Fake Reflection

“I’m already gone.” Chris said disappearing down the side of the boat. He wasn’t stupid. He knew if Shadows gives you a second chance, you don’t make him regret it, because he won’t make the same mistake twice. He felt guilty about it at first. These men were his friends, but the more they talked about the plan, the more they got excited for it, the more disgusted he got with them. Ivan even volunteered to take out the girl. That way none of them would have her blood on their hands. It didn’t matter to him though. The blood was still on them all, and he couldn’t live with that. They dug their hole, nothing left now but for them to sit in it.

“Let me go!” Brian snapped, pulling out of Jimmy and Zacky’s grip. He kept his rage flooded eyes on Ivan as he tore off his jacket and shoulder holster, and tossed them at Jimmy. He was going to beat this man to death, and Matt was going to let him. “So fucking concerned about your fucking rules, and you’re just going to let that traitor walk!?” Ivan snapped when Matt came over to cut his ropes. He paused, and crouched down eye level with him. “He had a gun pressed to his head, and was still willing to turn on you,” Matt started to explain narrowing his eyes at the man, “You see the rules aren’t just in place to piss you off,” he continued letting some of his anger flare, “They’re there to maintain order, and protect the innocent, but they’re also designed to show a persons true colors,” Matt stood, and looked down at the man, “He still had some moral fucking decency, so yeah I’m gong to let him walk,” he finished slipping the blade of his knife under the ropes around his right wrist, “But you’re not getting off that easy,” he said cutting the ropes, “I believe someone wants to get his hands on you.” he finished with a wicked grin cutting the ropes on his other wrist.

Ivan looked at Brian, and sneered, “Like I’m afraid of you.” he said standing, and stepping towards him, not knowing his arrogance would be his downfall. He took a swing at Brian only to have him grab his fist mid swing. Fueled by rage, Brian head-butted him, shattering Ivan’s nose. He stumbled back, but Brian gave him no time to recover. He landed a right hook, the crunch of Ivan’s jaw breaking tearing the calm night. Brian gripped his shirt, and landed another. Over and over, he hit him, ignoring the pain shooting through his hand as his own bones broke. He didn’t care, this fucker wanted to kill his little girl. He gave his hand a break, and brought a knee to Ivan’s stomach. The air left him, and he collapsed to his knees. Ivan held himself up on his hands as he tried to get his breath back, but Brian wasn’t going to give him time for that either. He kicked him hard in the face, and Ivan flung back, the back of his head connecting with the edge of his tub, sending it flipping in the air, and landing hard on his chest.

Ivan gasped, and gripped his chest, rolling over on his side as he coughed, and spit up blood. Brian walked over, and kicked him hard several times in the stomach and chest before pushing him over on his back with his foot. He knelt down over Ivan’s chest, and dug his knees into his arms, holding him down. Ivan cried out only to be silenced by Brian’s hands wrapping around his throat. Brian locked his angry orbs with Ivan’s swollen eyes, “You threatened my daughters life,” he hissed through clinched teeth squeezing tighter, “Now I’m going to watch yours fade away.” he finished bringing him up a little, and slamming his head into the deck. Brian squeezed tighter, the rage still blocking the pain shooting through his hand. Ivan kicked his legs trying with what little he had left to fight for his life, but it was a loosing battle. He felt his heart race, and his chest tighten as his body fought for the air it was being denied. Brian glared into his eyes as the kicks ceased, and his hands fell limp. His grip tightened more as he leaned down a little, hearing a final gasp as the life left Ivan's eyes.

Brian didn’t release his grip. He wasn’t satisfied yet. The remaining men of FFDP watched in horror as Brian continued to squeeze, teeth clinched. Johnny walked over, and felt Ivan’s wrist for a pulse, not finding one. He looked up at Matt, and he joined them. Matt hooked his arms under Brian’s, and pulled him, with more effort than he thought he would need, off of the lifeless man. Matt turned him away, but didn’t immediately let go. “You alright man?” Matt asked him. “No my fucking hand hurts.” Brian replied looking at it. Matt chuckled, and motioned for Johnny. “I imagine some of those bones crunching were a few of your own.” Matt said as Johnny joined them, taking a look at Brian’s hand.

Matt gave Brian a pat on the shoulder before turning back to the task at hand. Jimmy and Zacky put Ivan’s body back in his chair, and feet back in the tub. They still had to dispose of the body. Jason and Jeremy trembled with fear, but Zoltan seemed unfazed. He looked at the body of hes “friend” and leader. Chris was right, and he had come to terms with his fate. Was he ready to die? No, but choices were made, and now consequences had to be paid. Jeremy, and Jason on the other hand weren’t ready to accept their fate. “Please don’t kill us,” Jeremy started to beg, “We didn’t want to do it either.” he continued. “We can disappear too man.” Jason joined in hoping pleading would save their lives. “We didn’t know there were exceptions-” Zoltan cut him off, “Will you two just fucking stop!” he snapped at them. Matt watched the three with amusement. “Quit your pathetic begging, its not going to do you any good.” he finished locking his gaze with Shadows

Matt smirked, “You should listen to your second in command.” he stated, “If anything it’ll get you gagged.” he finished still grinning. “So what are you going to do, execute us?” Zoltan asked, hoping it would at least be quick. Matt shook his head, the smile still on his face. “That would leave a mess on my deck,” he said as Jimmy and Zacky walked over to a large black tarp covering something, “I’m going to strap on a classic, a personal favorite of mine,” he paused, his smile turning evil, “A good old fashion pair of concrete shoes.” he finished as Jimmy and Zacky pulled back the tarp revealing a small rotating cement mixer, and several bags of concrete. Zoltan swallowed hard. Drowning wasn’t exactly quick. “Your best option would be to take deep breaths once you’re under,” Johnny spoke up as he finished wrapping Brian’s hand. He was going to have to reset it in a few places when they got home. “Drown quick,” he told them joining Matt’s side, “Unless you want to know what it feels like to have thousands of pounds of pressure pushing on you from all directions.” he said nonchalantly. “Jesus Christ can’t you just break our necks?” Zoltan asked knowing the answer already. “We could, but breaking your neck won’t always kill you.” Johnny told him. “There’s dozens of ways we could have done this quick, clean, and painless,” Matt said as Jimmy and Zacky brought over the cement mixer, “But child murders don’t deserve quick and painless.” he finished as the concrete was poured into the tubs.

Anger ripped through Zoltan, “We didn’t kill any fucking child!” he snapped, “We weren’t even going to do it. Ivan was and he’s dead already.” he finished anger flaring. “You were going to let him!” Brian barked lunging for the man. Matt engulfed him, stopping him. “Don’t need two broken hands.” he whispered to him. Brian backed off even though he didn’t want to, but Matt was right. No need to end up useless for a couple of months. Jimmy and Zacky poured concrete into the last tub, and Matt glanced at his watch. “All we have to do now is wait.” he said with a grin, “Don’t worry it’s quick drying cement, so it won’t take long.” he finished. “How does it feel to know you’re going to die in about a half hour?” Jimmy asked. The three men didn’t say anything. “I’d offer you a last meal, but this isn’t prison.” Matt said with a smirk. “Prison is too good for them.” Brian mumbled as he stared out at the dark ocean. This was the first time anyone has ever threatened his daughter’s life, and he wasn’t taking it well.

The guys past the time with light conversation. Everyone left Brian alone to cool off. Jeremy and Jason tried to plead for their lives a few more time, but it fell on deaf ears. Zoltan sat quietly awaiting his fate. He should have listened to Chris. Maybe he could have avoided this, and Ivan could have been the only one to go down, but it was too late for that. Before long Matt was checking his watch again. He walked over, and knocked on the concrete in Zoltan’s tub. “Hard as a rock.” he grinned up at him. Zoltan just stared at him, face blank of any emotion. “Let’s get this fuck face off my deck first.” Matt said moving behind Ivan’s chair. Jimmy moved to help him only to be stopped quickly by Brian. “I’ll do it.” he said. “Dude you have one hand.” Jimmy said. “I’ll manage.” Brian replied, gripping the seat of the chair with his left hand, and looking at Matt.

Matt gave him a nod, and together they lifted Ivan, chair and all, and dumped him over the side of the boat. The two watched him disappear beneath the dark water, and Matt placed a hand on Brian’s shoulder. “We got the others.” he told him. Brian looked at him, his eyes swimming with emotions. Matt saw something there he hasn’t seen in awhile. Fear. He was afraid. Matt knew what he was doing, over thinking the “what if’s”. He was afraid he couldn’t protect her, but he shouldn’t be. People have been known to do almost super human acts when it came to their children, and he wasn’t the only one people would have to go through to get to that little girl. She may only be four, but she kept them all sane. A constant reminder of the innocence beneath the corrupt, and each and everyone of them would put their life down to keep her safe.

Brian sat on an icebox as the guys finished the job. Jason and Jeremy tried some final pleas as they were lifted up, but it was no use. They dumped them over the side, Jason first then Jeremy. Zoltan closed his eyes when he heard the splash, and took a deep breath. He didn’t open his eyes when his chair was lifted, or when he hit the cold water. Instead he did what Christ said as the concrete pulled him down. A few deep breaths, maybe death will come quickly.

Kimmie took one last picture from the cliffs on the coast. She followed Shane’s GPS tracker from her phone. Although she didn’t need it once she figured out where they were going. She remembered the dock from the day they spent on the yacht. There were cliffs on both sides of it with perfect view of the open ocean. Kimmie let out a sigh, and tossed her police issued high definition camera in the trunk of her car. If she left now she could make it back before Matt. She climbed into her car, and started it. Kimmie drove down the same dirt road she drove up, mixed emotions running through her. She knew nothing of the men on the boat, but she couldn’t help but think they did something to deserve it. Kimmie ran a frustrated hand though her hair, and gripped the wheel tightly. Now she was trying to justify murder. The guilt hit her again, only for another reason. What would her parents think? Kimmie turned onto the highway to head back to the mansion.

There has been a few times she’s thought about erasing the video evidence she had. She’s even gone as far as just needing to hit OK, and it would be gone, but every time they pop into her head, and she can’t help but think about how disappointed they would be with her. The guilt between Matt, and her parents has been ripping her in two. She’s even thought about coming clean to Matt, but she’s just not ready to loose him yet. She was torn between what was wrong and what was right, and it was slowly eating at her.

Kimmie jumped a little when her phone went off a few miles down the highway. She glanced at the screen. It was a text from Tammy. They must be on their way home. She was going to beat them there. Kimmie let out a small sigh of relief. She still didn’t know what she was going to do about her situation, and she wasn’t going to worry about it right now. She would be able to make a better decision once she found out what those men did. Kimmie turned down the private road, and was soon at the gate. Cam let her in without question, and she parked on the circle drive. She let herself in, and headed for the living room.

The Berrys were nowhere in sight, but Tammy lay on the couch with a sleeping Lilly curled into her. “You made it.” Tammy said with a small smile, glancing at Jena out of the corner of her eye before turning her gaze back to the children's movie on the tv. “Everything still standing?” she asked not taking her eyes off the tv. “Yes, thankfully.” Kimmie lied. She still hasn’t been home. “I cleaned the layer of dust that accumulated in my absence.” Kimmie added trying to account for her time. Tammy just nodded, and Kimmie dropped it. Why come up with lies if she didn’t have to. It was obvious Tammy wasn’t conserned about her where abouts, so she just waited for Matt her gaze on the tv, but lost in her own thoughts. Did Tammy really trust her that much that she wasn’t concerned about what she was doing? How was she ever going to get out of this? Did she want out? What’s going to happen when it all comes out? Will Matt ever forgiver her, and trust her again? So many questions she didn’t have answers to. What the hell was she going to do?

Notes

Here you are my wonderful readers :)