Mr. Brockwell

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

*Adrian*

As I rushed down the hallway, Ida was making her way back towards Calista's bedroom, holding a tray with a tea pot and several teacups. She got a look on her face that I hadn't seen in a while and I had to wonder if she really knew me that well, or if she had any inclination as to what was going on.

"I want you and Walter to keep a close eye on Calista while I'm gone, understood?" I firmly noted, briefly stopping to give orders.

"Of course, sir. Is everything alright?" Ida asked, her tone insinuating more than her words.

"I just have to deal with something.." I said with gritted teeth, causing Ida's eyes to widen. She does know me very well.

"Adrian, make sure ya know who yer threatenin' before ya go and open fire." Ida warned, making a fair point, but I was to the point of not giving a s**t anymore.

"I'm already on it, Ida. Just take care of her while I'm gone and, like I said, don't let her out of your f*****g sight." I growled, turning around and sprinting down the stairs.

I made a pit stop by my office on my way out, grabbing a bag that I threw into the passenger seat of my car, before getting into the driver's seat. The engine roared, and I peeled out of the driveway, pulling my little black phone out of the green book. One missed call, and I'm smirking with satisfaction, just in time. I dialed back and made our usual signal, before he finally answered.

"Tell me you've got good news, Jack." I begged, heading towards Calista's old apartment, Ivan's current residence.

"Yes and no," Jack responded with a heavy sigh, "He's the stepson to a millionaire, and people would wonder if he had disappeared. However, you're f*****g lucky, because they happen to have an enemy that is easy to get in touch with-"

"I need something tonight, Jack." I growled.

"Hey! Didn't I just tell you, stepson to a millionaire?!" Jack exclaimed, and I kept driving.

"He threatened me and... my assistant." I gruffly explained.

"Your assistant, huh? Gotcha, dude. He threatened your woman. I get it, that means it's go time, but remember that it always leaves a mess. Do you want a big mess to clean up, or a little one?" Jack suggested, and I know he's right, but I can't stop myself.

"I won't end him, yet, but I need to give him a warning of my own." I argued, because I'm not about to turn this car around.

"Go for it, just wait for the big guns until we can get something lined up, if in fact that's what you'd like to do." Jack responded, acting like he's always been the voice of reason, which has never been the case.

"Yeah, yeah... Just get me something I can work with." I said, clicking the phone shut and pulling up in front of Ivan's apartment.

Shutting the engine off, I exited my vehicle and walked straight into the apartment building without hesitation. I took the stairs up to the third floor and walked halfway down the hall, knocking on the door. I waited less than a minute, before Ivan opened the door with an irritated expression. I couldn't help but smirk and chuckle to myself. I bet he was expecting Calista.

"Hello Ivan, may I come inside?" I asked, briefly referring back to my professional self.

"Why? You should know, she ain't here!" Ivan yelled, spit flying from his mouth, while he clutched tightly at a bottle of whiskey.

"I'm here to talk to you, actually." I responded, fabricating the best smile I could conjure up.

"Is that so?" Ivan chuckled loudly, and sloppily, "I don't want to talk to you, motherfu-"

Before Ivan could finish his slur against me, I found my fist connecting with his face and knocking him back inside his apartment. Shrugging, I stepped inside with him and shut the front door behind me. Waiting for Ivan to get up, to make it somewhat of a fair fight. Although I already know who would win, so that alone makes it a little unfair, I guess that's the karma he was destined to receive. I just so happen to be the lucky bastard whose hand will be the one teaching the lesson.

"We're going to try this again," I said and pulled him into the living room, "except this time, don't f*****g cuss me out."

"I knew she was f*****g you! I knew she was cheating on me!" Ivan growled, teetering back and forth on the floor.

"Actually, you're wrong. We're just friends, for now, unless she wants that to change. Calista has a good heart, she isn't the cheating type, if you actually knew your ex-girlfriend then you wouldn't have had to question it." I growled, squatting down to be at eye level, "I'm here because I saw your recent text message to her."

"Oh yeah?" Ivan snickered and pulled out his phone, pressing a button.

There was shuffling in the hallway just a few seconds later, coming straight for us. I knew what was about to happen and had to make a split-second decision, glancing at Ivan who had a smug smile across his face. Within seconds, the door is busted down and three men show up dressed in suits. They're all strapped with heavy artillery, pointing straight at me. This kid has protection, but why? Is it because of another enemy, or because he knew I'd come after him when he threatened Calista the way he did?

"My stepdad's a smart man, so I can't take credit for this one." Ivan said, standing on his feet and wiping the blood from his nose.

"You lured me out here..." I said in a light voice, realizing the f*****g trap I fell for so effortlessly.

"Yup. Makes it much easier to get to Calista, with you out of the way." Ivan smirked, standing next to one of the guards.

"You think she isn't protected at my home while I'm away?" I scoffed and started to chuckle, "I may have fallen for this little trap your daddy thought up, but don't mistake me for stupid."

"You're just a tight-ass business fucker who talks a big game, and just so happens to know how to punch." Ivan shrugged, glaring at me.

"You're right," I shrugged and shook my head in disgrace, "I am just a businessman."

Before Ivan could respond, before anyone could blink, I retrieved my pistol from behind me and pointed it at the man on the left. I squeezed the trigger three times, adjusting my aim for each guard, striking them in the center of the forehead. The three guards collapsed to the ground, almost simultaneously, and Ivan stared at them with his mouth dropped wide open. I watched as the color drained from his face, and he peered towards me out of the corner of his eye.

"I was hoping to avoid a mess," I sighed and placed my gun in the back of my waistband, "Now, I think I've proven that I'm more than just a businessman. Moving right along, shall we?"

"You wanna kill me, motherfucker? Just do it!" Ivan roared, veins protruding from his neck and forehead.

"If I wanted to kill you, don't you think I would have done it by now? I'm not here to kill you, not yet. It all depends on how you handle things after this meeting. What I want from you," I gripped his shoulder roughly, "is to leave Calista the f**k alone. She broke up with you, it's over, you two are over. Move on with your pathetic, miserable life. Think you can manage?"

"I don't want anyone else, I want her... I lo-"

"Don't you dare f*****g say that you love her. Now, see, that type of s**t makes me want to shoot you point-blank between the eyes. Or between the legs," I growled and Ivan gulped with bulging eyes, "You don't love someone that you beat the s**t out of, that's not love. Though, I'm not sure if that's something you'll ever have the privilege of experiencing. In order to fall in love with someone else, you have to have a heart. I don't think you have a heart, Ivan. I think you're a bottomless pit of nothing but misery and hatred, for yourself, and probably your father. That's something you'll need to take up with a therapist though, not me."

"f**k you!" Ivan growled and shoved my hand off of his shoulder, stepping towards me with raised fists.

"You really want to go this route?" I asked with a crooked smirk, tilting my head in question.

"Get the f**k out of my house." Ivan grunted with clenched teeth, pointing towards the front door.

"Only if you stay out of Calista's life. That means calling off the fuckers who are at my house to try and kidnap her, otherwise you will lose more men tonight." I said, standing face to face.

"Fine." Ivan sneered, turning his head away from my gaze.

"If I find out you've so much as breathed in the same ten-mile radius as her, I promise you that I'll be back." I threatened, walking out the door and shutting it behind me with a loud slam.

I almost forgot to clean up the mess I made, though! I turned back around and opened the door again, to find Ivan in the exact same spot I left him. He still has a dumbfounded expression, staring at the three bodies on the floor that are creating quite a puddle of blood.

"Look, uh... I'm all about manners. So, I'll do you a solid. I'm the one that made this mess, so I'll clean it up. Expect some men in an hour or so. They'll knock first, don't worry." I winked, before shutting the door.

I exited the apartment building and got back inside my car, starting the engine and taking off. I don't know if Ivan will heed my warning. He was scared, but I'm willing to bet he'll call daddy for help and daddy is the one with the set of balls. I could have created a war with their family, but I don't regret a damn thing! Ivan had it coming and a hell of a lot more. If I don't kill the fucker, I'll have him thrown away in jail.

In fact, that's not something I've asked Calista about! Does she want to press charges? I honestly doubt she would, she could barely confess the abuse to me, let alone a police officer. Ivan needs to pay for what he's done to her, regardless of how. Something tells me he and his family aren't going to play nice after this, but like I said, I don't regret my actions. I didn't intend on killing anyone tonight, but I wasn't going to let Ivan have the upper hand either. I had to prove that I, also, wasn't someone to be f****d with.

When I returned home, Ida and Calista were still upstairs in her bedroom. I stood at her door and listened to the muffled voices for a moment, before knocking and letting myself in. They both stared at me with curious expressions, as I entered the room and stood at the foot of the bed. I casually smiled at both women, nodding, and they smiled in return.

"Where did you go?" Calista asked, her nose scrunching up.

"Just had something I needed to take care of," I shrugged and glanced at Ida, "Thank you for staying with her. I just have to make a quick phone call, and then I'll be back."

I ducked back out of the room and into my study downstairs, using the small black phone once more before putting it back in my office drawer. I waited for the appropriate number of rings, before Jackson finally answered my call.

"Glad you called," Jackson grunted, "I've got a lot of juice on that boy of yours, Ivan, but not something I want to talk over the phone about."

"Then send me information in the mail. I can wait. I gave a warning of my own, but I need help with the cleanup... What's the old crew up to, do you know?" I asked, hoping he'd have their information.

"I have a number where you can reach Coop, but I don't know about the other's." Jackson responded.

"Give me Coop's number," I said and briefly paused, "And brother, think about retiring soon. I'd love to see you again."

"Soon, bro, soon. I'm almost done with the job I'm on, and then it'll be a wrap, I think. Talk soon." Jackson ended the call abruptly, and I knew it was because he feared the call being tapped.

Luckily, he texted the number and I deleted it shortly after writing it on a piece of paper. Cooper Freling, one of my Delta comrades, we haven't spoken in a couple of years. I hope he's doing well, hope they all are, and I hope they'll all be willing to help me. I know he's retired too, as well as a few others. Jackson was the only one still currently working with Uncle Sam, everyone else went their separate ways.

I think it's time to get the gang back together, because I have a feeling I'm going to need their help, a little bit of backup.