He’s rumored to come from a family that deals in shady business. Hell, even his enlistment in the military is shrouded in mystery and reeks of unusual circumstances.
But I’m ready to forget all of that as long as he helps me improve my strength.
I have no clue what the future holds for me, but one thing’s for sure.
I’ll become strong enough to be able to spill the blood of those who massacred my family.
5
SASHA
“You made it to special ops?”
I nod, kicking at a few pebbles, then slowly, almost sheepishly, raise my head to stare at Uncle Albert.
He’s older than my late father, has bushy brows and a round face and a big nose, as well as pointy ears. My cousins and I used to call him the fat elf in our ignorant younger years.
Uncle Albert just laughed it off and even asked Papa and my other uncle not to reprimand us.
He was the mediator of the family, the account keeper, and the peace that maintained the bridge between my third volatile uncle and my hotheaded Papa.
Now, there’s only he and I to protect the other two remaining members of our family. And, hopefully, find my brother one day.
Small hands reach out for my face, grabbing at air. “Sasha…Sasha…”
I scoop my youngest cousin, Mike, from Uncle’s clutches. He’s four years old and the only survivor of Uncle Albert’s children. In fact, he’s my only cousin who stayed alive.
Mike was lucky enough to be hidden away by his mother in the cupboard at the time of the massacre. The cost of that sacrifice was her life, but he, at least, didn’t witness all the blood. He doesn’t remember her, either, since he was only a few months old at the time.
I’d give my life to protect the innocence that shines in his light eyes. They translate everything beautiful and pure. Whenever I look at him, I’m reminded of the laughter, adventures, and mischievousness his elder siblings and I used to take for granted.
It wasn’t until I lost them about four years ago that I realized just how privileged we were.
Mike’s fair hair has grown, becoming longer and wilder, nearly eating up his small face. “You need a haircut, Mishka.”
He giggles and then pats my cheek. “Man, Sasha.”
“Am I?” I use my manly voice, and he breaks into a fit of giggles as he hugs me tighter.
“You are!”
“My little bear is so old now, he can even tell what I sound like.”
“Yup! Babushka says I’m gonna be a big boy and help ya.”
“You will?”
He rolls his eyes with so much attitude for a four-year-old. “Of course! You can’t do it on your own, Sasha. You’re no Superman.”
“And you are?”
“I’m gonna be. And I’m also gonna stop Babushka from crying every night.”
My heart squeezes, and I raise my head to gauge Uncle Albert’s reaction. He’s leaning against the wall of the old, deserted warehouse we agreed to meet in.
It took me a few hours of hitchhiking to get here, but it’s located far enough from the heart of Saint Petersburg that no one could follow or locate me.
Our communications are done strictly through an encrypted phone from my uncle’s end and a burner from mine. I could’ve gotten one like his, but the chances of it being confiscated in the military are a lot higher than I’m willing to risk.