Welcome home pt 1 // Russia

Cold, It was unbelievably cold but then again Russia always was Candice seen Russia as home her and Nik had spent a few years here when they were young and in love but now? Everything was different, They were different “I’ve got a surprise for you” Nik said as they pulled up her eyes were closed but the sudden lack of movement in the car made them flick open for a second before she realised her surroundings he had took her home, The house that they had once shared she undone her belt and opened the car door her foot crunching the fresh snow underneath her boot there was a smile on her face “You didn’t sell it?” She asked him as she walked to the gate wiping the snow off the top of it they used to be happy here, The moment bittersweet because right now she wasn’t happy he had made her leave California, Her friends and Zen, God she missed him already. Nik made her leave them all behind and for what? She wasn’t even sure what they were doing here yet he hadn’t said “No, I couldn’t sell it this is our home always will be” his words were soft and struck her in a way she wished they wouldn’t pulling at her heartstrings because this was once the life she craved him and her being here, Being normal.

Froze she was froze in place as she watched him opening the door the familiar sound of the creaking door and the little jingle of the wind chimes she closed her eyes a moment taking a breath and taking in this place she loved so, Opening her eyes again she followed him peering into the open door “Welcome home, baby” he spoke her face scrunched up at the word baby he wasn’t allowed to call her that anymore she wasn’t his and she never would be again she walked passed him wiping her feet on the custom door mat that said their names on it making sure she got all the snow off “You’ve not changed anything” she said it was as she remembered flipping on the lights she looked around pictures of them all over the furnishings covered in plastic even though there wasn’t a speck of dust in sight Nik must have kept the cleaner on the huge fireplace was lit and the room was warm the happy memories they shared here flooded her mind a sad smile on her face as she picked up a picture of the pair the picture was the most recent one of them stood in front of the fire at a birthday party they hosted for Nik, It was a good night they hadn’t fought and they even spoke of having kids and being together forever. Lies. Her hand dropped the picture letting it fall to the floor the frame breaking as it connected with the wooden flooring she just watched it fall because that’s what happened to them they fell “Why did you bring me here?” Nik was by her side kneeling down to gather the broken pieces of their memories “I thought you’d rather stay here then a hotel” “No, Nik what are we doing here?” She meant the job what was it? She still didn’t know “Ahh, Let’s get settled first and I’ll tell you” he told her throwing the broken frame away and putting the now lone picture above the fire before he went to get the bags out of the car which she then grabbed and threw it into the fire a smile on her face as she watched it curl beneath the heat the colours merged as they burnt how poetic.

A few hours later and Candice found herself at a lavish ball with Nik in hand smiling and waving at their old friends it was like they never left not one of them was aware that Candice and Nik were ever apart, Everyone was just so shocked they wasn’t married wIth kids yet “Keep an eye out for Ivan” Nik whispered in her ear as his arm went around her waist and he pulled her with him to dance pulling her body flush with his because she was a horrible dancer he smiled down at her “isn’t this nice? I’m not trying to kill you, You’re not trying to kill me, Working together again like a team” she rolled her eyes slowly wishing he would just shut up “Silent treatment huh?” Again another roll of the eyes as their bodies moved “Candice, I missed us – I wish” she cut him off luckily spotting Ivan “There’s Ivan” she told him his head turning to the man now “Okay, I’m sorry for everything Candice” she turned to look at him “What are you talking about?” She asked a sharp pain in her neck “Ow” her hand went to where she just felt the pain she felt woozy “You.. You son of a bitch” she fell but she felt him catch her. Everything went black the last thing she saw was a sad smile on Nik’s face or maybe she didn’t. The drugs that were just injected into her neck were fast, She didn’t remember much.

*Flashback to 2013* “First we drink” his Russia accent think, Ivan stood next to the chair she was on smoking a cigarette dressed in all black the same as her “Then we do job” he continued as he poured them both straight vodka she didn’t mind drinking she could always do a better job while under the influence anyway and she didn’t want to offend Ivan he was a Russian mobster, Nik’s boss in a way he was the one who sent Nik to America to start up there Ivan was a powerful man. Taking the drink she had a big gulp “Nik said your best shot” he flicked the ash off the top of his cigarette before drinking his drink “ty ubivayesh' voditelya gruzovika” she looked at him, It took her a moment to understand what he was saying she was new to the language just learned so she was slow at translating she nodded slowly “Yes” she looked at the time they’d need to move soon so she could be on the roof in position for the truck “It’s nearly time” she told the man as she slammed the rest of her drink down the warmth spreading through her abdomen she stood as he began to move “da my idem seychas” another nod as she opened a door for roof access her gun already set up on the top and she headed up waiting for the truck she received a call pressing the button on the ear piece she was wearing Nik spoke “Candy baby change of plan, We are taking this whole thing for ourselves, You shoot the driver then Ivan I’ll be waiting to take the truck and I’ll meet you where previously said” before she could protest the click in her ear signalled he had put the phone down “Sh*t” she called out as she seen the truck coming down the street her eye to the scope and her finger on the trigger she followed the truck in her line of sight and took a breath in as she took her shot brain scattered on the driver side door she seen Ivan approach the truck and Nik behind him her finger over the trigger she was about to take her shot just as she was about to pull the trigger someone was behind her and her shot was off clipping Ivan in the neck at the same time the bullet entered Ivan a knife entered her shoulder she turned pulling the blade out seeing a woman with red hair behind her Misha Ivan’s wife they had planned the same thing double crossing bastards Misha wasn’t a fighter so it didn’t take Candice long to knock her ass out leaving the gun behind but taking the knife with her she ran in the direction of her pick up point jumping from one roof to another was hard since she had loss the use of her left arm right now on the last low roof she seen the truck except it wasn’t Nik driving she ran jumping on the top of it rolling as she landed on her bad shoulder “F***” she called out the pain burning through her she crawled up to the passenger side opening the door she flicked herself inside from above a gun in her face but before he could pull the trigger she had hit his arm upwards using her quickness she stabbed him in the side with the knife used on her he dropped the gun which she picked up as she grabbed it however her was out the door “SH*T” she jumped into the seat next to her and turned the wheel a harsh left the truck skidding to a stop. She breathed for a moment catching her breath before jumping out and opening the back of the truck gun in hand hearing a bike behind her she raised her weapon as it stopped she could tell it was Nik “What the f*** happened to you?” She lowered her weapon as they looked into the back of the truck her eyes widened the truck full of files and papers everywhere “What the f*** did we just nearly die for?” Nik smiled and kissed her head “information baby information is power now we have it all”