Erik Tarasovich II

Erik approached the slicked blond, clapping with every step. His crooked smile subconsciously made Levi's eyes roll. He looked at the garbage of a place Erik calls his office, an old abandoned storage facility waiting to be demolished.

'What a dump.' the blond thought.

Erik took Levi's hand forcing the blond to shake hands, the slick blond almost guffawed in disgust.

"Glad you could make it, Mr. Jackson! I should shake your hand while I have the chance, you're famous now. I see your face everywhere nowadays, the tabloids and the news. Levi Jackson and the Jackson Detectives!" Erik said.

He then gestures to the redhead strapped on the chair and says, "As you can see your beautiful Muse remains unscathed, for now." he says, as Levi locks eyes with Sam.

There was no trace of bodily harm that he could see but the blond Irishman could tell she was pissed and was just reeling in her anger.

"You have no plans on returning the money you've cheated me," Erik says turning, beckoning for Levi to follow behind. Levi did so, then paused when he saw Sam was being taken to the back. Two men grabbed both crooks of her arms and dragged her away.

Levi eyes the zip lock fastening both her arms behind her back tightly. That would leave a mark he reckons.

Levi turns to Erik, his eyes narrowed. "As I stated before, I did not cheat you, you're not even worth cheating for. You negate your own bluffs, Mr. Tarasovich.." Levi says as the redhead disappears in a corner.

Erik grins, looking at the slicked blond. Even though he was acting composed at his current situation, he had some guts talking to him like that, the Russian thought. But could still see the turmoil swirling in the slick blonde's hazel eyes.

"Worry not, I would not hurt her. You can walk out of here with her safely if you win the games you are about to play." Erik reassures, earning a glare from Levi.

Erik leads him towards a table, cards on the table. "If you win 3 out of 5, you win," Erik says.

Erik grabs one of the two empty seats and gestures for Levi to follow his cue.

"Shall we?" he urges, and the slicked blond unbuttons his suit jacket and sits.

The two play a game of poker, Levi taking the first two rounds easy. First with a Straight flush, then a Full house.

Erik pursed his lips annoyed, the slicked blond really was good at that game. He needed that money or his ass would be on the line. He's just a small fish after all. And he has a few ideas in mind on how he can get it. He already had a waiting buyer in the black market, he reckons he could get a million US dollars with just a heart, but why stop there? When a liver is half a Mil each, and kidney 200k.

"I just don't know how you do it, Mr. Jackson. I heard rumors saying you can read people, I'm just about to be convinced." Erik says, leaning forward with his elbows on the table.

Levi was about to initiate the beginning of the last round when Erik cocked his head towards one of his burly men standing behind Levi.

The bulky man took the deck of cards away from the table and Erik smiled at Lev, a smile the psychologist didn't like.

"You said we can go safely after I win," Levi recalled, leaning back on his chair and crossing his legs.

"I did, and I am a man of my word," Erik claimed. Levi did not respond, he knew he was lying he could tell.

He should have called the police, ask for help instead he opted to keep the transaction hushed for the sake of his criminal records. This little event will reveal the illegal gambling that he'd been doing. Anna would have to save his ass yet again, and he can't take another case from the demanding woman.

"I told you 3 wins out of 5. This one would lead to either your freedom or the death of your girlfriend." Erik says. And the way he said it with conviction Levi tensed, he wasn't lying. He was plotting something, and Levi could only fathom he won't like it.

Sam sat quietly on the wooden chair, she did not struggle, she did not whine. She simply glared at the two men around her.

The two Russian conversed, laughing. So far she had learned their names, Viktor and Alexei. And for the past 15 minutes when she was separated from Levi they had only spoken about useless things. Like what they'd eat and drink after, how's your wife, the kids, or how Alexei was considering getting surgery for his hemorrhoids. You know, guy stuff.

But then suddenly Sam tensed on her seat when they started preparing 5 sets of guns and talking about what their boss was really plotting. Selling their internal organ to the black market, they even have a couple of organ transfer boxes prepared. And hired a local butcher.

"Shame, she'd be dead soon." the Viktor spoke in Russian, earning a nod from Alexei, "Worse is he has to do it." the other replied. Continued to converse in their language unaware that she could understand every word.

"Boss will force him to play Russian roulette, but not with his life but with his girlfriend."

"Do you think he'll take it?"

"Blondie got no choice. Either he takes the chance or we shoot the girl ourselves if he refuses."

"They both die anyway. Does it matter who shoots the girl?"

"Boss needs to make an example. What best to make a bigger name, than killing Levi Jackson."

Sam turned to look at them, pretending to just watch what they were doing. They had five sets of revolvers laid on a tray. She fumbles with her arms behind her back.

"Should we blindfold her?" Alexei asked when he noticed the redhead watching as they filled 4 guns with bullets. First, one with 1 bullet then he spins the cylinders and snaps closed. Second, with two bullets, spins and snaps closed. Third, with three bullets, spins and snaps closed. The fourth has four bullets, spins and snaps closed. Lastly, the fifth one, empty.

All of the guns are the same made and model.

Viktor turns to Sam, finding her silence disconcerting, most women would weep and beg by now. But there she was tied to a chair, acting like it was not her first rodeo. And as both Alexei and Viktor look at her, she glares at both of them. And they laugh.

"Nah, even if she knows which gun is empty we'll switch it behind her back. She won't know." Viktor says, morbidly amused at the idea of someone killing someone they love against their will.

Erik Tarasovich, leaned back against the chair and he nodded to Dimitri standing by the door, "Bring them in," he says.

Levi hears the door open, and the next minute Sam walks in. Alexei pulled her towards the room, whilst Viktor followed behind them carrying a silver tray covered with black cloth.

Levi looked at Sam, the intensity in those pair of green orbs were enough for him to know shit was about to happen.

Sam was told to sit on a wooden chair at the far end of the room, the tray was presented before Levi. A look of confusion flashes his eyes as he sees what was on the tray.

"Mr. Jackson this is your third test, if you win this, you walk out with her. If not you both die today" Erik tells him.

Levi turns to Erik, "This isn't necessary." he says.

"It is," Erik says, then gestures for his man to be in position. Two exits were blocked by a man each, one stood behind Levi holding a gun. The other a few feet away from Sam, aiming another gun. Another stood beside Erik, handing him a cigarette.

"listen to the rules." Erik starts, gesturing to the tray of Smith & Wesson 638 all with 5 cylinders.

"There are 5 guns; one with a single bullet, second with two, and so on. But there is one, that is empty. Now you don't know which is which, but you have to choose and when you choose you will shoot it right at your girlfriend's pretty face. " the man says and Levi grits his teeth.

"If you fail to do this or if you refuse. One of my men will shoot her instead, then he shoots you." Erik says, gesturing to the man standing behind Levi, a gun trained at the back of his head.

"You attempt to shoot us with any of the guns, we shoot both of you. How is that for rules? If you win this, You can go as I said before". Erik says.

Levi felt torn. What the fuck did he involve Sam in?

"You don't have to do this, I can return the money." Levi starts. " Too late for that now, Mr. Jackson. Please choose a gun." Erik insists.

"She's rich and she'll give you more. just tell her the amount!" Levi insisted.

Erik rolls his eyes, he did his own digging about the woman just to make sure he wasn't messing with someone he couldn't handle. Nothing came up on the list.

"Nice try, Mr. Jackson," he says.

"I'll tell you what I think," Erik says, standing beside Levi. He points at the gun in the middle. "This is the safe gun. Either you can tell I'm bluffing or not. After all, you did say you can read me easily."

Levi looked at the man, Erik wasn't lying but the problem was his choice of words. 'I think' was used, meaning it could mean he's merely stating his opinion, which may or may not be a fact.

"Is it the blank?" Levi asked him instead.

"I didn't say you could ask questions, Mr. Jackson. I said you could accept what I say as truth or not. Your choice."

Is it a bluff?

Or a double bluff?

Erik walks towards the chair Dimitri had prepared for him in the corner and he sits backward, leaning forward, his chest pressed against the backrest.

"Choose now or he shoots the girl," he says.