Page 43 of Collapsed

“Oh, I’m definitely helping,” Nat replies. “There will be penises and vaginas everywhere. Only the best for the best bride.” BJ blushes and opens her arms, inviting us in for a group hug.

“I know there is not a wedding party planning meeting without the man of honor,” Alexie’s voice cuts in as we turn to see him standing in the doorway. “We will throw the wildest of parties, but first, I have a plan to get rid of Ivan.”

Ivan

Flyingtothecityof wind, as they say, is a bit turbulent, but it is nothing like the turbulence I am about to cause. Rocking this city to the core will be a fun game to play while gettingMoy Oganback where she belongs. I will happily tear this city apart brick by brick to get her, and no one will be able to stop me, let alone those weak men she thinks she wants. I will show her they are nothing. I am not worried in the least about Katia. I have broken her once before, and she will do well for me again. Maybe I will sell her to the highest bidder and send her away after this is all done; can’t let that pretty face and body go to waste. She could bring me so much money and favors.

A voice from overhead shakes me from my thoughts of vengeance, announcing we are starting our descent and mentioning fun places to go for your visit here in Chicago. I have plenty of fun planned while I am here, and none of it involves a big bean or giant towers. I hate this city and am enraged thatMoy Oganhas forced me to come back here. Returning here to retrieve her after faking my death and being on this team should have been enough. But here I am once again in his shit city, having to track down my lover.

Once we land, I grab my bag, head to the front of the plane, and make my exit. Then it is easy to maneuver my way through the airport to the parking lot, where I look for the car that should be here to pick me up. I sent a text regarding my arrival as we were taxiing to the terminal. Standing there scanning for the car, fury begins to fill my veins just as I see the car pull from traffic up to the curb.

“Where the fuck have you been?” I growl through gritted teeth at Demitri, one of my men based here in Chicago.

“Umbra, I am so sorry, this airport does not let you stay parked. You have to keep circling the terminals until your guest is outside. I had to keep driving around. I had no choice. I hope you were not waiting long, sir.”

I wave my hand in his face to indicate he should stop talking because I am tired of excuses. “Drive, I want to go to my apartment downtown, now!”

“Yes, sir. If I may say, I was very surprised I was not picking you up at the normal private airstrip we use,” he says to me before I confirm that he may speak.

I snap my head toward him so he can see the serious look in my eyes. “First, next time you need to wait and allow me to answer the ‘If I may’ part of your sentence before you just continue speaking. I will think of a punishment for your outburst later.” I watch the apple of adam bob in his throat as he gulps air down in fear. “Second, I figured that the airport would be watched more than this large public airport as the Volkov scum knows it is the one that I commonly use. I am here to surprise them and get my wife back, not show them all my cards right away, idiot.”

“Yes, it makes perfect sense, Umbra. You are a genius. Sorry if I have offended you. I will get you to your destination in no time,” he sputters while facing forward, stiff as a board, driving in and out of the busy traffic.

Looking out the window, anxious to set my plans into motion, I give my building aggression an outlet by thinking about Demitri’s punishment.Should he die? I do need a kill right about now.

We are getting within walking distance of my apartment.When we have to stop at a red light, I look to my left and see a woman cutting across the crosswalk and going towards the parking garage to my right. She has pillowy lips likeMoy Ogan.This lights a fire in me. She will do just fine for my needs.

Turning to my driver, I tell Demitri, “I will walk the rest of the way. Go to my apartment and take my bags inside. Wait there for my orders.” Grabbing a knife from the bag this buffoon brought me, I get out of the car and start following the poor woman who caught my eye. Licking my lips, I track her every move, then slink into the shadows once inside the parking garage. Following her to the fifth floor, I wait until she unlocks her car with her fob. I pounce, pushing her into one of the concrete posts so she is pinned between it and my body. She has a very small frame, which tells me she is fragile and weak.

“What the hell? Who are you? What do you want? Take my keys, purse, whatever you want, just leave me alone. I won't fight you,” she rattles off with pure terror in her shaky voice.

I just laugh in her ear, whispering, “Now, what fun would that be, sweet girl?” I am now very glad I had Demitri bring me weapons when he picked me up. Taking out my knife, I spin her around to face me with the front of her hugged tight to me so she can not go anywhere. I take my knife and trace the lines of her lips, making her shudder against me in fear, tears streaming down her face.

“Poor thing, are you scared of me?” I ask her, and she nods slowly in reply. “Too bad, I do not give a fuck,” I tell her, grabbing her face tightly with my other hand and turning it quickly. Sticking out my tongue, I lick up her face to catch her tears, moaning loudly at the salty taste of them.

Her whimpers and quiet sobs make my dick rock hard. “Please, stop. Don't do something you’ll regret, sir. Please?!” she cries out, causing me to laugh again.

“Your lips have betrayed you today, girl. They remind me of someone who is mine, that was taken from me. I do not regret things. Every violent thing I do is a cherished memory in my head,” I say, tapping my temple.

Her eyes bug out of her head. “Are you some type of serial killer or something? Please don't kill me! Oh my god!”

Rolling my eyes, I head butt her as hard as I can, causing her head to slam back into the concrete. “Oh, girl, serial killers wish they could have as many kills as me. I am nothing but a shadow, and you... you are nothing but a dead girl.” Ripping her clothes off, I make small cuts all over her body, watching her wiggle in pain. The tears drip out of her eyes as the light in them starts to fade.

“Today, you met the devil in a dark corner, and sadly, you won’t live to tell the tale,” I tell her while sliding my knife across her neck. Blood sprays from the wound, coating me in a crimson shower of glory. She grabs at her throat, covering the wound and trying to stop the bleeding. Slapping her hands away so I can see my handiwork. I want to see the pain and reaction to my torture in her eyes. Parking up top, in this hidden corner of the fifth floor, was her curse and my blessing today.If I believed in that type of bullshit.

She isn’t going anywhere at this point, coughing blood up from the gaping wound in her neck, so I let her fall to the ground. I cut each of her heels first, so even if she wanted to or was able, she could not run from me. Her coughing has decreased, and she is starting to near her end. I am no longer having fun as she hasn't held out as long as I had hoped. Taking my knife to her flesh again, I run my hand over her chest before carving the letters F-I-R-E across it, from shoulder to shoulder. I stab into her right temple, circling it around inside the wound a few times to finish her off. Standing, I look down at her with a smile at the brand that now adorns her chest.

Before making my exit, I go to her unlocked car, searching it for some supplies. I find a lighter in her cup holder and some trash in the backseat. Lighting the trash on fire, I watch it burn for a moment before tossing it back into the car to ignite the rest of the junk in it. Looking through the windows, I watch as the flames grow and smoke begins billowing out of the door seams. Happy with the job I have done, I head to the back stairwell to find a dumpster to dispose of the bloodied things. I am not worried about being caught, as it will not happen. I am Umbra. I do not exist anywhere.

Walking along the sidewalk back to my residence where Dmitri is waiting, I bring my phone out of my pocket and dial, deciding I should call Ryan. He answers after only two rings.Smart man.

“Umbra, nice to hear from you, how may I serve?” This man knows how to speak to me, and it is refreshing.

“Ryan, where is the Elite trash? I don't want to stay in this city any longer than is necessary. I am going to find Natalia and take her back home.”

He releases a heavy breath before speaking. “Umbra, this is not what you wish to hear, but I have not seen any movement from them since their return. I can make some calls for you and find them.”

“You better make that call, and you better find them, Ryan,” I bark the orders to him over the phone.

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