Chapter Two

                                                           Chapter Two

                                                          One year Later

                                                                 Jamie

“I swear I’m going to beat your ass one day, little bro!” I declare to Josh, as sweat beads down my face, he lends me his hand with a roll of his eyes to help me from the cold mat on the ground. This is the third time he has knocked me on my ass!

“Don’t be so callous, “big” sister.” He says emphasizing the word big because...well he is actually big, and I’m pretty short.

“Just think of how bitter you will be when you get your ass kicked by your pint sized big sister.” I tease back at him, our laughter echoing in the high ceilings of the gym

“Trust me. That’s never going to happen, you have a few years before you even have a chance!” I shake my head at his arrogance.

“Oh whatever Jackie Chan, let’s get back the pent house before dad flips his shit.” I say taking a towel and wiping the sweat from my body, a few men that are lifting weights across the way are staring, with lustful eyes. I quickly throw my tank top over my sports bra, to hide away from their sickening gaze. Josh notices my discomfort, and looks toward where my eyes keep wandering.

Josh clenches his jaw when he catches the men staring at me….here we go…

He starts walking toward the men despite my protests of being able to handle myself.

“Are you guys looking at my sister?” He says as he gets a close enough distance, they immediately turn their heads away from me at the sight of Josh’s tall, and strong appearance standing over them. They would never know that he is just now about to turn eighteen.

They don’t even answer him, just pretend like he’s not even there.

“That’s what I thought.” Josh says turning away from them, and walking back towards me.

“This is the exact reason why Roman said to use his gym, let’s go...now!” He says throwing his shirt on, and grabbing his bag. I roll my eyes, and follow after him in his angry haste.

It has been one year since our mother died, since we had to run away from everything we had ever known. Never have I ever thought I would find myself in the “Big Apple.” Never did I ever think Josh and I would get this close, we are practically inseparable. Our mother’s passing was horrible, and we will probably never get over it. I can hardly get Josh to talk about it. But in the end we have really found ourselves here. I love the big city, and the crowded sidewalks, going for runs in the famous Central Park every morning even though Roman, and my father don’t like it.

My brother, father, and Roman are ridiculously protective over me, I am not allowed to go anywhere alone, but I refuse to be kept locked away in Roman’s castle of an apratment. Roman at first demanded that I take bodyguards, but they eventually agreed to let Josh shadow me everywhere which I was much more comfortable with. And we just grew extremely close the more time we got to spend together.

On top of Josh and I’s newfound closeness, I have been training with my father and brother, and sometimes Roman when he’s not busy for four hours everyday for a year on how to properly defend myself, and fight. And I’m telling you right now, I can kick some ass!

Just not my brother’s, or fathers, and definitely not Roman’s…..but I will get there...eventually.

When I told my father about the news of what happened to my mother all those years ago….the reason why everything went so bad, he took off and left us with Roman for a month!

I was so angry because I thought he had went to go take revenge without me, but after he came back the first thing he said to me was

“I know who did it, and your first job is going to be to kill them…...when you are ready.” He had looked like he hadn't showered the whole time he was gone, and just walked away from me only to lock himself away for another two days. That was the day I knew I was going to be just like him, that I was going to be a hired assassin like my father.

My father still barely speaks to me, unless he is training me, or it’s necessary to, he talks to my brother much more than me, and I’m not exactly sure why, but sometimes I think it’s because I look like her, and I’m nothing but a painful reminder to him.

Sometimes I want to ask him, but I don’t think it will be any use. He doesn’t seem like the “talky, feeley” type. He is a much different man than what I remember him as when I was a little girl. But I suppose a person can change a lot, after so many years of him being on his own, and doing nothing but taking contracts to kill. Of course this is only something I can assume given that he doesn’t talk about the time he was gone, or like I said before, he doesn’t talk about anything, not to me.

My brother leads me to his black Mercedes Benz, still huffing and puffing about the incident in the gym. I seriously feel like there is a disease among men who are criminals, they all seem to be ridiculously vigilant when it comes to women they feel they need to stone wall. The deeper my brother gets into this iniquitous world, the more he seems to remind me of him.

I refuse to say his name, the only place I can’t control it is in my dreams, which are very frequent. By frequent I mean every single night I close my eyes.

“You really need to start taking Roman’s advice...we can never be too careful, especially in a big city like this.” I hear my brothers voice cut through my deep thought, as we enter the car, and the doors slam shut. I can’t believe he is still bitching about a couple of guys looking at me. Believe it or not it happens to women every day, there’s no reason I can’t ignore it and go on with my day like the rest of them.

“And I wouldn’t have to deal with this dam traffic.” He complains on, driving me erratically up the fricking wall.

“ It’s why you should take my advice, and go on the subway, it really wouldn’t be so bad.” I say hugging my arms to my chest, while sinking low in the seat.

“There is no fucking way we are taking a dam subway, your out of your god dam miind.” He says with a small, frustrated laugh.

“You’re starting to wear on my nerves Josh, just drive the dam car. Bottom line I’m not being cooped up in a dam pent house all the time. I give no fucks what Roman has to say.” I retort, barely hanging onto control of my patience.

“So….when are you finally going to say yes to going on that date with Roman?” He says completely ignoring my obvious need for him to shut up.

“That’s none of your damn business Josh, Roman and I are not like that. He didn’t ask me to go on a date. He doesn’t have time for things like that. He just needed an escort to go with him to the dinner. It’s nothing special.” He shakes his head at me, as if he thinks I am in obvious denial.

“Jamie, you’re going to have to get over him sometime.” He says making me turn my head to look at him in a quick motion.

“Shut up and get us home Josh!” I yell.

“Alright, alright. Fine I will shut up.” He says in defeat.

“Thank fucking God.” I say, and the rest of the car ride is driven in silence.

……

“Hey Bill, has my dad been in yet?” I say walking into the beautiful lobby with black granite floors and sunset colored sandpaper painted walls, the sandpaper paint giving them a slight sparkle. Bill gives me a smile, and a tip of his hat in his typical black suited doorman attire.

“Not yet Miss Stone. Mr, Petrov is home though, and he is waiting for you.” He informs me, confusing me a little. It’s ten in the morning, and I have no clue why he could be possibly waiting for me. Instead of asking him for more information, I just give him a nod and continue on to the elevator, with my brother closely behind. When we both enter the elevator, and the doors close, Josh presses the button leading us to the very top floor.

We have been living quite a glamorous life here in New York, the penthouse technically belongs to Josh and I, courtesy of my father, and Roman, but we refuse to recognize it as ours because it’s too big of a gift for us to accept.

Roman lives in Moscow, Russia, but makes trips to America often. He said he is thinking of taking up a permanent residence here in New York due to it being much more convenient for business. From what I understand he was born in America but sent to Russia when he was sixteen to learn his father’s “business.” When his father passed, he ended up deciding not to come back, Roman doesn’t speak about his past, but my father has given me the scoop on him here and there.

Sometimes it seems like my father weirdly goes out of his way to talk about Roman to me, and it’s very disconcerting to me sometimes. I feel as if there is something he is not telling me about him, something that he and my father both know. But I am also paranoid considering there were a lot of things I found out all at once last year, so why wouldn’t there be more secrets awaiting to be unveiled.

When the elevators open, I enter through the narrow hallway taking off my shoes first as not to ruin the white, fluffy carpet, and into wide open, and high ceiling living room, and when you first walk in on the left, is the kitchen, very modern, and sleek, everything being stainless steel, a long bar with stools divides the living room from the kitchen.

The stairs sit in between the living room, and the kitchen which leads to the four large bedrooms, each with their own bathroom.

Roman stands in the living room speaking in Russian on the phone, saying something about money, and picking up a package of some kind. I have been studying Italian, for almost a year, and almost have it down to a T, and have only just begun to delve into Russian. Russian is much harder than Italian, and it’s very hard to read considering they have a completely different writing system than we do. But I made a promise to myself I wasn’t going to stand there stupid while everyone got to talk about whatever they wanted around me without me knowing what it was. It’s just one of the many things I have found to keep myself busy, since I am used to working two jobs, and they refuse to let me work.

Josh rushes up the stairs, I’m guessing eager to get in the shower, as am I, but I want to see what it is Roman is waiting for me for.

He finally hangs up the phone, seeming to be in a sour mood one minute, but as soon as he sees me standing there he completely changes his demeanor. He really is handsome in his black lether jacket, and white T Shirt, and the piercings are just the cherry on top. Who can resist his dirty blonde hair, and deep blue eyes?

Me. I can. Right?

“Jamie, I’m glad you’re here. I must ask you again why you refuse to use my gym down in the lobby, it’s so much safer.” He asks with his eyebrow raised, and a small look of irritation. I see him take a quick glance at my cleavage, but quickly look back up as if he didn’t mean to look, or make it obvious that he was looking. I roll my eyes, already having slready hear it from Josh.

“Well, because, let’s see. I’m not allowed to work, I can’t go to school, I can’t go anywhere alone. So bottom line, I refuse to be kept prisoner in another big, bad, and controlling, mafia bosses house, I will go crazy!” I say tired of having to explain myself, I feel as if the answer is obvious.

“Well....okay, looks like you won’t have a problem going to Russia with me since you’re so “cooped up.” My dinner got moved, and I really would love your company there. This dinner is important, and you will soon see why it’s so important for you. Your father will be attending as well.” I stare wide eyed at him in surprise.

Me? Go to Russia.

It takes me a minute to speak, I am speechless at his proposal. And what does he mean by it’s important to me?

“How long will we be gone?” I ask.

“To be honest, Im not sure.” He says.

“Well, what about Josh?” I question again, not wanting to leave him all alone.

“Don’t you think Josh deserves a break? He will stay here, and do some business for me while I’m gone.” He’s not lying, as much as Josh and I have grown close, I’m sure he could use some free time from me so he can do his own thing.

“Okay, so when would we leave?” He comes closer in my direction, making sure we are only inches apart, and begins to run his finers down my arm, while having a cocky grin on his face. Don’t get me wrong, I have always known he has a thing for me, but he has never been so dominant about it.

“We leave tonight.” He says, and then slowly drops his hand down from stroking my arm.

“Do I have a choice?” Trying not to show how flustered I am from his simple touch. It has been a year since I have been touched like that.

“No...actually you don't. Go take a shower, and get some rest, it will be a long flight.” He then walks away leaving me standing there breathless. I hear a door shut telling me he has left the apartment.

I’m telling, I wasn’t kidding when I said there was something in the air with these criminals. Looks like I’m getting carted off to another country...again. Just fircking perfect...here we go.