Page 45 of Tainted Essence
“How did you get here so fast?” I ask.
“We knew they would think we would wait until you landed to track you. But the moment you turned that tracker on, Vincent knew you were heading to an airstrip, so the guys split up and I met your father at our hanger. We followed you on the radar from a distance, we would have been here sooner but we couldn’t get off the ground quick enough.” She sounds angry.
“Thank you,” I whisper. She whirls around and pins me with a stern look.
“I will never not come for you. I thought being a mother was something I would never get the chance to experience but here you are. You are my everything, Destiny. All I have ever wanted is for you to be happy and live a life full of love and happiness and I failed you.”
I gape at her. “No, Mom. You gave me everything, I just thought I knew better and I was so selfish—Mom!” I scream as I grab her arm and shove her to the ground just as one of Koda’s men round the corner with their gun raised. Time stands still as I stare at the barrel of his gun. I can hear my own breath over the chaos around us, and feel a sense of peace wash over me when I see his finger shift to the trigger.
“Destiny!” Mom screams in pure fear but I can’t appease her, it was a choice between me and her and I chose her. I won’t allow her to be hurt because of me.
“Move!” the guard clips out, surprising the fuck out of me. “Unless you want to fucking die, move, because Andreas and your father are being overpowered thanks to the M2’s Koda has.” Mom leaps to her feet and grabs my arm, yanking me into her side as she raises her gun and points it at him.
“Why the fuck are you helping us?” she grits out.
“Because I know exactly who you are, Anya Volkov. I may hate Andreas but I don’t hate you. Head back the way you came and follow the trail at the back of the property, it will lead you into town. Go, now!” Mom hesitates for a second before nodding and pulling me after her. We find the trail easily enough but when I see the house I can’t do it. I pull free of her hold and run back, ignoring the pain radiating throughout my body and her calls as she chases after me.
“I can’t leave Taylan,” I shout as I break through the back and immediately drop to the ground when shots are fired at me. I army crawl along the ground as more shots ring out around me.
“Destiny!” Mom screams when she makes it inside, firing off more shots before diving behind the sofa near me, dropping the clip from her gun and slamming another mag in. “You are in so much fucking shit when we get home!” I cringe. “Move!” She slips out as she raises her gun and fires blindly over the back of the sofa giving me a chance to crawl toward the garage. The moment I make it through the open door, I climb to my feet only to pause at the sight in front of me.
Taylan and Koda are on the floor, beating the shit out of each other. I look around for a weapon and spot a bench on the wall, I rush forward and push around the contents until I find a screwdriver. I grab it and turn back to them. Tay is on top raining down blow after blow but Koda manages to flip them so he is on top. He lands a hit to Taylan’s face followed by a sucker punch to the ribs. Taylan shouts in pain and that’s what snaps me out of it. I rush forward and bury the screwdriver to the hilt into Koda’s back. He throws his head back and roars in pain. I yank it free and stab him again. He falls to the side and stares up at me in surprise before that look quickly morphs into an anger filled look.
“Suka!” (Bitch!) He tries to stand but stills when Mom pushes her gun into the back of his head.
“Nazovi yeye thuck eshche raz, yi ya snesu tvoyu grebanuyu golovu, suka.” (Call her that again and I’ll blow your fucking head off, bitch.) Koda glares up at my mom.
“Anya Volkov,” he spits.
“In the flesh,” she snarls, then tosses me the throw blanket I dropped in my haste. I wrap it around myself and knot it, then turn to Taylan. He sits there, clutching his side and winces in pain but I see blood soaking through his fingers. I smack his hand away and gasp at the sight of the knife wound.
“He stabbed you?” I shriek before using my own hands to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. He howls in pain.
“Who the fuck are you?” Mom snaps. I keep my gaze on Taylan who looks pissed off at the sight of me.
“Kortov Novikov’s son,” Koda answers smugly. I look back at them to see shock plastered across my mother’s face.
“You father was a piece of shit and so are you.”
“Coming from the bitch who smuggles drugs for a living?” he counters.
“Is that what this is about? You want my formula?” She laughs but there is a manic edge to it. “I sold that formula to Andreas five years ago, he’s the one who has been running the coke, not me, you stupid fucking fool.”
“You lie!” Koda screams. “He told me it was you who runs it, you think you are better than the rest of us because you fuck some American scum?—”
“I am better than you!” Mom yells right in his face. “I never allowed my father or Vlad’s bullshit to cloud my judgment. I fought for my life and won. I was the first woman to ever be Pakhan of the Bratva and if reclaiming that title means it keeps pieces of shit like you from coming after innocent girls, then so be it.” I stare up at my mother with a wicked smile on my battered face.
She’s my fucking hero!
“A bitch can never lead.” I flinch at the icy tone of Koda’s voice. The sight of him has my heart racing and my fear spiking. My adrenaline is starting to wear off. Now I am faced with the aftermath of what he has done to me. I can’t break down here, not in front of my mom. I’ve always made sure that she has seen me as strong, resilient and able to handle anything life throws at me, I refuse to allow her to see that a man destroyed my self-worth.
“This bitch can and will. I’m taking Russia back and you won’t be around to see it!” Mom vows.
Taylan
Carnage.
That is the best word to describe the sight as Destiny and I walk… well she walks and I limp outside. The moment Gage spots his daughter, the fearful look on his face evaporates. He rushes forward and rips her away from me. I stumble but manage to catch myself on the hood of the car beside me. I keep my hand pressed against the wound on my side where that little bitch Koda stabbed me. I can feel the cold sheen of sweat over my body and feel myself growing weaker by the second.