His salvation

Present

Claire

It's a dark Saturday night, the weather ominous despite it being the end of June. There's a muffled rumble of thunder and a howling wind whipping against the pub windows. I glance at the clock; it's 1:17, a little over half an hour until my shift ends.

I wipe down the already gleaming countertop and arrange the glasses, distracting myself until I leave.I don't usually work alone at the bar so late, but Beth_the other partner_ is staying with her sick daughter in the hospital, so I'm alone.

Ring.

Ring.

The bell above the entrance chimed, signaling the arrival of the newcomer. "Less than an hour to close," I announced loudly from my seat.

I dropped what I was holding and headed for his seat in the back corner.Once I reached him, I studied his appearance carefully: an elderly man in his late sixties or early seventies, with graying hair and a receding hairline, his beer belly almost tearing the buttons off his worn shirt. But what made me suspicious was his posture and his shaky knee. Hmm... not suspicious at all.

"What can I get you, sir?" I asked as soon as I stood before his table.

"Just water," he said after a moment, his voice trembling, I repeat, not suspicious at all.

As I stood behind the counter to get a glass, the bell rang again, signaling the arrival of another visitor.I turned and saw a tall man whose face I couldn't make out as he walked quickly backward.I ignored him and poured water into the glass.

I heard a tapping sound, followed by a thud, And then... Nothing.

Silence...

I paused to deliver his order, then decided to continue to check if the old man had dropped something.But even as I said this, I knew something was wrong.

I wish I hadn't gone. A scream tore at my throat at the sight before me.

The old man's body lay on the table, a hole between his eyebrows, blood pooling on the table and dripping onto the floor,his wide eyes were fixed on me with a blank stare.. In my panic, I didn't notice the third figure nearby, but the intensity of the tall man's gaze made me turn to him in sheer terror. It was then that I recognized him...

He_he was...He was..m_my sta...I couldn't form a coherent idea. Suddenly, I felt intensely cold, my lips opening and closing in a futile attempt to catch my breath. My legs trembled, and the sound of my heart pounding against my ribs echoed in my head so loudly I couldn't distinguish between the sounds—was it something hitting the floor or it's my own heartbeat? My stomach clenched with panic and fear. Oh my god... Oh mt god, this must be a nightmare or a joke, right?

He was sitting relaxed at the next table, a gun carelessly left on it in front of him.His sharp gaze never left mine.

Suddenly, "We met again, Moya siyashaya feya." His rough voice was the last thing I heard before my vision went black and I felt nothing.

Alexie

Two weeks ago...

,As soon as I stepped through the massive iron gates, I took my first breath outside the prison. My contemplation, which lasted for several minutes, was cut short by the sound of car tires screeching on the gravel.

I exhaled a long breath and got into the car as soon as it stopped in front of me and the driver sped off.

The journey unfolded amidst, the hazy light of the trees flickering outside the window, my thoughts consumed by revenge and unwanted past memories...

The moment I lay my hands on that bastard, he'll regret ever getting involved with me, no he'll regret the day he was born.

His time is up, and I'm a man who doesn't let things slide. My train of thought was interrupted again by the driver. "The boss is waiting for you in the warehouse ."

"Umm," I replied indifferently.

The smell of copper and despair greeted me as soon as I entered the warehouse. Dmitry Nikolayev—Bakhan Bratva—sat in a chair facing a bound man—excuse me, a mutilated corpse—a pool of blood beneath him.

Guards were scattered around the warehouse, but a formidable man stood in a corner; I recognized him as Dmitry's right-hand man.

"Welcome back," Dmitry said after I paused before him, extending his hand.I took his hand and shook it firmly in response to his strong grip, nodding in acknowledgment. "It's an honor to work with you," I said reminding him of our deal.

I'm looking forward to it. Don't disappoint me," he replied with a calculating smile after our fists parted.

"I'm the best, as Vadim told you," I retorted smugly, noting why he had hired me. Dmitri's expression didn't change at my remark, and then, "Vadim," Dmitri ordered coldly. Vadim—the imposing figure—stepped forward from the corner and handed me a thick envelope.

"Your first payment, enough to get by for now and his location." At the mention of that bastard Jax, my fists clenched.I kept my composure and said, "I appreciate it and expect my first assignment soon."

The Bakhan simply nodded, and that was enough for me to leave.

Five days after settling into my penthouse apartment in the city center, I received a message from an unknown number as soon as I turned on my computer. The message contained a detailed profile of a man named Leon James. Honestly, I didn't expect my first murder assignment to come so soon. But there's no rest for villains, is there?

After finishing my call with the cleaning crew, I left the man's bathroom, leaving Leon's body behind.I hadn't realized how thirsty I was for blood until I'd finished him, but that wasn't enough.I needed that bastard's blood on my hands.

The warm shower water lashed my back as I breathed heavily. Memories flooded back of my old life in St. Petersburg... sleeping in filthy alleyways in the freezing cold, stealing food from shops, fighting in dark alleys, and how much my injuries hurt despite the betting money that barely covered a roof over my head.I forced my thoughts away and began to imagine torturing that bastard when I laid my hands on him.

I sipped from my glass as I studied Jax Miller's life on the computer screen.Hmm... the bastard seems to be enjoying himself, oblivious to the fact that I'll finally be right behind him.But it's all right; the less the prey notices the predator, the sweeter the victory. Here I am, in front of a cheap nightclub.

A few people are lined up, and the building's sign reads "Cherry and Peach," illuminated by dim red lights that are almost pink, and the letter "H" buzzes on and off. I parked my bike two blocks away and walked on.I turned towards the back alley and entered the staff entrance—which wasn't locked.I was greeted by flashing red and purple lights and blaring music. Bodies were grinding against each other, and the air was thick with the smell of sweat and cheap perfume.

What the hell? How could people be in such a disgusting place? I kept walking, scanning the crowds, looking for the bastard. I turned the corner and bumped into a woman, practically naked, her face all swollen with color. She was looking at me flirtatiously.,

"Hey, handsome, want some fun?" she said her tone meant to be seductive, but it does nothing for me. I ignored her and continued on my way, hearing her cursing me behind my back. And... there he was, sitting on the booth with red leather seats, two men next to him, being ridden by whores .But the bastard was getting his cock sucked, his face contorted in pain, more like he was about to shit than climax.

Damn it... I can't catch him here. I need him to leave.I watched him for several minutes in shadows, then moved away and headed to the far end of the club, sitting on one of the booths behind a tall column.

I watched the blood gush from his stomach and his broken fingers trying to plug the stab wounds, but to no avail.

I smelled the blood mixed with honey and flowers. Ugh... that filthy bastard isn't supposed to smell good! Suddenly, I was pulled from my reverie when I focused on the girl standing next to me.

"Sir?... Would you like to order now?" she said slowly, perhaps because I hadn't responded earlier.

I gazed at her more and studied her features, and fuck me... She has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, with their rich brown sparkle, and a prominent nose beneath which are pouting lips meant for kissing. Her dark brown hair is in a high ponytail that highlights a delicate neck. I lowered my gaze further and my pulse quickened. She makes me breathe with difficulty, her body is made for sin and worship. She is wearing this dark purple shirt that highlights the lines of her white bra, with tight jeans around her hips and slightly loose at the bottom around her legs. She places one hand on her hip and the other holds a small notebook with a pen beside her. I realized that I was staring for too long at her wide, fidgety hips beside me when she let out a fake cough.

I looked up at her again and saw a flash of something cross her features, which vanished quickly. "Have you decided what you want to order now?" she said, her voice laced with disdain. She finished with a furious breath, and damn it, her voice melt me.

"Yes," the word came out in a low, sensual whisper. "What do you want—" "You," I interrupted, waiting for her to scream at me or maybe even slap me, but to my surprise, she did neither. She simply turned and left as if her life depended on it, leaving me with an erection, wild thoughts, and her scent lingering in my mind.

Then I remembered why I was here.I looked around and got up, continued on my previous route, but I couldn't find that motherfucker. I went behind the club, into the restrooms, and around the bar. I checked the crowds, but he wasn't there. The bastard had vanished again!

I put on my helmet, got on my bike, and sped off, matching my anger, through the dark streets. I don't make mistakes, and this is the first time I've lost sight of my goal because of a distraction I doubt it was wanted.

After settling onto my sofa in the living room, my thoughts kept wandering around that girl. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. The memory of her biting her lip hit me. I'll give her something to wrap herself around instead of biting it. I can't bear the throbbing pain in my cock anymore. I pulled my shorts and boxer all the way down and wrapped my fist around me, lightly caressing myself. "Yes, you can lick it." I imagine my angel kneeling before me, her hands instead of mine, leaning forward to taste. She gasped and guided her head towards me.

She didn't disappoint, wrapped her lips around me and sucked hard.I increased my pace with my hand, watching her choke on spit and vomit reflex as she struggled to take me all, hollowed her tear-stained cheeks and took me deeper. I couldn't resist. I pushed harder and came down her throat—on my hand—with a savage roar. I have never come in this intense , and from mere imagination, later, I said to myself, later... Iwill acquire her and possess her.

And I don't get those thoughts because I haven't had sex for years; it's an absolute certainty. I've never felt this way about anyone, not until her, and I don't think about my partner after I'm done. She awakens all my protective instincts; she makes me want—no, need—to possess and protect her. And yes, she's definitely a welcome distraction

Claire

My night shift continues amidst the dancing bodies and the blaring bass, and I can't let out the memory of that man's gaze. As a waitress in a seedy nightclub, I'm used to the leering looks and sometimes creepy hands that men throw at me. Every day is pure torture at 'Cherry and Peach' , but that stranger's stare made me feel hot and hurt in my core. So... I did my usual thing with creeps, scowling at him, my tone indignant because I didn't know what to do. I'm not used to these foreign feelings, and I don't know why I felt so bothered when I saw him leave so quickly.I shouldn't think about him. I try to push the memory away, but it's impossible. Maybe I was attracted to him because he didn't seem like he came here looking for some fun. Heh...look at you, making excuses for him. I shook my head and went to serve a booth full of noisy girls who looked like they were celebrating someone's birthday.

I thought, what if my life were different? What if I had my dady's money to spend, a trust fund, a roof over my head, and regular meals instead of this run-down studio apartment, eating ramen for dinner, and working in dirty jobs to pay off my rent and student loans

Enough with being jealous of girls my age. I've learned that jealousy and regret don't change anything, and they don't even pay the rent. I've accepted my life as it is. The sooner I realize and accept my situation, the better, right?

I placed the tray of empty glasses on the bar and, almost shouting over the noise, said to Sofia, the bartender, "Four piña coladas."

At one o'clock, my shift ended, and I left with Emma_one of the club's dancers_in the back entrance to the staff hallway .

"Girl, I need a huge meal, a long bath, and sleeping like deads" she said, letting out a long sigh.

"same" I replied wearily, even though we couldn't afford to spend a few dollars on a meal.

Later, after my vigilant journey on the subway and my brisk walk to the dilapidated building where I live with my mother, as if I were suffering from paranoia, it is better to be cautious than to be regretful - I learned this lesson after my bag was stolen a block away - I inserted my keys and opened the door as usual,the apartment smelled of alcohol and lemon from the floor cleaner. I put my keys on the table and closed the door.