Billionaire Flawed 2(8)

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.