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Corona shook his head.
“You’ll make it. I promise you, you’re not dying in this fucking country. You’re not dying, period.”
“There.” Atlanta pointed at the small light in the sky in t
he distance.
Fear gripped Corona once again. If the enemy soldiers or some Al-Qaeda terrorists who were loyal to them were out there and they saw that chopper, they could shoot it down. The fear and intensity of the situation was palpable as Atlanta stopped the truck and they watched the chopper get closer and closer.
They gathered their shit, and Freeman lifted Jessup up over his shoulder to carry him as Atlanta did the same with Brophy. Once the chopper landed and the rest of his team were inside, Corona threw grenades into the truck to destroy the vehicle. As he jumped into the chopper last and they lifted off, the truck exploded, and they headed farther away from danger and closer to safety. He looked at his men and then at Jessup. This had to end. They were all getting tired of this shit. Jessup was seriously injured, and if his brother-in-arms died, Corona wouldn’t be able to live with himself. The last few years had brought more pain, more fears, and each of them closer to death. Jessup and Freeman had been captured and held prisoner in Cuba, and it had taken some serious illegal action for Corona and Atlanta to get them out of there. Viktor and his connections had assisted them. Maybe they needed to re-evaluate their plans. Maybe it was time to retire.
Chapter 2
“What do you want from me?” Nina asked Dominion. “I mean, I’ve told you how many times to not bother me again, that I don’t need you in my life. You don’t owe us anything. Our father didn’t even stick around long enough to change our diapers or give a shit. Where were you when I was living on the streets? When Zinc was losing his mind after leaving the military?”
Dominion Morales had supposedly been good friends with her father, yet, when Nina and Zinc’s mother died, he’d never come to find her or to help her out. He wouldn’t say why or what he was doing, but she had a feeling that maybe he’d been in jail or on the run. She’d never met him, but he sounded as if he was well-off and very sincere in his desire for her to come live with him. She refused. The last several times he’d spoken with her, he’d insisted that she get out of the club business and owing her life to the Russian mob. She felt insulted but also conflicted. Dominion was basically the last connection she and Zinc had to their mother and father. She longed to be part of something as deep and long-lasting as a family, a bloodline, but she was still an outsider in every way. Plus, Zinc wanted nothing to do with Dominion, and he didn’t believe anything he said. But that was Zinc. He didn’t trust anyone. He was always on edge and ready for a fight. He had been acting so funny lately, and Nina saw him less and less. When she asked him what he was up to, he told her that he loved her and that he was working. That was all she needed to know.
It was so crazy how they both kept a little distance, a wall around their hearts. Even as siblings, the only family they each had, they kept the wall, still. She longed for some sort of connection, a bond, something that made her feel human, real, cared for. She wasn’t even concerned with love. She’d given up on love, on full trust from any human being, years ago. She would be fine with stability and consistency. How sad was that? Yet here she was, continuously talking to a man she’d never met but who claimed to be a friend of her father, a man who died living life dangerously in the criminal world.
“Please, Nina. I want to be part of your life and have you be part of mine. Let’s get together soon and talk. You’re always welcome to visit me in Texas. I own numerous businesses and know a lot of people. Finding you a great job won’t be difficult at all. If you would come visit me, you would see that.”
She sighed.
It was tempting, to leave the city of Chicago and head to the country, to Texas. Would she even like it? She wasn’t exactly feeling like a part of “the family,” like many of the others who worked here felt. Viktor tried. He really did, but everyone was in an uproar over Karlicov being shot and his daughter Nalia was nowhere to be found. She’d evaded capture by the same group of men that had tried to kill Karlicov, and it had been weeks ago that she disappeared. They didn’t know if she was dead or alive, but Karlicov had everyone looking for her. Nina didn’t have that kind of bond and connection to anyone or anything. The Russians, as crazy and violent as they could get, were loyal and committed to those they trusted and loved. She couldn’t even imagine what that must feel like—not when she’d been all alone, and surely not when she was living on the streets trying to survive.
Nina shivered from the memories. It had been a bad time in her life, an embarrassing time she was ashamed of. No one here knew about her past. Viktor had paid for her college and given her this job, but he’d done it because of Zinc. As soldiers who served together, even their bond was strong. She wondered how that was even possible, and what types of dangers Viktor and Zinc had shared to secure that lifelong bond between them.
“I’ll think about it, Dominion. I can’t leave work now. There’s too much going on.”
“I know what’s going on, and I worry about your safety. Zinc is a trained soldier. You’re not.”
“But I’m street-smart, and that’s seemed to keep me out of trouble more times than I would like to remember. Don’t worry. I’m safe. I’m a club manager. Why would anyone want to hurt me?” She felt a bit of anxiety, as if she’d jinxed herself.
“The possibilities of something bad happening to you increase by the employment location and those you associate with. You could get caught up in something. I’ve heard some things, and I don’t think it’s safe working for that family. Zinc refuses to call me back. I’ve tried contacting him, too. It’s important that he calls me.”
“What things?” Now he had her attention.
“I just want you to be safe. I’m here for you. Remember that, always. No matter what, I am here, and you can come to me, no questions asked.”
“Thank you, Dominion.”
She felt thankful that at least Dominion was in her life and felt like family, even if she was creating that image out of need. That empty space would never be filled. No one was capable of filling it, yet she hoped pretending to actually have family might help, somehow. Her brother didn’t see Dominion as family. In fact, he didn’t seem too keen on having a relationship with Dominion at all. She figured that was just Zinc’s way. He barely trusted anyone and was a bit paranoid most of the time. A lot of the time, lately.
Nina looked up and saw Brutas enter the room, and he looked panicked. “I need to go.” She disconnected the call.
Brutas got to her quickly. She felt her gut clench, and she knew something was wrong.
“It’s Zinc, Nina. There was a shooting.”
“What happened? Where is he? Did he get hurt?” she asked.
“He’s dead, Nina. His body was found in his car. A bullet to his head,” Brutas said to her, grabbing her shoulders.
“No. No, you have to be mistaken. I just spoke with him thirty minutes ago,” Nina exclaimed.
Brutas Nolan, one of Viktor’s employees, stared down into her eyes. She had known him long enough to know he was serious. She wanted to throw up, scream, cry—something.
“He can’t be dead, Brutas. He can’t be.” The tears began to flow.
