What Did You Do?!

Jonathan

I clenched my fingers around the fork as another low gasp escaped the poor girl standing to my left by my brother's side. His hand was wrapped around her waist and from here I could see how tight he was gripping her. And the look on his face told me he was doing it intentionally.

“Jonathan.” My gaze went to my father’s, even though he looked better than the last time, I didn't like the cold glint that shimmered in his eyes.

“Yes, father.”

“We have decided to cast a vote.” I stilled at his words because I knew what was he going to say next. “Lez has showed far more interest in the family than you, and it's time that he step up for the family if you won’t.”

“He's the youngest.” I said, ignoring the subtle way my brother shifted.

My father's eyes honed on me. “Will you then finally step up?”

“Its not my place either.” I replied, barely controlling myself from upending the whole table and put an end to this dinner. Because like every other time my father was still stuck on it. 

“He has been dead for six years now.” Olezka said, his spoon scraping the plate.

I ignored him, looking at my father, I said, “Why not appoint Lachlan, he’ll be good for the city.”

“He’s just a bloody soldier.” My brother’s voice dripped with disgust. 

“He doesn’t have our last name.” Father replied, ignoring Lez like me.

“Neither does he, for that matter.” My brother added as if everyone in the city doesn’t know it already. That Jonathon Byrne Sokolov was no longer a family member since the day he lost his mother and a brother. The twin brother, who was supposed to be the head of the family. He was four minutes older than me and so he was supposed to be the Pakhan. Not me. And I will never take his place, but I will also not let my younger brother take his place. Because he was a wild canon, an animal without any conscience.

 Father gave him a stern look which had him sighing, “Fine. Fine.” And I watched as he pulled the girl down on his lap and fondled her.

“The family needs a Pakhan, Jonathan. With blood as pure as ours. We can't have my right hand man to be that.” 

“Like always, big brother is overruled by emotions. It's better if he doesn't want to be the leader. Because soon we are going to have a war in our hands and we don't need no weaklings.”

Before I could think, the fork flew from my fingers and a second later it was lodged in my brother’s shoulder. Dots of blood appeared on his shirt as he plucked it out from his shoulder. His eyes like our father’s stared back at me before they dropped on the fork. “Didn't think you had it in you.” He remarked, wiping the fork on the girl’s cheek, leaving smears of red, making her whimper.

If he only knew what else I could do. I might have decided to not be a part of the family but the family’s blood was still running through my veins. I’d say ask the number of men I have tortured but then they are all dead now. “Let the girl go.” I said my tone as cold as it could be, brooking no arguments.

Instead of letting the girl go, he circled his fingers around her throat and squeezed. I watched as a tear slipped down her cheek. She looked so young and it was one thing humiliating your woman behind closed doors with her permission, knowing she wants it but this…

I stood up from my chair and three strides later, I grabbed his shirt, carefully pulling the girl away from his clutches. “Idti.” I said to the girl. She didn't waste a second as she bolted out of the dining room. I focused back on my brother and pulled her out of his chair. “You are getting on my nerves, day by day, little brother. Careful before I do something more disgusting to you than what you did to the woman on 65th street.”

His face paled. I knew it. The black rage once again consumed me and I let my hands do what they were itching to do since I found about it. I slammed my fist into his face, again and again not stopping. Olezka scrambled to his feet, but the next hit had him bumping into the table and like always our father just sat there watching the spectacle his sons were making. My brother whirled around and I didn't see the knife that he had grabbed from the table and slashed at me. “Blood for blood, big brother.” He taunted, wiping his nose on his arm, smearing blood all over his shirt. 

“I am warning you, Olezka, stop it before I put an end to it.” I warned.

“Put an end to me, you mean?” He questioned back, sneering at me.

Before I could reply our father’s next word stopped me. “Italians are roaming around in the country, and few were even seen in the city.” His pale blue eyes stared at us, silently commanding us to sit and behave. When we were seated, he said, “It’s time you both forget about your own personal differences and remember what happened in the past.”

Mila

“I am not going back.” I said, sipping the chocolate shake Lexa had ordered for me. 

“But—”

“No, but. He outright threatened me, Lexa!” I hissed, looking around myself. The cafe was crowded and even more people were coming in. It wasn’t much to look at, even it was a little dark and old for my taste but Lexa had said that the home-made lasagna here was too good to not eat. 

“And I thought the scenery was too good to pass on.” She said as she ate a spoonful from her plate.

“Oh, it is.” I nodded. Then I asked, “Do you think he meant it?”

A shadow crossed her face, but it was gone as soon as it appeared as she asked, “Do you?”

I remembered his grey eyes, how they had raked down my form. He had looked cold, aloof and ruthless but for some reason I didn’t think he really meant his threat… unless I do something, because I didn't miss the truth underlying his words. At some base level, I knew that he would do it. That, may be he had already done it with someone else. His presence, his aura screamed danger and predator. And I have lived with dangerous men my whole life, I knew how merciless they could be. 

“What’s that look?” Lexa’s voice brought me to present.

“What?” I asked, blinking his perfect image out of my mind. 

“You are a lost cause, Mila.” She said as she gulped down a mouthful of her beer. “But if you don’t want to go then don’t. I’ll inform the agency and we’ll find you another job.”

I nodded my head and soon she launched into another of her passion filled talks of designing new jewelry and the piece she was currently working on. We were almost finished with our food and it was already late, so we decided to head home. As we stood up from our chairs, Lexa told me to head out and that she’ll pay the bill. 

I was making my way to the door when it flew open and number of men entered. The one leading in the front looked like he had a recent meet and greet with a running train or something equally dangerous. Half of his face was swollen and his one eye, almost shut, was quickly turning black by the looks of it. 

I was just passing by them when I heard someone saying, “How about that one?”

“She will do.” I turned in time to see the leader of them grabbing for a waitress.

“Hey! Leave my hand!” The girl cried, trying to free her wrist as the man pulled her closer.

“Why? Come on, now, you know you can’t say no.” I watched as his other hand gripped her face, his fingers digging into her cheeks.

“Don’t touch me!” The girl screamed as she tried to get away but failed. 

My eyes wandered around the café where everyone was just standing there and looking at the scene, watching a man forcing a girl without doing anything. The men that had come with the beaten arsehôle, which now I’m gathering he surely deserved, laughed and cheered. 

Gritting my teeth, I marched to the group and pushed at the man. “Are you deaf? She said to leave her.”

The man’s blue gaze swung to me. “What if I don’t?” The cold blue looked like I was seeing into a pit where only monsters reside.

“I will call the police.” I bit out and ignoring the laughter I fought to uncurl his fingers from the poor girl’s wrist.

Once she was free, she quickly ran away from there. And as I also started to step away the arm around my waist stopped me. “Now, where are you going?” I felt him coming closer, his alcohol induced breath wafting over the side of my face. “I didn’t let her go so you can leave too.”

I flinched away, and tried to struggle my way out of his grip only for him to pull me back. He turned me around to face his men. “Tell me guys, how would she do?”

One of the men stepped forward and made to touch my face as he said, “Much better than the last one, I’d say.”

“Mila…?” I heard Lexa behind me and it had all the men turning to look over my shoulder.

I took the advantage and slammed my elbow back in my captor’s stomach. I whirled around at his loose grip and then without thinking, I slammed my fist into his face. The collective gasps that echoed around me in the café didn’t hide the warning curse that came from my left. But I didn’t wait to find out as I grabbed Lexa’s hand and made to run out of there. “Run! Fast!” I said to her as we emerged out from the café.

“Grab her!” I heard the man shout.

“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Lexa chanted. “What did you do!?” She hissed at me. But I ignored her as I looked around for a hiding place. And dragged my friend to the small opening of an alley, leading behind the café. “What are you doing, they’ll look here first.” She complained.

“Shut up.” They will look around but not from where we have run in the first place. “Come here. Get in.”

“Really?” She looked at me and then at the trash can with disgust written all over her face. I glared at her as I heard the footsteps at the opening of the alley from where we had just come. “Fine.” She muttered.

I quickly followed after her and jumped into the dumpster. The footsteps neared and I heard someone say, “They must have ran somewhere else.” The footsteps receded. “Let’s go.”

“Finally.” Lexa said but I pulled her down when she started to stand up.

“Not yet.” She sighed and looked at me, a troubled expression on her face. “What?” I asked.

“Why did you have to get into this?” She hissed the question at me.

“What do you mean?” I asked back, not understanding. “He was forcing that poor girl and no one was even trying to help, just standing there and looking at the spectacle.”

“There was a reason for that, Mila.” Her words were filled with exasperation. “No one wants to cross him. He's the son of Gerard Sokolov.” My expression must have given away my confusion as she said, “Youngest of the most dangerous family in Russia. He is the Pakhan’s son.”

I felt my heart racing in my chest at her words. “Rus-Russian mob, you mean?” I asked, dreading her answer.

“Yes. And now, I think you should know that—” The door opening just beside the dumpster had her dropping into silence and when I peeked up I saw the girl who was accosted earlier with a bin bag coming toward the dumpster we were hiding in. 

I nudged Lexa. “Let’s go before we are buried under a heap of rubbish.”

When we stood up the girl froze and her scared gaze met mine, then she slowly relaxed and closed the distance between us. “Thank you so much for helping me.” She said. 

I nodded. “Be safe.” I looked at Lexa. “We have to go now.”