Chapter 2: Sombre Mood

“Baby.” Ma pulled Viktor into a tight hug as he sniffed back tears.

“How could an outsider have access to the club and attempt to shoot me?” Viktor rambled on.

“They sent a hitman after Viktor? Why? Yet he is the most harmless of the four of us?” Anton leaned to whisper to me.

“A warning,” I explained to him. “They sent it to warn us.”

About what? I’m not sure yet.

“Where the f*ck is the manager?” Anton asked, his nose flaring and his chest rising with anger.

I pulled Anton aside and whispered, “Calm down. No need to expose yourself. Stay calm for now and you can vent your anger later.”

He nodded and then walked over to where Igor was having a conversation with the police.

Memories of Pa’s last day came crashing down on me. The sound of the hospital life support flatlining was so loud as I watched the nurses and doctors try to resuscitate Pa. It had my body turning cold. Ma’s wails followed suit as Anton and Igor held her, deafening my ears. But the person who looked stricken was the last-born brother, Viktor, who staggered back and sat on the hospital floor. Uncle Boris and Aunty Idonia stood stiff as the doctors shut down the life-support machine and turned around with apologetic looks on their faces.

“I am so sorry. There is nothing more we can do,” the doctor had announced. “I declare Mikael Erik dead at four am.”

The rest of the day was a blur as we prepared for the cremation as per what Pa wanted. The silent sobs that came from Ma as Anton and Igor held her while Viktor remained in shock made my body numb. How could we lose Pa in a matter of hours? He had collapsed on his way to work and his driver, Morice, had to rush him to the hospital after calling me. By the time we arrived, Pa was already in ICU and then, boom, he was gone.

The funeral parlor was filled with members of the Odessa mafia and businessmen as we paid our last respects, headed to the crematorium, and then the day was done. Dead and buried within twenty-four hours.

Life was a piece of sh*t!

One week later, someone had already sent assassins after Viktor, and Coach Constantine died protecting him.

After we cleaned up the mess at the boxing club, we rode back to the morgue for the second time in two weeks behind an ambulance to take Coach Constantine's body.

It was late in the evening when we arrived back at the mansion. Dinner was quiet and when everyone retired to bed, I headed to Pa’s office and sat at his desk, deep in thought for hours, drowning my sorrows in whiskey, emptying the bottle until Viktor appeared by the doorway and cleared his throat to interrupt my deep somber mood. Viktor was a spitting image of Pa, but his hair color was blonde like Ma’s and his hazel eyes stood out.

“What is it, Viktor?” I inquired as I leaned back in the chair. I realized that the bottle was almost empty, and I still felt sober.

“It’s already late at night, Ivan. Aren't you going to bed?” Viktor’s voice was hushed and filled with sadness.

“I have no desire to sleep,” I drawled. “What about you? What brings you here?”

“I can’t sleep,” he stated and walked to the chair opposite the desk and sat down with a huff.

“I would not expect you to,” I stated.

“Ivan, do you know who sent the assassins?” he asked.

“How would he know? He was in the office with me when Ma received the call.” Anton's voice was heard from the doorway, forcing us to look at him.

Igor was standing by him as they walked in. Anton and Igor were twins, and taller than Viktor. They stood at six feet and had broad shoulders and black hair. They had Ma’s chin and green eyes. Anton sat on the remaining chair on the opposite side of the office desk while Viktor hurriedly stood up and let Igor take the seat. He dragged over the seat that was in the corner near Igor and sat down.

“Get us another bottle, Viktor,” Igor commanded him.

“Being the youngest sucks. You always bully me. Only Ivan cares for me,” Viktor complained but he complied and walked out of the office.

“He is hurting, too. You need to tone down for him. He is more sensitive than the three of us. And what happened to him today is still hard to take.” I turned to Igor.

Igor nodded, and then Viktor walked in carrying three bottles of whiskey. He placed them on the table and said, “I only have two hands, drink from the bottles.” He walked back to the chair and sat down with a huff.

I watched as Igor picked a bottle, uncapped it, and then stopped. He stared at Viktor and handed it to him. “Sorry baby brother.”

Viktor stared at the bottle, and then in seconds accepted it. We watched as he nodded, swallowed hard, and sipped from it. His eyes were filled with tears as Igor placed a hand on his thigh to comfort him.

“I will not ask you all to be strong to get through this. But Ma needs us and for her, we need to toughen up,” I advised.

“We just buried Pa and now Coach Constantine is dead,” Anton seethed as his eyes flashed with anger. He picked up the other bottle of whiskey, unclasped it, and drank.

“So what? The power struggle has been going on for a long time. Now is a good time to show them what the Erik's are made of. You all have to chip in since I can’t do this alone,” I stated as I sipped the remaining whiskey in my bottle.

“What has made my children be up at this hour?” Ma said from the doorway. She smiled sadly, concealing the anguish and grief that laced all over her.

“Ma,” ee all piped in unison.

“You need to rest. It’s been a hard day for all of us. How can I sleep when I know you are all here? Go to bed and no more drinking,” she commanded.

“Why are you awake, Ma?” Igor spoke up.

“It seems that all of you have to grow up faster than I expected. After we bury Constantine tomorrow, you all need to be wary of everyone. In a week, Pa’s testament will be read. Boris will be the first to object since he wants to be the Odessa leader.”

“I will never allow it,” I vowed to Ma. “I made a promise to Pa. I would take over and be assisted by my brothers.” Pa had already discussed it with me the week before his death.

Ma walked over and placed a hand on my cheek. I was the tallest, bulkiest, and with all the features of Pa and Ma. One of my eyes was hazel, while the other was green. I smiled warmly at Ma as she said, “You will do well. Your brothers will be by your side.”

“Yes, Ma,” Anton, Igor, and Viktor all said in unison as their eyes blazed with conviction and a promise.