Authors: Tia Siren
Viktor walked over to me and snatched the knife from the workbench to free me from my bonds.
“We both know people, Anton. Your people helped you find Brandy. My people watched Brandy and waited until they knew you were alone. The phone call I made just proved it for certain.”
Anton clenched his teeth as the armed men yanked him from the floor.
“This isn’t over yet, Viktor. Blood for blood!”
He wasn’t able to put up much of a fight against the men restraining him; it almost seemed that he didn’t want to.
With my bonds now free, I jumped into Viktor’s welcoming arms.
“Ah, so does this mean I’m forgiven, then?”
I pondered for a moment and returned with a smirk.
“Only as long as you’re as good in real life as you are in my dreams,” I replied.
He gave me a quizzical expression, but just as quickly he shook it off.
“Let’s get you home, Brandy, and out of those wet clothes.”
He led me outside where his car and driver waited. The cool air sent shivers down my spine, as my wet clothes made the air more frigid. Inside the car I was met with a blanket that I wrapped around myself with earnest.
The car lurched forward as we went on our way. I nestled myself into the crook of Viktor’s arm and absorbed what little heat I could. The blanket was helping, but Viktor was helping more.
It didn’t take long before I decided was done with the wet clothes entirely and began to strip off the dress and my underwear. I was met with absolutely zero reservations from Viktor but was still feeling a bit embarrassed with the driver nearby.
I nuzzled my back into Viktor’s side and kept the blanket wrapped tight. Viktor threw his arm around me and pulled me in closer. I admired him again; he was my protector today.
I pulled his arm under the blanket and let him hold my bare skin. He seemed to enjoy it, and I enjoyed the sentiment. Then I started pushing his hand a little lower, and lower still until his hand was resting on my hot sex.
I manipulated his hand in circles around my womanhood, and after a moment of practice, he seemed to be quite good at it. With every circle, I edged closer and closer to orgasm.
Before I could get there, though, the car pulled to a stop in front of my apartment. I paused for a moment.
“Perhaps we should go back to your place,” I said.
He let out a laugh and nodded to the driver who started on his way, again.
Viktor could feel the wetness that I was dripping onto his blanket and slipped his finger inside. The sudden action made my heart skip a beat, but he pulled it out just as quick and went back to his rubbing.
His practiced fingers continued to dance circles, and my breath grew short. I had to hold my hand over my mouth to stifle a moan more than a few times.
I pushed the blanket over his lap and plunged my hand down his pants. I could feel his rock hard erection waiting for me, pressing against pants. I unzipped his fly and removed it from its cage.
Just like in my dream I stroked his shaft while he rubbed my clit. I was getting very close and could feel my muscles tighten and release.
Then it started. I bit down hard on the blanket and breathed deeply as I tensed from ecstasy. He didn’t let up with his massaging, but I could no longer think of anything else.
Before I could finish another orgasm, the car came to another stop all too soon. The driver stepped from the car, walking towards the back to open the door. I straightened myself as much as possible, attempting my best to look presentable.
He popped the door open and offered me a hand. I accepted, with weary legs, and tried to step out. Viktor caught me from behind and nodded the driver away.
The two of us paced up the stone stairway that I walked up the previous night. Attendants were about the grounds, cleaning and fixing what the Masquerade had broken.
I paid them little mind as I followed Viktor up the staircase with all due haste. When we reached the first landing of the sprawling staircase, I could see in Viktor’s eyes that he regretted having a house so large.
He did most of the walking for me, as I was still a bit weary from the ride, and from being kidnapped.
His bedroom was larger than my apartment. I was only able to take in the scenery for a moment as Viktor was already grabbing me from behind and throwing me on the bed.
I lost my grip on the blanket as I flew and landed naked on the pillows. Viktor was struggling with parts of his suit, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I yanked the covers of the bed over me to cover up, at least, a little. Viktor joined me, but not before he took a large swig of champagne from a nearby bottle.
I laid my head down on the pillow, and felt a sense of peace I hadn’t really felt in a long while, and then sadly fell asleep.
5.
I woke up in the middle of the night. Viktor lay beside me, wrapped in blankets and still naked. I didn’t want to disturb his sleep; he looked so happy at rest.
I felt this as a great opportunity to have a look around. The blanket I wore in the car was splayed on the ground, so I plucked it up and wrapped it around myself again.
As I looked around the simply adorned space, I got a better sense of Viktor. I saw a few of his medals sitting in a pile on a dresser nearby; I rifled through the bronze wondering what stories they had to tell.
Under the pile of medals, I could feel something else, a gun. It was old and worn, with secret service markings bearing the side of it. I couldn’t make out the words exactly. Another item that had a story that needed to be heard.
The curtains fluttered, providing me with an open door to a balcony. I gazed out upon the grounds, rolling hills of green with small bundles of bushes pushing up here and there. A game court rested behind a massive outdoor pool, and a large gazebo with enough space for twenty sat beside that.
Off in the distance, light flickered from the city. It seemed so far away. Yet, it mirrored the night sky so perfectly. The grounds were just far enough from the city to allow me to see the stars and in their vastness, I felt struck with awe.
This truly was a palace if I had ever seen one.
Viktor stepped up behind me without a word, embracing me while he gazed.
“It was difficult finding something this far outside the city,” he said.
“You made a great choice,” I replied. “Sorry I fell asleep in the heat of the moment, it’s been a long day.”
He laughed it off.
“Not to worry, your resilience astounds me.”
I sighed and leaned on the railing, my mind beginning to wander to other things.
“Tell me,” I said, “what do you think of becoming a father?”
He leaned over the railing next to me and smiled.
“I would like to be a father,” he said. “I could tell you stories about my own father, but none of them would be good.”
“Were you and your father close?”
“He was a busy man,” Viktor replied. “I barely knew him until I turned 14 years of age. Then he took a greater interest in my political career.”
“Political career?”
“Yes, he wanted someone he could exploit for favors. I’m willing to help people that are good to me, but I won’t simply turn myself into a puppet to be controlled.”
“I thought you were in the secret service,” I asked solemnly.
“I was. If you wish to move up, in this country, you serve your country as a protector. I lost interest in politics after I saw my fair share of shady deals.”
I walked back inside, stepping lightly on the cold floor. “I wouldn’t mind hearing some stories about these medals, if you would like to tell some.”
He joined me indoors and plucked a medal from the dresser.
“This medal instills the title ‘Hero of Russia.’ It might be simple, but it’s one of the grandest honors you can receive.”
I took the simple painted gold star and examined it closely. “How did you get this one?”
“I doubt you’d believe me, even if I told you.”
“Try me,” I said with a grin.
“I stopped a terrorist threat against the state and had to disarm a bomb beneath the Kremlin while being shot at by radicals. They say I saved around 5,000 lives that day. Anton received one as well. He held the enemy at bay, which gave me enough time to disarm the bomb. I will give it to our child someday.”
Then I heard something I didn’t think I would hear ever again.
“Viktor, are a congratulations in order?”
I turned, only to see Anton sitting in a chair in the corner of the bedroom, gun in hand. He clicked the light on, illuminating several cuts and bandages covering most of the exposed skin.
“The bandages are new. I’d thank the men who gave them to me, but they won’t be hearing much ever again.”
“You killed them,” I uttered.
“How else do you escape that many armed guards?”
“Anton, I should have just had them kill you.”
I leaned over the dresser as they talked, covering it slightly with my blanket, and edged the gun out from under the medals, staying as silently as I could.
Viktor’s fists were clenched so tight that they were beginning to turn white.
“So, what’s this I hear about a child?” Anton stood from the corner and began to move closer. I stepped back, hoping to avoid having him touch me again.
“It was nothing, just a bit of speculative talk,” Viktor said, his voice cracking a bit as he spoke.
“Viktor, we worked together long enough, I always know when you’re lying.”
Viktor lost his temper and attempted a charge at Anton, but Anton was too quick. He pointed his raised gun at Viktor and pulled the trigger, piercing his shoulder.
“Tsk, tsk, Viktor. Unless you want to lose your progeny,” Anton said, pointing his gun at me, and it wasn’t just me; it was pointed at my unborn child.
“Anton, don’t. Whatever anger you have, take it out on me. Don’t touch her.”
Anton let out another chortle.
“Viktor, you always did know how to make me laugh. Considering the position you’re in, you shouldn’t be demanding anything.”
Anton reached out a hand toward me.
“Hand me the medal. I would like to see Viktor’s reward.”
I dropped the brass star into his waiting palm and took another step back. I felt the gun in my hand getting heavier as I was becoming increasingly nervous and worried about the life of my child. I knew I only had one shot to do anything, and I had to make it count.
“Viktor told you he got this from disarming a bomb. Which is true, but do you think he would tell you that he knew the person that planted it?”
I shook my head ‘no’.
“His own father did it. He was a true Russian, through and through. Always wanted everything back to the old way, and was willing to go to any lengths to get it.”
It was shocking to think that Viktor’s father was capable of doing such a thing. I could see fear in Viktor’s eyes as the story was being revealed.
“I wonder if Viktor would have told you about what happened after he stopped that bomb.”
I once again shook my head.
“I drove to his father’s house, walked in the front door, and shot him straight through the skull.”
Anton was beginning to tremble while telling the story.
“Of course, seeing as how his old man was still quite high up in government, his death would mean a trip to the gulag for anyone that took the blame. Your wonderful man, Viktor, my partner, decided that his guilt was too much to bear. Not even a month after we received our medals and he turned me in.”
He threw the medal at Viktor. Viktor looked toward the ground defeated.
“You murdered my father,” Viktor said.
“And, you destroyed my life!” Anton shouted back.
I continued to back away. It might not be much, but it was something to keep me from going mad from being so close to his rage.
“Viktor, have you ever spent a winter in a Gulag? There is no heat; you hope that the next day will be your last, while simultaneously planning your revenge, holding out for the slim chance you might have it.”
Anton leaned against the dresser and sighed deeply.
“I’m not a bad person, everything I’ve done has been for my country. I am here for my one piece of respite, and it’s almost too perfect. I killed your father, and now I get to kill your child.”
Anton raised the gun again to fire; I was shaking from fear so much, and tears were streaming down my cheeks.
Viktor stood up, holding his shoulder to staunch the blood loss.
“Anton,” he said.
Anton wheeled around and looked back at Viktor.
“Viktor, there’s nothing you can say that will change my mind now. I need this.”
“Anton, I will pay you anything, I will give you whatever you want, but leave Brandy and my child out of our feud.”
Anton lowered the gun for a moment, but I caught a gleam of sudden rage in his eye as I saw him quickly turn toward me.