Chapter 16 - The Contact
1872 Words
Killian
“Where have you been for a week?”
Killian had a sickening feeling that he knew the answer. Her eyes looked dull and dark. Her face looked pale and like she hadn't had a decent meal in a while.
Niki looked away and pulled her hand free. “Why does it matter?”
Killian closed his eyes, hating the feelings he was starting to have for her. She was Cassius’s fiancé. But he couldn’t help caring for her. He admired her strength and bravery. Most of all, he admired her heart. That despite what torment she was forced to go through, she had kept a good heart.
“Niki. Cassius has been searching the streets for you for the last week, and I have been hitting every bar and gambling ring. We’ve been worried about what may have happened to you.”
She looked at him with a hard expression. “I didn’t ask you to.”
“You got friends now, Niki. Friends that want to help.”
“I don’t need help.”
“Where were you?”
“Not your problem.”
He took a deep breath trying to control his anger. “You were in the pits weren’t you? How many days?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“How many days?”
“That’s none of yours-”
“How many days?!”
“Seventy-seven hours.”
Killian reeled back. “For over three days?”
Niki pulled her arms around herself. “I told you, it doesn’t matter.”
Killian knew better to know that it did matter.
“When was the last time you had a full meal?”
She looked towards his kitchen fridge. “It’s been a while.”
Killian got out his phone and texted Cassius who was already on his way to bring a big meal. He put away his phone.
“Take off your shirt.”
She looked at him with wide eyes. “What?”
“I know what they do people in the pits. You will have burns and wounds that need care. Take off your shirt.”
She looked at him with frustration and defiance as she took off her dark blue trench coat and then her long-sleeved shirt exposing her in just her sports bra.
Killian watched her, trying to keep his mind focused on the task at hand and not on the curves of her body, or her sassy look. And not in the way her nose would wrinkle when she was frustrated or annoyed.
But what he saw made him angry. Her neck was red with raw marks as if she had been strangled. Her abdomen and arms were bruised and burned. Not deep enough burns to leave scars, but enough to cause pain.
Gently, he put his hands on her skin, feeling for any broken ribs. She grimaced, but never made a sound.
“You have some deep bruising.”
“That’s what happens when you get restrained and beat up.”
“You’re lucky you don’t have any internal bleeding, or at least you better hope you don’t.”
“I don’t.”
He took out a cream as she sat on a chair with her back towards him. He sat down too and began gently applying the cream to her burns. She would stiffen and her muscles would tense, but she never uttered a word. He hated that she had to live that life.
“Why did you get in?”
“Padre thought I was growing too soft. I wasn’t giving him the results he wanted. I had lost the man I had been tracking twice. So he needed to remind me what was expected.”
Killian remembered when his father tried to make a statement of what happened when he disobeyed. He remembered the beating during his long days of training when he didn’t perform to perfection. Killian knew what the mafia expected of its members.
“Don’t let them take your heart, Niki.”
She tilted back her head with her braided hair nearly touching his hand on her back.
She turned in her chair and looked at him. “Killian.” She whispered the words so low and gentle that he felt a desire grow. He wanted to go confront her father, break his nose, then burn the pits to ashes, making it become a distant bad memory.
Niki opened her mouth. “I want… I wish…”
The elevator pinged, and a voice went overhead. “Guest, Cassius. Would you like me to let him in?”
“Yes,” Killian said.
The elevator doors opened and Cassius stepped out holding bags of food. He froze when he saw them. Killian felt bad, wondering what he must think seeing him and Niki shirtless.
Cassius quickly walked over, setting the food on the counter.
“You guys look awful. What happened?”
“Got into a bit of trouble.
Cassius pointed at Niki. “That looks like more than a little bit of trouble. Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“What happened?”
Killian shook his head, giving Cassius a warning not to go down that road. Cassius looked at him, curious. Killian slightly tilted his head. Cassius nodded slightly, understanding his message that he would tell him later.
“Well, I don’t exactly know your favorites, so I got a variety. Oriental, American, Thai, Soups.”
Niki smiled, as she stood. “Thanks, Cassius. Your cheek looks lots better.”
Killian noticed that besides a smear of yellow coloring, it was healed.
“Thanks. I got more of that stuff in my car. I’m thinking I better go get it.”
Killian nodded. “Good idea.”
Niki started looking through the bags, picking out an array of different foods as Cassius went to retrieve the medicinal cream. Killian put on a new shirt then went to find some pain relief medicine for himself and Niki.
“Take these.” Killian handed her some pain relief pills and she took them gratefully.
It was then that Killian noticed the briefcase on the floor. He picked it up and put it on the table, opening it. Niki walked over with a wanton in one hand and a hamburger in the other.
“I found that on my hit. It’s very detailed. Business operations, Crimson Spider members. Even has information on an underboss. And look, it’s not just Crimson Spider. There’s info on DN.9. Their trade deals, who his contact is.”
Killian glanced through the reports.
“I don’t think you killed a Crimson Spider member selling information. I think you killed an undercover FBI agent.”
Niki stopped eating mid bite. She quickly swallowed. “I killed one of the good guys.”
Killian said, “I think he was trying to pass on this information to other FBI agents when you killed him.”
“Oops.” She set down her food. “If I knew who he really was, I would have spared his life.”
Killian gave her a sympathetic look. “You couldn’t. He was exposed. If you hadn’t killed him, someone else would have.”
“Well, what if we hand this over to the FBI now?”
Killian rubbed his face. “We can’t now. They knew the files were taken by what they would surely gather was The Executioner. If anyone shows up at the door with these, they will know that person has connections to The Executioner. It puts us all at risk. But this is information we have, and can use.”
Cassius was announced by the overhead security.
“What are you guys looking at?”
“We can eat while we take a look at these.”
*************
Cassius looked at Killian. “What happened?” They bothed glanced at her sleeping form on the oversized bean bag.
Cassius didn’t know about the pits, nor did he feel inclined to tell him such a place existed.
“She was tortured by her father for getting, what he thought, was too soft.”
Cassius’s face grew angry as he glanced at her sleeping form. “I would do anything to see that man behind bars.”
“Well,” he nodded to the files. “It’s a start.”
Killian looked at his watch. “I’ve got a meeting. You got here?”
He nodded.
“FBI saw her. They will be swarming the streets today trying to see if they can identify someone similar to her. Don’t let her leave.”
Cassius nodded, determined.
Killian nodded.
Thirty minutes later, Killian walked up the Garrison Bridge and sat on the bench. He heard the familiar clicking of heels and knew she had arrived.
“The Executioner killed one of our agents this morning.”
Killian leaned forward. “How do you know it was The Executioner?”
“Same wound like all the rest. A knife wound. We already identified the poison.”
Killian never asked, because he he never cared. Poison is poison, But now he was curious. “What kind?”
“It’s subtle. It’s a mixed chemical. It causes the brain to hallucinate while releasing endorphins. Soon they fall unconscious, and lie there until they stop breathing. Very potent. One good hard nick with the knife, you’ll be dead within two minutes.”
For clarification, Killian said, “So essentially they die while dreaming.”
Caterina said, “Sums it up. A very peaceful way to go. Looks like our perpetrator is a bit merciful.”
Killian wasn’t actually surprised by that information. Niki had a good heart. “Sounds like this individual maybe wants out of the mafia. We could use this person on our side.”
“We could try. But it won't matter. The Executioner is responsible for thirty-eight deaths that we know about.”
Killian knew that by her actions alone, she had deserved life in prison. But Killian had seen Niki given no choice, and so she had figured out how to do it in the most painless way possible. Other members would find creativity in the torment, but not Niki. She wanted to make it as merciful as she could for her victims.
“So tell me about her.”
Killian hesitated. It was more complicated now. But he also had a job one that held personal drive. “She is very skilled and smart. Calculating. Left handed.”
“Name?”
He paused hesitant again. “Nikita Gallacini.”
She turned her head and whispered, “It’s time I met her.”
Killian froze. “I’m not sure that’s a good choice.”
“It is. We are the only ones who The Executioner’s identity. Let’s keep that way, but we need to know what she knows.”
She turned more fully towards him, “Where can I find her?”
Killian thought for a moment in silence. Niki was the key he remembered Caterina saying. And the more he knew her. The more she was right. She was. He thought about his mother and his brother. He had his own debts that needed to be repaid.
“I’ll bring her to you.”
- Writer
