Chapter 55 – The Benefits of Notoriety

The pounding continued. Carol, crumpled and barely conscious, was hit again in the ribs. Each blow was a jarring reminder of his dire situation.

Nearby pedestrians, initially hesitant, had begun to watch from a safe distance. Whispers spread quickly:

"Isn't that Ivan, the head of the Russian gang? How did Carol manage to cross him?"

"Whatever happened, Carol is as good as finished now."

Ivan, towering and imposing, surveyed the scene with cold indifference. As the crowd scattered in fear, he addressed his underlings. "Take him back."

At their base, Carol endured yet another round of brutal punishment. His pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.

"Please, stop. I'll do anything," Carol begged, his voice trembling.

Ivan, towering over Carol with a menacing presence, scrutinized him. "Where did you go wrong?"

"I… I shouldn't have looked at you," Carol stammered, desperation evident.

Ivan drew his Big Black Star pistol and pressed it against Carol's head. Carol's fear intensified, and he almost lost control.

"Boss Ivan, please don't kill me! I understand my mistake!" Carol cried out, his voice breaking.

Street gangsters like Carol, lacking true grit, were often paralyzed by fear. 

"I don't want to die," Carol pleaded, his voice cracking.

Ivan's expression remained steely. "There's a way for you to live."

"What do I need to do?" Carol asked, hope flickering.

Ivan handed him a piece of paper. "Sign this."

Carol saw the document was an IOU for 5,000 dollars. The implications were clear: signing would tie him to Ivan and his gang indefinitely.

"Boss Ivan, I—"

The pistol was again pressed to Carol's head.

"Sign it, or I'll have you thrown into a ditch to drown," Ivan said coldly.

Carol, understanding the gravity of the threat, signed the IOU with shaking hands.

Ivan took the document with a satisfied grin. "With this, I can even win in court. I have faith in the law."

Carol's inner monologue was filled with contempt. "You believe in the law? Yeah, right."

Ivan then produced two more documents and threw them at Carol. "Here are the consent form for the girls to attend a private boarding school and the custody transfer agreement. Get them signed and returned."

Carol's heart sank as he realized the connection to Lanster's earlier instructions. His hatred for Lanster grew, seeing this as a cruel betrayal.

Ivan's warning was clear. "If you don't get these signed, your body will be floating in a ditch by tomorrow."

Carol hurried home, the documents clutched in his hands. Upon entering, his wife Mary looked at him, alarmed by his condition.

"What happened to you, Carol?" Mary asked, seeing the blood and mud.

Carol, seething with anger, slapped Mary hard across the face.

"Carol, why?" Mary cried out, her face reddening and bleeding.

"It's your fault!" Carol shouted. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in this mess."

He threw the documents on the table. "Sign them. Now."

Mary picked up the forms. The consent form allowed their daughters to attend the private school, and the custody agreement transferred their rights to Lanster.

"Did Lanster do this?" Mary asked, recognizing the implications.

"Of course it's him! He found out about me and sent these thugs. Sign them or I'm dead!" Carol insisted.

Mary hesitated, torn between her children's future and her own principles. But Carol's threats left her with no choice. She signed the documents, tears streaming down her face.

Carol dashed back to Ivan. The Russian mob boss examined the signed agreements, nodding with satisfaction.

"This is all settled then," Ivan said. "As for your injuries, you don't need any compensation. You're lucky to be alive."

Carol, relieved to have avoided further punishment, quickly agreed. "I'm fine. I don't need anything."

Ivan and his crew departed, leaving Carol and Mary in turmoil.

Back at the amusement park, Lanster and Richard continued to entertain the children. A towering figure approached them.

"Hi, Richard. Boss Hardy sent me with something for you."

Richard introduced the man. "Major, this is Ivan, the head of the Russian gang."

Lanster, surprised, took the documents from Ivan. They were the consent and custody agreements, complete with Mary's signature.

"Thank you, Ivan," Lanster said, clearly impressed by the swift resolution.

Ivan smiled. "Just following orders. I'll take my leave now."

The next day, Gina and Samantha were enrolled in the boarding school, ensuring they would have a secure environment and a good education.

Days later, Carol, staggering home from the bar, was struck by a speeding car and killed instantly. The police deemed it an accident, and the hit-and-run driver was never identified due to the lack of surveillance.

Rumors swirled, but the Russian gang was not suspected. Their reputation for brutal, direct methods meant that the subtlety of a traffic accident did not align with their known methods.

In the end, Carol's death served as a grim reminder of the power and influence wielded by Hardy and his associates. The benefits of their notoriety were clear: they could orchestrate outcomes and exert control in ways that left no room for doubt.