103. Settling Accounts

103. Settling Accounts
"Are we sure we won't run into fifth-rate hitmen who'll just waste our time?" Leonid spoke, the first words he had uttered all night.

Will and I exchanged a look at Leonid's question.

"Why do you think Arnold is here? He can't afford security for his old house, he fled and ended up in the worst district. We'll go in and out walking. Our cop friends don't show up, even when they're needed. It's the worst place Arnold could be," I replied.

"But what if we go in and it's just a woman with her two kids at home? No one can know we entered," Leonid countered.

"It's 3:00 am, if there are kids, then they're sleeping. Worst-case scenario, we ask her to give them voluntary amnesia for the nice sum of $10,000," I reasoned.

"The only dead one today is going to be Arnold, right? Promise me that," Leonid demanded.

"The only blood we're seeking to shed is Arnold's," Will assured Leonid.

Everything happened quickly. We entered the house. It's a mess; broken things and smells like shit, suspecting the brown on the walls is just that.

We found Arnold and without giving him a chance to speak, Leonid plunged a knife into his throat. It wasn't the first time I had seen a man drown in his own blood, but this time it would stay with me.

More than anything, for the satisfaction of watching the bastard drown.



Margaret didn't even stir when I joined her in bed; she was sound asleep, too deep to be disturbed. She didn't even make a sound when I pulled her close to me, her warm body contrasting with my cold one.

Once I made sure Arnold was dead and the fire was entirely accidental in the eyes of the officers, I returned to Will and Leonid. I could see that the latter had found peace, but even with the peace he had, his wife was dead. At least, I had avenged her; I had done everything that needed to be done.

"Nikolay, what happened?" Margaret asked, groggy.

"It's over."

"What's over?"

"Our first damn and tormenting chapter is done," I whispered. "I won't promise a fairy tale, but I can assure you that from now on, everything will get better."

Margaret's eyes looked at me in amazement, as if she couldn't believe my words, or rather, as if she wanted to believe them but they were too good to be true.

"Promise me," she said.

"What?"

"Promise me that you won't make me leave you again."

"I hate committing to something I'm not sure I can fulfill."

"Are you telling me no?"

"No, Margaret, for you it will always be a yes.”

I saw her bite her lip and rhythmically tap her foot on the floor, as if she wanted to say something to me but didn't dare.

"Nikolay, never leave me alone again, I thought I had lost you forever," tears spilled down her beautiful face.

"Never, do you hear me? I'll always be with you, until my heart stops beating."

"I love you so much, darling," she said, with her forehead pressed against mine and her eyes closed.

"I love you too," I kissed her lips, sighed, and pulled her onto my lap. "How are you feeling?" I asked, looking at the picture of my baby.

"Fine, just a little disgusted by coffee, but otherwise, I'm perfectly fine and even better now that I'm back home."

We hugged as if we wanted to melt into each other.

"I'm so glad, sweetheart," I kissed her head and smelled her hair. "Margaret, I would really like you to stay home and rest for a few days," she sighed, burying her head in my neck. "I know you've been through a lot, and I need to take you to the doctor for a check-up after everything that happened," I gently lifted her face and kissed her. "I'm so proud of you, you're a strong woman."

She shrugged and stroked my beard.

"I wouldn't have been able to bear it alone, but I thought of you and our son, all the good things we've experienced and what you've given me, because I truly lived a hell."

"You're here now, you can rest," I kissed her lips. "I want you to be calm and not worry about anything," she caressed my cheek.

"Now that I'm home, I've come back to life," she caressed her belly.

"How have you been with the pregnancy?" I placed my hand over hers.

"Well, I still have nausea, Gale brought me juice and I vomited it all up. The baby is a bit restless, so I think you're right and I should go get checked by the doctor to make sure everything is okay."

She looked at me with fear in her eyes, and I kissed her forehead to reassure her.

"You are, you'll see," she gave me a half-smile.

I hugged her tightly as she cried.

"It's been hell without you, Nikolay," I wiped her cheeks, "not knowing about you, worried about my baby, afraid you'd never find me, that Mike..." she sobbed, and my heart broke, "I know what he did was horrible, but still, I can't wish him any harm, and I know you want revenge and he must pay, but..."

"Do you want to forgive him?" I asked cautiously, it wasn't my plan by any means; I planned to torture the bastard until he screamed in pain until death, but I couldn't bear for Margaret to reproach me for it for the rest of our days, I was truly willing to do anything for her.

"Relax, Margaret," I stroked her hair, "I'm sorry. I regret that you've suffered so much, sweetheart, from now on, I won't leave your side," she smiled, "and as for Mike..." I clenched my fists, and she noticed, "I'll give you a few days to think about it, I don't want to do anything that might negatively affect you, even though the bastard deserves it."

"You better," Ivanov smiled weakly, "you spend your life protecting me, but I've forgotten to protect myself, but this won't happen again," I hugged her tightly, "we'll both protect each other.”