Page 85 of Toxic Salvation
“It was Ihor. He f-forced me to join him on all his ‘business meetings.’ He claimed that trying the merchandise was part of the job. Soon, I was snorting so much coke that he had to slash my pay to cover his costs.” His voice shrinks. “I vowed I would stop using, but Ihor just kept pushing me. Once it became clear to my ex-wife that I was an addict, she stopped letting me visit. I haven’t seen my little girl in over a year. She’s probably forgotten all about me by now.”
He drops his head to hide his tears. Normally, I don’t make a habit of giving comfort, especially not to my men. Weakness spreads through an organization faster than wildfire.
But in Grigory’s case, I’m making an exception.
Because what Ihor did to him was so fucking low that it makes me see him in a completely different light.
“Do you remember the night I picked you up, Grigory?”
“N-no, sir. Not really.”
“You were lying in a gutter deep in the Mission. In the freezing cold rain. It’s a fucking miracle you didn’t die from hypothermia.” I lean back in the uncomfortable chair. “You spent two nights in St. Raphael’s getting your stomach pumped. The doctors said another hour of exposure and you would have been dead.” I watch his face carefully. “And then I moved you here to Maitland Care.”
“I… I remember parts of that.” He goes back to wringing his hands. “I… I didn’t say very nice things to you.”
I allow myself a small smile. “No, but I’m willing to forgive that. If you vow to be the honest, loyal, and devotedvoryou promised to be when you first took your pledge.”
He looks shell-shocked. “You still want me to work for you?”
“You will be reinstated and asked to take the pledge again. With your new salary, you will be able to provide for your daughter.”
The tears slide down his cheeks, but this time, he doesn’t seem ashamed of them. “Why would you do that?”
“Ihor has ruled through fear and threats and blackmail. I’m trying to see if true loyalty will trump that. I believe it can—so don’t prove me wrong, Grigory.”
He shakes his head. “S-sir… it’s good of you to want to help me, but… I’m weak. I don’t know if I can stay sober out in the real world.”
“You can and you will.” I make sure my tone leaves no room for argument. “Because you do have a support system outside of thisfacility. Your brothers will be with you all the time. You have two more days left here and then you’re moving into your new home. The safehouse on Folsom will be home to you and four othervorswho’ve recently renewed their pledges to me. They will keep you on the straight and narrow.”
The color leaves his face completely. “Folsom? That’s only two blocks away from?—”
“Where your ex-wife and daughter live. That’s right.”
His eyes snap to mine, so full of hope that, as a soon-to-be father and an uncle who loves his nephew like a son, I feel his desperation like it were my own.
“I’ve spoken to Carol, Grigory,” I add.
His hands reach out toward me as though in prayer. “W-what did you tell her?”
“I spared her the gory details, but I did tell her that you’re getting sober. I told her I would make sure you stay that way. I also told her that she and your daughter would be provided for.” I pause, letting that sink in. “Once you have your six-month chip, you will be allowed two supervised visits with Emily every week.”
“T-two?” He can barely get the word out. “A week?”
“Emily remembers you, Grigory. And she still loves you. When you were around, you were a good father. Carol admitted as much, and Emily couldn’t stop talking about you.”
“Oh…”
That’s all he manages before he breaks down completely. Croaking, snot-filled sobs that shake his entire body. I pass him the box of tissues from the nightstand and get to my feet.
“Not to put too fine a point on this, Grigory, but staying sober and loyal won’t just benefit you. It benefits your daughter, too.”
Grigory gets to his feet and offers me his hand. It’s the steadiest move he’s made since I walked in here. “I swear to you, boss, I will not let you down.”
I shake his hand. His grip is firm. “That’s what I thought.”
“Boss.”
Vasily approaches me the moment I exit Maitland. The afternoon sun is starting to fade, casting long shadows across the parking lot.
