Grusha: The wild horse

Grusha's POV:

“Grusha…”

When I heard that voice, I felt as though time had stopped. If it weren’t for the burning sensation in my scalp, I might have thought this was some kind of dream. I slowly turned my head after being shocked by what I had just heard, to see the worst sight I have ever seen in my life. Tears that were welled up escaped my eyes, slightly clearing my vision.

Brother?

If it weren’t for his voice and the necklace that dangle around his neck, I wouldn’t believe this is my brother because of how much worse his condition was. His hair was a mess and it covered both of his eyes and forehead. His head was hung low, but I could see his face totally covered with blood. He was on his knees, his hands tied behind him, occasionally coughing blood. His shirt was also covered with blood and the top buttons were opened which didn’t prevent me from seeing his blood covered chest. I have never imagined him in such a situation like this, but here he is.

I was not excited or surprised to see my brother who I haven’t seen in three days. But I was shocked to hear him calling me by my name for the first time in my life. I stared at him in disbelief. His eyes slowly met mine as he slowly lifted his head. His eyes looked different. He didn’t look like the monster I used to know for the past years. I noticed a different emotion in his eyes beside hatred, for the first time in my life. Was it,

Guilt?

He was guilty?

Why?

“Gru_”

He was unable to finish his sentence as his body hit the ground with a loud thud and unlike before, the gunshot reverberated through the hallway. No words came out of my mouth as I stared at my brother’s lifeless body in horror. My hands began to shake. I expected me to feel at least sad but no, I felt nothing. But I was definitely in fear for my life. That’s when something hit me. I am at father’s room. Then, father?

That’s when I heard the beeping sound of the heart monitor. I felt my vision becoming blurry again. I wasn’t sure if those were the tears of fear or the tears of sadness. Whatever they were, they rolled off my cheek before disappearing onto the carpet below. I felt my head spinning and the nauseated was getting worse. I clutched my head in one hand.

I sensed someone approaching me and my gaze turned from my brother’s lifeless body to the pair of black, shining shoes in front of me. Then I saw a hand, carrying a gun, moving in my direction as whoever that was in front of me crouched down to my level.

I trembled violently and jerked back, flinching when the muzzle of the gun touched my cheek. I didn’t dare to lift my gaze and I closed my eyes hoping this moment will end. The muzzle of the gun went from my cheek to my chin forcing me to lift my head. I waited and waited for another gunshot to be heard and for my body to hit the ground, but nothing happened. I slowly unlatched my eyelids while breathing heavily.

The moment I opened my eyes, my gaze fell over those dreadful eyes that were already staring at me.

Ocean eyes.

And the next thing I know is my eyelids closing slowly and my body falling onto the ground.

Damien POV:

Aslanov.

Pathetic bastard.

Would still be alive only if they had once listened. But, the avaricious bitch, Rafael wanted to take on everything and the alliance he made with Russians was the last string. For the sake of our grandfather’s friendship, I have given him few warnings before, but that ungrateful bastard didn’t know what he was asking for. Knowing how much I detested betraying people, he ought to have known better than to do so.

A knock was heard and Luca, my right-hand man, walked in while carrying a file in his hand. The frown on his forehead indicated that I am not going to hear what I want to hear.

“Nessun capo. Non abbiamo trovato nessun record su di lei.”

[No boss. We didn’t find any records about her.]

Luca said with his head hung low in defeat. I hummed in response and threw my head back, resting it on the chair’s head.

I was back in my office, after taking care of Aslonovs, since there were still a few things to deal with. Getting rid of Aslonovs was never in my bucket list and hell, nonno [Grandfather] would be furious with me if he found out that I had just killed his best friend and his son with my own hands. But, what to do. Rules are rules. You have no friends when it comes to business. That’s what I was taught and what I will be sticking to.

Rafael knew he fucked up when he chose to mess with me and that’s why he tried to run to the Russians for protection.

I can smell war and it’s not like I didn’t know this would lead to a war. Pavlov must be fuming in rage since attacking Aslanov is akin to an indirect warning for them to stay away from my business. After all, I was so fed up of this ongoing silent war between us and my hands were itching to swipe those Pavlovs off this world. Neither of us was making a move, so, let this be the beginning we have all been waiting for. However, the Pavlov I know is not someone who would do something out of pity, so I need to find out what Rafael had agreed to give them in exchange for his protection.

“Nemmeno il nome completo?”

[Not even the full name?]

I asked Luca, when he continued to stare at me waiting for my next order.

“Nessun capo. Infatti non è mai nata.”

[No boss. In fact, she was never born.]

A hum is all that left my mouth. That’s suspicious. When I first saw that girl I thought she was some sort of whore or something despite her grey eyes that seemed so innocent, feared and intoxicating at the same time. But when Bernadi came to me with a deal, willing to pay any sum of money just to take her back, it only piqued my curiosity. And now, with not being able to find any information about her, I am sure as hell she is not just a whore or something. And I guess I have to find myself.

“Come si chiamava di nuovo?”

[What her name was again?]

I asked Luca, ignoring his bewildered looks.

“Grusha.”

He said while handing me the file, which is probably empty, that he had been carrying until now. Despite my presumptions, I reached out to grab it, but my phone rang stopping me in my tracks.

“Capo, abbiamo un piccolo problema qui.”

[Boss, we have a little problem here.]

One of my men who I kept with the girl said as soon as I answered the phone. A smirk made its way to my lips unknowingly.

Indeed a wild horse.