The World in Reverse (44 page)

“Who else would it be?” Nicola had had enough.  He didn't want to kill anyone else.  He just wanted Cane. The final piece to this puzzle.

Cane knew that he was dead.  There was no way out of this situation.  He grabbed a handful of Molly tablets and swallowed them down.  “You know what they say. Never send a boy to do a man’s job.”  He stood up and shot towards the opening in the door.  “I should have offed you myself.  Killed those little dusty ass niglets of your and fucked your pregnant nigger wife up the ass.” 

Anatoly went for Nicola, but it was too late.  Enraged, he ran full speed toward the war
ehouse, blowing the rest of the battered front door off the hinges.  As soon as he was inside, he ducked behind a pile of debris and unleashed the fury of his SRS.  The bullets tore through the building and interior walls, hitting the men hiding behind the wall in the office and killing them instantly. 

“I’m going in!” Gabriel was second in the building, giving Nicola cover. He caught two men hiding behind the assembly line and r
eturning fire.  Putting his gun on burst, he blew the men and the assembly line up.  Fire exploded, knocking him back.

Anatoly was the third to enter.  He came in with his infrared pointed and cleared the side of the building with his Uzi.  The bullets moved so fast through the wall until those crouching behind it had no time to take cover. They fell fast and hard. 

Cane hid behind a large table shooting directly toward Nicola, but the continual burst of Gabriel's gun sent him to the floor for cover. As he did, Nicola dove over the table, kicking the gun out of his hand and sending it across the floor.

“You wanted me; you got me,” Nicola said, grabbing Cane up by the shirt.  He drew his arm back and punched Cane directly in the face, knocking out his two front teeth. Cane fell back on the floor and Nicola kicked him in the stomach with his steel toe boots. 

Cane screamed out.  Grabbing Nicola’s foot, he tried to throw him to the floor. 

“What’s wrong?” Nicola asked, guns firing around him.  He kept his eyes on Cane.  “You don’t seem so bad now that I’m here to kick your fucking ass!” He pulled his foot free from Cane and kicked him again, this time in b
etween his balls.

“Fuck you!” Cane screamed again in pain.  With his hands on the floor, he tried to pull himself back against the wall, as he did, he reached behind him and grabbed the gun tucked in his belt.

As Cane came around his waist with the gun, Nicola dropped down on top of the man and grabbed his hands.  Punching him again, he fought to get the gun out of his hold. 

Cane rolled over on Nicola putting his full weight on him trying to get a better grip on the gun. 

Nicola threw his head back and butted Cane in the eye.  Rolling back over out of Cane’s grasp, he grabbed the K-bar attached to his pants leg.  Stabbing Cane in the kidney twice fast and deep, he twisted the knife in his bulging side and grabbed the gun out of his hand. 

Cane grabbed the knife, trying to pull it out of his side and screamed again, spitting blood on the floor. 

Nicola stood up over the man and noticed the gunfire had stopped.  “Look me in the eyes, you piece of shit.  I want you to know that this time you fucked with the wrong man’s family.”

As Cane looked up and began to speak,
Nicola pulled the trigger shooting him in the same manner he intended for him to die. Then he shot him twice in the chest for good measure.  Throwing the gun back down on his bloody body, he spat on him and walked away. 

Gabriel pulled at his flak jacket and huffed from across the room, standing over another dead body. “Can we please go home now?” he asked with a grin. 

“With pleasure,” Nicola said as Maurice walked in the building.  “Yo, you ready to blow up some shit?”

“Been waiting all damned day,” Maurice said as he threw in three black bags of C4 under a box of chemicals in the center of the building.  “We’ve got five minutes gentleman before the fireworks begin!”

All the men loaded back up into their trucks, leaving the piles of dead bodies behind and low-rising fire behind.  Quietly, they made their way through the long succession of trees and thicket out into the clear night sky and drove nearly a mile down the gravel drive.  When they got to the gate, Maurice happily pushed down on the detonator.  “Enjoy the fireworks, gentlemen,” he said into his earpiece.

Behind them a large plume of smoke erup
ted, echoing for miles around.  It would be only a matter of minutes before the authorities not only saw but heard the bomb and came to the scene.  As they entered out onto the highway, they separated and headed into different directions. 

Nicola drove quietly under the full moon with the window down and music on low, watching the fire off in the distance with a true sense of calm.  For the first time since this all began, he felt like himself, and he knew that his children and wife were safe.  What would happen in the days ahead would be up to ever
yone else, but he had done his part.  He had solved the case, brought the men responsible to justice, and kept his promise to the woman who had come to his doorstep.  All it took was him breaking every law that he had ever upheld and turning to men whom he’d formerly despised.

He looked over at Gabriel now, resting qu
ietly in the passenger seat beside him and wondered just who he had been really chasing all those years.  The man beside him had put his life on the line, not because of him or his mission, but because of the love for his family.  The Medlov men, no matter how corrupt, had been his only ally. 

Gabriel must have felt Nicola look over at him, even with his eyes closed.  “Funny how shit works, huh?” he said with a chuckle.

36

Director Amway looked over his notes in the silence of his office, prepping for a joint news conference with the mayor that would take place in less than an hour.  He had a lot of information to cover in a short period of time, most of which, he could barely believe himself.

Ferris had been one of the three maste
rminds behind a horrendous case that had upset the nation all for lust and power.  And he had done it right under his nose.  The idea was mind-blowing and yet another reminder why he couldn’t trust anyone…nearly anyone. 

There were still people that he trusted; pe
ople whom he knew upheld the badge and oath behind it, like Nicola Agosto.  No one could give him credit for his work in bringing Cane, Ferris and even Magnelli’s son, Collin, down, because he was technically dismissed during the investigation, but those who were in the position to make real decisions knew that he was responsible for solving the case and finally giving the city what it needed to begin the healing process.

Sure, Steele might have found out what was going on eventually, but it would have been too late, and even if she had dug up the truth, Ferris would have found a way to kill her and Joh
nson, who was now resting at home on leave
with pay
. 

It wasn't like Ferris was going to file char
ges.  He had been delivered to the front of the police department in a crate with a video of him confessing to everything that they already knew he was involved in. Plus, the police officers who witnessed the stabbing and shooting by Johnson had suddenly recanted their initial statements saying that Ferris had gone for a weapon.  Sure it was a sloppy cover-up, but no one cared, not the media, not the public and damned sure not the police department. 

Agosto had saved the city, but in his quest he had left one piece of evidence that put him at the drug factory on the outskirts of town.  A gun, charred with bloody handprints found in the debris told the story that everyone wanted to know.  They had pulled the prints off the pistol and discovered that it was one of their own that had cracked the case.  A huge favor to the local municipal law enforcement had paid for the weapon to be handed over to the MPD and ultimately lost in transport. 

Now, he was responsible for fixing things and preparing tomorrow for Carmen Magnelli’s funeral. 

Scratching through his notes as he thought of how to put in words his plan to work with the mayor to renew the city’s trust; he was inte
rrupted by a knock on the door.  He looked up to see his secretary standing at the entrance.

“It’s Deputy Director Magnelli,” she said in a soft wispy voice.  “Should I see him in?”

“Yes, please,” he said, putting down his pen.

Magnelli walked in and closed the door b
ehind him.  He looked haggard with bags under his eyes and a full beard.  Setting down his coffee mug on Amway’s table, he took a seat.

“What brings you to my office?  Aren’t you supposed to be preparing for your daughter’s funeral?” Amway asked, narrowing his eyes at the man.

“I came to ask you one final favor,” Magnelli said, threading his long fingers together.

“One final favor?” Amway asked, ears perked up.

Magnelli laid the paper in his hand on the table. “That’s my resignation.  I know that you want it. You want to move this department into a new era, he said with irritation in his voice.  “And I want to move into my condo in Boca with the wife and spend some time on the green, enjoying what’s left of my life.”

Amway looked at the paper like it was a million-dollar check.  “So what’s the favor,” he asked, reaching for the paper.

Magnelli put his hand on the edge of the paper and looked Amway in the eyes. “I don't just want Agosto re-instated.”

Amway took off his glasses.  “Okay…” he waited.

“I want him to take my job,” Magnelli said without blinking.

Amway pushed back in his chair and took a deep breath. 

“Look, I know that you and I have had our problems.  Like the fact that I called you what I called you and I was dead wrong for it.  I apologize, but...”

“But you had to get out of here that day and you knew that calling me a nigger would do the job,” Amway said, smacking his lips.  “And you were the last one with your son the night before. I’m guessing that Agosto told you that he was in on it.  So you did him yourself.  Then you got rid of the body. I’m sure that we’ll never find it.  And don’t worry, I don’t plan on looking. I wouldn’t dare waste the tax payers’ money.  But why do you feel like you owe Nicola this? The Deputy Director’s position is for someone a little more seasoned in diplom
acy.”

“He’ll
learn
to be diplomatic. I’m not worried about that,” Magnelli said, not even bothering to deny Amway’s accusations.

“What are you worried about then, Ma
gnelli?” Amway interrogated. 

“As of today, nothing at all as long as you agree that the job is his. I’ll walk out that door and never come back or I can stay here until you can’t stand the sight of me.”

“I already can’t stand the sight of you,” Amway said with a stone face.

“Is it really that bad of a trade off?” He tilted his head and let go of the paper.

Amway huffed and pulled the letter towards him. “No, it’s not.”  He read the first paragraph and smiled. “Fine. I’ll talk to the mayor but I don’t believe that there will be any resistance.”

Magnelli stood up and offered his hand.  “It’s been a pleasure.”

Amway shook his hand. “Take care of yourself, old timer.  I’ll see you tomorrow at the funeral and after that we’ll mail your gold watch to Boca.”

***

It was a perfect day for a summer wedding.  The sun was shining bright with not a cloud in the blue sky. The entire house was buzzing with joy.  People had been running about all morning to set up for the gathering, setting up tents, putting out chairs, delivering food and flowers.  And now it was actually time.

Anatoly stood with Gabriel and the other groomsmen in his backyard of his father’s mansion as the music began and the small gathering rose. 

“You ready for this?  I mean killing is one thing but dying a slow death is another,” Gabriel said, hand crossed in front of him.   He pulled at his black tuxedo and twisted up his lip.  Weddings always made him nervous, but lately, the idea made him want to crawl out of his own skin. 

“Don't fucking start, Gabriel,” Anatoly snapped under his breath. “Just because you finally figured out what to do with your dick after all this time doesn’t mean that the rest of us should wait for you to catch up.”

The priest cleared his throat and narrowed his eyes at both of them.

“Sorry father,” Anatoly said with a smirk.  He looked over at Royal, who was standing with the children and cradling his daughter in her arms, and took a deep, calming breath.  She nodded back his way, giving him an equally warm smile.  They had talked earlier that mor
ning and she had given him a new perspective on things. 

Still, he was nervous.  Deathly nervous.  Not of getting married, just of getting it wrong. Renee had become his everything and given him a reason to be a better man.  In truth, he knew that he didn’t deserve her, but his father hadn’t deserved Royal, yet he had her, despite her Vietnam-Vet father who was boycotting the entire event because he hadn’t asked him for her hand in marriage. 

He quickly shook that thought off. He’d deal with that on another day. 

Dmitry escorted Anatoly’s fiancée Renee down the aisle.  Dressed in a long flowing white gown covered in Swarovski crystals that contrasted with her dark chocolate skin, she embodied what he’d always imagined a bride would look like.  Heaven in a word. 

Even Gabriel paused when he saw her.  Straightening up, he darted a glance over at his girlfriend standing on the other side with the bridesmaids and shook his head.  “She’s going to get ideas,” he whispered to Anatoly. 

“This isn’t about you,” Anatoly said through his teeth. “Now shut up.”

***

Nicola stood over Ivy in the darkness of his old bedroom in his parent’s house watching her sleep, curled up in one of his old football je
rseys from high school, looking like a schoolgirl.  Tears stained the side of her nose and the pillow below her, evidently from another night of crying herself to sleep.  She had been through so much yet had managed to stay so incredibly strong.  

Kneeling beside the bed to get a better look at her angelic face, he ran a careful hand through her soft tendrils and sucked in her breath as she exhaled.  The scent of her always made him insane, ever since the first day that he met her.  He wanted to kiss her pouty mouth now, suck on her bottom lip and taste her essence. 

After nearly losing her, the only thing that mattered to Nicola was never letting her out of his sight again.  The desperation of that mission was even more pronounced watching her now.  Over the years, he had committed to memory the straight lines of her nose, the sweep of her high cheeks and the thick arches of her eyebrows.  He had memorized her favorite words, her most vivid dreams and her biggest fears.  He knew it all, but what he hadn’t known before all of this was just how far he would go for her.  Now he did. Till the ends of the earth. 

“I love you,” he whispered. 

Feeling someone present, Ivy stirred awake, brown eyes slowly opening to stare at him.  She blinked hard, body as still as a statue.  “Nicola,” she said in a whisper.  Her finger clinched the side of the pillow as she raised her head slightly, black hair spilling down on the white pillow below her. 
Was he actually there or was this yet another one of her haunting dreams?

It was only when she reached out and touched his face that she knew that the heart shaped mouth smiling back at her was actually her husband’s.  His brown eyes sparkled in the darkness and the adorable dimple in his chin became more prominent as her sight became clearer.

“Hey, baby girl,” he said in a low, deep baritone.  “How are you?”

“Nicky!” was the only word that she could muster before she pulled him into the bed and held him as tight as she could in her embrace. “Oh my God.  I thought I was dreaming,” she said, exasperated.  “But you’re here.  You’re really here.”  Tears ran down her face on to her burning cheeks. 

He caressed her long narrow back, crooning to her in a soothing tone.  “Yes, baby. I’m here.”

Pulling away for just a brief moment, she searched his body, feeling his chest, then his back and arms. “Are you alright? Are you all here?”

“I’m fine,” he said, taking her hand in his own and pulling it to his face to kiss each digit. “It’s done.  We’re safe.”

Ivy swallowed hard.  She knew had seen the news and had an idea that everything that was brought to light about the men was because of something that he had done.  She nodded at him sympathetically, pursing her lips together.  “Whatever you had to do…I love you for it,” she said cupping a hand behind his thick neck.

Nicola closed his eyes and pushed his forehead up against her, melting into her as he held her close. “God, I love you too.”  Picking her up by her waist, he turned her around and straddled her on his lap.  His deep breaths made his rock hard chest swell.  “I want you so bad.” 

Ivy’s pressure began to rise when his thumbs grazed against her body.  She could feel him growing underneath her inch by thick engorged inch with every second that passed.

“Take me, she hissed.  

The intensity of his fever pitch gaze made chills run down her spine.

He looked down at her rigid nipples poking through his jersey and clenched his jaw tight.  Pulling off her shirt, he wrapped his bulging arms around her tender flesh and kissed her neck with his open mouth. 

A gasp escaped her mouth.  Opening her legs wider, she felt him moving below her, grinding into her needy body. 

With one swift move, he rolled her over on the bed and pulled off his shirt.  She raked her nails over his carved abs and then grabbed his belt buckle. 

Nearly snatching his pants off, he bent over her body and lifted her thick thigh.  Pushing himself inside, he let out a moan that he buried in her breasts.  “Damn,” he moaned. 

Ivy arched her back and widened her legs to let him all the way in.  Quivering, she pulled his face up to her own and kissed his open mouth. 

“Oh Nicky,” she said as he pumped slowly into her body. 

Just then the door opened. 

“Shit,” Nicola said, grabbing the covers and pulling them over them.  He hid them just in time.  Wearing Transformer pajamas and a wild curly mop of curls on the top of his head, Adamo switched on the bright light while rubbing his tired eyes, completely unaware of what was going on. “Mommy can we sleep with you?” he said in a pouty, groggy voice.

Suddenly, his flushed face lit up. “Daddy!” Running across the room at top speed, he dove over in the bed and crawled to his dad, pummeling his father’s balls in the process.

“Argh!” Nicola yelped, laughing at the same time that he nearly doubled over.  “What’s up, little man?”

The other three were quickly behind him, screaming and giggling to the top of their lungs, hugging their father and kissing his face, happy to see him.  They asked a hundred questions, one right after the other, snuggled on top of the covers in between their parents.