Page 62 of Nobody Wants Me
I rolled my eyes because right now, I was not in the mood for talking riddles.We had nothing, and I didn’t like those odds.Without another word, I stepped out of my office, headed down the corridor, and outside.I didn’t stop until I entered my shed.There, in the center, was the cabinet I had made for Freya.It had been a peace offering.One she had declined, seeing as I had set the precedent for gift giving.I thought about my quilt back at the island.I was going to cherish that quilt forever.
I wasn’t alone for long, as Ivan stepped into the room.Out of the whole Volkov Bratva, Ivan was the one I was closest to.The other Brigadiers were allies and friends, but it was Ivan I knew best.
“I know you’re not happy with this,” he said.
“What is there to be happy about?”I asked.“We’re tired.We’re up fucking shit creek with this.”
It was then I realized if I was struggling to get my shit together, then looking at Ivan, he was going to have a hard time dealing with this.
“How are you doing?”I asked.
“Better than you it would seem.”
This made me laugh.“You’re used to being the one in control.”
“Don’t worry, I will still be calling the shots.I have encountered The Grid in the past, admittedly not for me, but I will handle it again.”
“How did you handle it before?”I asked.
“I did a deal.”
“I don’t think Harris is going to be doing deals,” I said.
“They are willing to do a couple of deals,” Ivan said.
I looked up at him.“What?”
“The Grid knows I want Freya removed.There are ways around it.”
“Pay it?”I asked.
“It’s not money they want.Trust me, if it was, I would pay it.I want to get to know my sister,” Ivan said.
“What deals do they want?”I wanted to know so I could help Ivan make the right decision.
“Either The Beast or The Butcher, or both,” Ivan said.
There was no way we were getting this done.
“What?”
“They are willing to take either of them, or both of them, and in return Freya will not be harmed at all.She would have total immunity.”
There was no way we could do that.
“What do they think?”I asked.
“The Butcher was willing,” Ivan said.
I knew from what Freya had told me, she and The Butcher were getting tight.They were becoming friends.I didn’t think it was the cleverest idea—my wife and a contract killer—but who was I to judge?
“I couldn’t do that to Freya.”Although, it did make me like The Butcher a hell of a lot more than I thought I would ever like her.“She would never forgive herself.”
Ivan agreed and this no longer helped us.We were stuck, with no other options before us.
I stared at the cabinet, and I couldn’t help but think of all of the things I had done wrong.
“You know, I knew my dad was a piece of work, and I fucking hated him.Still do, and his life ended way too easily.”I couldn’t take my eyes off that piece of furniture.“I promised myself I wouldn’t become him, and that is exactly what I have done.”
