled state of mind.

‘In Greece, although their base is easy to infiltrate on their home ground, she wasn’t there. Joziah and I eased dropped on Zenon Leventis and he stated that she should be heavily guarded here,’ I added.

‘F---k, they are either keeping her in Hell Fire or in their estate,’ Jack pressed, clutching the glass tightly.

‘Actually, there is also something else we found, they are looking for new strippers in Hell Fire. Since Bane spends most of his time watching naked girls dance and most of his meetings are held there. Its only fitting we send someone in to infiltrate their base and find out where Valentina is,’ I relayed.

Jack shook his head, trying to restrain himself from tearing this place to shreds.

‘That will take too long,’

‘It will take longer if we rush in and risk transferring her somewhere else, at least this way we know her whereabouts,’ I stated, trying to contain his beast.

There was a pause, for a few minutes as Benjamin and I exchanged looks of concern. ‘Your Right,’ he finally said.

‘Okay, so then I will go tomorrow night and audition,’

‘NO’ Jack cut off, staring at him in astonishment. He always sends me for jobs, turned around to see that Enzio held the same stone-cold exterior that he always did.

‘Then how are we going to get her back Jack?’ I gritted my teeth, clutching my fists.

‘Guess this is when I make an appearance, right?’ a sinister voice announced from within the darkness.

‘Who are you?’ I spat.

When she stepped into the dimly lit area, her caramel skin almost sparkled with reflects of gold. Orbs of the never-ending forest with droplets of marigold, obsidian curls that stopped around her waist.

Matching leather leggings and a thin white tank top that outlined her curvaceous figure, jealously strung my cords at the thought of her near Enzio. This woman had a mischievous grin on her lips, what baffled me is the intensity of bloodlust that dilated her pupils, they equalled Jack’s if not outweighing his.

Scarlet plump stained lips that held a permanent smirk, this woman’s aura is destruction. The flames that danced around her alluring beauty and the incredulous admiration pegged my fibres.

‘Your feisty, I Like you princess,’ she hummed in appreciation as her calculating eyes roamed my body.

I took out my gun, aiming it at her flawless face, ‘Don’t call me that, speak before I pull the trigger,’ I demanded.

(Milady’s expression every time a gun is pointed at her.)

The unknown female held her hands in surrender with an amused grin on her lips, she taunted me.

My finger about to pull the trigger when Enzio stepped in front of my barrel, concealing her and drowning my vision in his attire. I could feel his hard muscles from the position of my gun, the darkness of his emotionless glare analysed me before shaking his head and resting his gigantic palm against my gun, lowering it. This simpleton is taking this whores part over mine, I rather put a bullet in his skull and then hers right now.

‘I have no problem putting it in you Enzio,’ I gritted, filled with resentment of his actions.

‘Do it, but she is useful in getting Valentina back,’ his smoky voice replied.

Lowering my gun from his chest, glaring at his magnificent eyes that stirred the emotions within me and devoured my molecules. ‘This is only because Valentina,’ I stated.

‘Enough!’ Jack’s voice boomed.

‘Aww come on, they look so cute fighting,’ the whore cooed, halting her steps next to Jack.

‘Watch your mouth cocky bitch,’ I barked.

‘I really like you, we are going to be great friends,’ she hummed in appreciation.

‘Druz’ya moya zadnitsa, ya ub’ya tebya, poka ty yeshche ne vydokhnesh,’ I yelled. (Friends my ass, I will kill you before you even let out another breath.)

‘Easy Nat!’ Benjamin calmly stated, his features strained.

‘Do not kill her Nat!’ Jack instructed, making me stare at him.

‘Why not, she’s annoying and an outsider,’ I scoffed.

‘Because she is our way in!’ he smirked.

Folding my hands over my chest, ‘I can do it myself.’

‘They know about you Natalia and its easy for them to just take you out when you go there,’ Enzio’s deep voice resonated, I didn’t bother to turn around to him but the close proximity of our bodies made my hair raise and a shiver to run down my spine.

‘Fine but if this whore doesn’t get her then I will personally see to her death,’ I replied, staring at her calculating face.

‘Agreed,’ Jack nodded.

‘You guys finish argue about my presence,’ her irritated voice announced.

‘Not in the slightest princess,’ I mocked.

The bitch had the audacity to wink at me, her posture remained confident in her role, Jack towered over her but the look that brightened within her eyes as she stared into his cold sapphires, challenging him with the raise of her eyebrow but also fascinated with the specimen he is.

‘So, Jack, Jack Vasilief, That sounds sexy,’ she said, tapping her chin playfully.

‘Milady, this isn’t the time for your childish behaviour,’ Jack said.

That’s the bitches name, Milady.

She rolled her eyes, ‘When is it ever.’

Rubbish, her disrespect didn’t sit well for me. ‘Jack, can I kill her please!’

‘NOT YET!’

I had to bite my tongue, the taste of the metallic liquid blanketing my mouth.

‘Milady, you are going to go undercover at Hell Fire,’ Jack instructed.

She didn’t even argue with his instructions, there wasn’t a hint of fear in her lime green eyes.

‘Stripper?’ She questioned, excitement laced her tone.

‘YES!’

There is a smile that crept upon her lips while she crossed her arms that perked her boobs for a feast.

‘You will audition for the job and put on your best performance,’ his honeyed voice stated.

A hint of mischief as she replied, ‘I always do!’

There it is, the Devil himself grinning for the first time around an outsider. ‘You will get close to Bane Leventis and eavesdrop on his conversation, anything that will lead me to the location of Valentina.’

‘How am I going to report back to you?’ she asked, smartly.

‘If the information deems necessary to finding Valentina, a burner phone will be left in your apartment and only use it for valuable information.’

‘Do I get to kill anybody,’ she smirked, the words making her eyes light up in anticipation which I found intriguing.

‘If they make you out, yes.’

A malevolent grin crept onto her face, it displayed the evil that resided within her, She didn’t hide the fact that she enjoyed the thought of draining the lives of many, she indulged in the thought. Would she purposely make her identity known, just to kill?

‘I hope this works!’ I stressed.

‘Me too.’

‘Wait, what about April?’ she questioned, the harden look in her eyes didn’t resemble what she usually reflected.

‘She is visibly bruised, therefore, she will not join you.’

‘Will you keep her safe?’ the words which stated the being that she is, she did harbour something for this person.

‘Yes, only if the job is done right,’ he smirked.

She glared at him, lethal expression on her lips.

‘Dismissed,’ Jack announced, walking away from the table into the dark.

Everyone scattered from their position except for me, instead I stood there, glaring at my reflection. Were my skills not up to par that they had to bring this annoying brat into the search for Valentina?

Then, the caress of his fingers graced upon my back. The chills sparking my spine as I turned to stare at those eyes that devoured my soul, consumed my heart.

His eyes softened at the sight of me, it didn’t resemble that a few minutes ago and instead it held affection and guilt that layered thick. His perfect cupids bow capturing my attention, the coral of his lips that I ached to taste again. They parted, the anticipation of comforting words to escape didn’t come. He closed them as soon as he opened an inner turmoil of his emotions circled in those blood specs of darkness. The hard texture of his palm rested upon my cheek as I leaned into his touch, fire radiating from him and melted into me. Making my body temperature skyrocket to the sun, closing my eyes to remain in the moment of his attention. This simple memory imprinted into the precious one that tattooed my heart, this may be our last encounter and although we could never come back to each other. Our feelings could never be expressed, admitting that the one person I needed in my life is him.

The silence wrapped around us, unspoken words weighing heavily on our shoulders, a cloud of despair. My heart crumbled, the yearn for him intensified with each caress that he sparked against my skin, our eyes moulding together in an attempt to release our demons and the ache to combine our bodies as one again.

There wasn’t anything more forbidden, that’s what pulled us apart. There is so much more to the story than the both of us knew, neither spoke of it and that is how it remained for the past five years. With words unsaid,

He connected our foreheads, the scent of earthy cigars on his breath with the mix of faint bourbon that I found delicious. His hot breath fanning against my scorching body. Closing his eyes, I begged for them to open, to grace me with their darkness.

Then as if he heard my silent plea, he opened those black eyes that held such a deep story, that no one ever had the pleasure of knowing, those blood-stained specks that tainted his innocence. It became all to consuming, devouring, addicting.

‘We can’t,’ he softly whispered, the words delicate against his tongue.

‘We never can,’ I replied, holding back my cries to have him become mine…