Page 4 of My Hunger, Your Soul

“So, are you settled in your new apartment?” he asks.

“Yes. I still need to unpack, but I think I’ll be very happy there.”

“Good. Have you had time to review the new contract we discussed when you accepted the job?”

“The Kozlov project? Yes.”

“Any questions?”

The question causes me to pause, trying to decide whether to raise my concerns after that conversation with Noah and Chase or shut the fuck up and do as I’m told. But my curiosity won’t rest, so I go for honesty.

“Actually, I do have a concern. Someone informed me that the Kozlov family are…how do I put it? Umm…criminals?”

A silence fills the office, causing a chill to cover my body as if the air conditioning has been turned up. Mr. Clayson looks at me with his head slightly tilted to the left as his unblinkered stare rests on me. I swallow hard, panicking that I’ve overstepped on my first day, but the rational part of my brain convinces me that I did the right thing to raise my concern.

“Look, Tyler. The Kozlov brothers’ contract is very lucrative for us. It is not my place to research their backgrounds or morals to do work for them. We provide a legal service and are not the moral police. I’ve no idea what they do or don't do. Only rumors. Now my question is, is this going to be a problem for you? I could’ve handed this project to another person, but I wanted the best as this would benefit our business. And business comes first.”

I ponder his words, unsure if they confirm my concerns or appease them. I detect a slight threat in the tone of his voice, but Mr. Clayson is so direct and indifferent that it's hard to tell if this is just his normal way of talking. I realize that I have been silent for longer than socially normal when Mr. Clayson takes a deep sigh and leans forward onto his forearms on his desk.

“Tyler, is this going to be a continuing problem? I must say, maybe working here was not the right decision for you.”

That pulls me out of my questioning state and into a semi-panic.

“No! No. It’s not a problem, I was just curious. I can do the job.”

I’m a fucking idiot. My stomach drops with a feeling that this is going to go wrong.

“Good. The files have been uploaded to your computer already, and you have a meeting with the brothers at their home tomorrow. You can use one of the company fleet cars that we have to go out there, as they live on the outskirts of the city in a rural area. My PA can give you all the details.”

“Okay. Thank you Mr. Clayson.”

“Call me George. Is there anything else?”

“No. Thanks again for the opportunity, George. I won't let you down.”

Mr. Clayson, I mean George, stands, and I follow as he moves to open the office door. I guess the meet-and-greet is over.

“I hope not. I’m counting on you, Tyler. You can achieve great things here.”

I smile and nod as I walk out of the office and slowly trudge myself back to my office, thinking over my life choices. You know what? Fuck it. Noah was just exaggerating. I just need to do what I’m paid to and give the Kozlov family their dream home. Just get in there and get out, and never look back again. Just in case Noah was right and they are a murdering clan, I’ll keep my head down and get this project finished as fast as possible, hopefully slipping under their radar.

It’ll be fine.

After a long day of settling into my new job, meeting so many people who I’ll forget the names of, I finally arrive back at my apartment. The company secured me this place so I could move out here quicker. The rent is eye-watering, but I earn enough to cover it. However, I’m unsure how long it’ll be until I’m in a position to buy my own place. I’m reluctant to put solid roots down yet in New York, just in case this job doesn’t work out and I need to relocate again. This apartment is a dream, though. I’m so high up the views are breathtaking, overlooking the city that never sleeps. Now that the sun has set, the lights on the streets and buildings light up my apartment without the need to turn on my own. As I place my work bag and coat in the small entrance hall, I walk down the corridor into my open-plan kitchen/living room and sigh at the sight of boxes upon boxes scattered around the room. I can’t find the energy to unpack tonight. Knowing there is nothing in my refrigerator apart from milk, I make a quick food order from a local sushi restaurant and jump in the shower for a quick refresh while I wait for it to be delivered. Just as I leave the shower and dress in my gray sweats and t-shirt, my food arrives.

So far, all I have is a bed and a sofa. It's pitiful to look around at this gorgeous space with nothing filling it. It certainly screams of an empty shell rather than a home, but I’ll get onto trying to make it look like at least someone lives here on the weekend. I should’ve invited Chase out here to do it as he would love to organize my life. Little does he know it's a mess in all areas. He doesn't know how lonely I have become over the years. Date after date, disappointment after disappointment in finding someone to share a life with. I’m at that stage now where my career is where I wanted it to be, but now it would be perfect if I had someone to come home to. It doesn’t help that I’m horny as fuck and my right hand isn’t getting the job done anymore. It’s been at least two months since my last hook up and I need to get laid.

I plate up my food, collapse on the sofa, load a movie on my laptop because I’m too lazy to buy a TV, and let my mind wander into the fictitious world, relieving me of the stress that tomorrow I have to visit the Kozlovs. I really could swing at Noah right now as the fucker has me all cautious.Oh fuck it, who cares. I’m there to design and that’s all. What they do is not my business.

3

IVAN

It’s been an eventful couple of weeks since I’ve been home. I’ve not had a second go by where something hasn’t been kicking off within the Kozlov residence. Mainly it’s been drama with Jules, one of the guards and his step-nephew and new recruit Kai. Kai’s past caught up with him when he went back home after some miscommunication with Jules or some shit like that. Not sure of the details and to be honest, I don’t really care. While Kai is gorgeous, he doesn’t have the appetite for this dark life and needs protection more than the others. It's sweet in some ways, I guess, but not for me. Luckily for him, Jules loves looking after him, so good luck to them. I can’t imagine Kai being a part of a gang, but the fuckers stabbed him, which resulted in a hell of a lot of fun for me when it came down to retribution for our family. Because that's what we are. A fucked up, unmoral, completely batshit crazy family. I got to test out my new tattoo gun on one of the guys, that I’d upgraded myself. Its become a little hobby of mine, creating new torture methods. It keeps me interested and more entertained if I find new ways to make people bleed and scream, and fuck did I do that when I gave the ratty little fucker a circumcision with my bladed tattoo gun. Just thinking about it makes me salivate, eager to do something else. Anyway, Kai is back home with us now and the house feels more settled. Standing here in Dima and Lev’s kitchen with the guys feels surreal, like I was never away. That the past ten years didn’t even happen.

“Hey Ivan, can I ask for a favor?” Kai asks. I didn’t even notice him approaching.

“What is it?”

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