Page 6 of P.S. I’m With You (Hel’s Ink: Extended)

Five

NIKA

“ C razy fucking bitch!” the man cries, and I smile at him before spitting the piece of flesh I bit off of him back at his face.

“I’ve been called worse.” I laugh as I leap onto him and pull him to the ground.

“You think you imbeciles would’ve learned over the last week not to come in here alone.

” I hum while pulling his knife from his belt.

He tries to fight me but I’m too fast. I stab him in his throat, twisting the blade before ripping it back out.

I stand, watching as he bleeds out on my cell floor before walking to the cot that is my bed. I sit down and stare at the open door.

Four. I’ve killed four of the seven men responsible for entering my home, taking me… taking my daughter. Ninety-seven.

“Fuck,” I hiss, the heartache hitting me again.

My baby. I don’t want to breathe anymore, I don’t want to be here when there is no Zora.

But I have to, just a little longer. I can’t allow her killers to remain breathing—myself included.

I am not so dense as to not realize that this is all because of the choices I made.

Money, power, respect, fear, greed—I put all of it ahead of my daughter while justifying that I was doing this for her.

I wanted her to have a better life than me or Dominik had growing up in our village.

Drugs, fathers selling their daughters—I never wanted Zora to know that life.

I thought that by becoming the leader of the biggest crime organization, I was ensuring she wouldn’t.

But I am a woman—a mother, and no man will willingly bow to a woman.

Even if I break their legs and make them fall to my feet, I am but one person, I can only last so long.

The plan had always been to get enough money and leave the country—me, Zora, and Dominik. But again, the power, the greed…

“I’m sorry, my flower,” I whisper as I walk out of the cell. It won’t be long before the others make their way down here. I’m sure he, like the others, was coming down here to try to get me to my knees, but I fall to my knees for no one.

I look at the filthy desk in the corner and see the pack of cigarettes and a phone. Do I try?

Walking over to the desk, I pull a cigarette from its home and look around for a lighter.

I spot a couple matches and strike one against the block walls.

I take a long inhale while staring at the phone.

If I call him, what do I say? I have no idea where I am, who's taken me, and I don’t plan on leaving here alive…

but still. I miss his voice, he’s the only one who could make me feel grounded in chaos.

Putting the receiver to my ear, I take another drag of the cigarette before dialing the number I know by heart. It rings and rings… and rings. Dread begins to fill me. What if they’ve found him? What if they’ve—

“Dominik.” I nearly sob at his voice. It’s the comfort I didn’t know I needed right now. I feel my body fall as I land on my knees. Kasapin will never fall to her knees, but Nika? Nika will always fall for Dominik Kovac.

“Nika,” he breathes, as if he is just as relieved as I am. “Baby, oh my god, thank the gods. Where are you?” I close my eyes, trying to stop the tears. I have moments before the men come for me and I cannot show them weakness.

“Dominik, I’m so sorry,” I whisper weakly, the cigarette falling onto the metal desk. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep her safe.”

“Daddy?” My heart nearly stops—or maybe it starts again.

“Zora!” I cry out louder than I intend, but I can’t help it, she’s there. She’s breathing. “Dominik, is she alright?”

“Yes,” he says, still sounding in shock. “Y-Yes, she’s fine. Nika, where are you?”

“I don’t know,” I state softly while listening to the footsteps. “I have no idea where they’ve taken me. Dominik, listen, you need to uproot the flower—it’s time.”

“Fuck you,” he hisses. “Fuck you for daring to—Nika, I am not—”

“I thought I lost her once,” I growl out. “Don’t make me feel that heartbreak again.”

“So instead I must feel that heartbreak with you? Give me something, anything ! Nika, one of the men, is Jakov. Tell me where you are and I will come to you! Please, I won’t lose you! I—I can’t lose you!” I hear the men coming down the steps, but I feel oddly calm.

“Don’t worry, my love,” I say softly. “I’m with you, always.” Hanging up the phone, I hop on the desk and light another cigarette. The men rush into my space as I exhale my drag. I give them a soft smile while one of the men gags at the sight of his dead comrade.

“Hey, boys,” I purr while standing up, ignoring their raised pistols. If they were going to shoot me, they would’ve done it by now. No, they have strict orders to keep me alive. That’s unfortunate for them. There’s three of them—none match Jakov’s build. “Your boss too busy to come see me himself?”

“Stupid bitch.” The man snatches my cigarette from my mouth.

“I can’t wait for the ‘okay’ to put one right between your cold, dead eyes.

” He pokes my forehead with his index finger as another man—one not wearing a mask—rushes down the steps and up to him.

He’s young, late teens at the most. He’s far too young to be caught up in this, then again, I was but a child when I had my first kill.

“He’s called for her,” the boy pants out.

“Ohhh.” I fake the severity while crossing my arms over my chest. “Well, we don’t want to keep his royal ass waiting.” The man flicks my cigarette at my feet.

“You’ll regret all of this. You just wait.”

“Oh, baby.” I pout out my bottom lip. “Don’t go threatening me with a good time. In my womanly confusion, I might think you have feelings for me and I’ll be forced to submit to you.” He snorts as he grabs my elbow to usher me out of the room.

“Heh, sounds like a fun time.” He chuckles as his hand moves to my breast.

“Maybe for one of us,” I state while grabbing his hand and snapping the finger he used to poke me earlier. “I kill my partners after mating. You know how it is, get what you need and get out. No need for the mess.”

“Fucking bitch broke it!” he growls and cocks his fist back to strike me.

“Enough.” Fuck, I know that voice. Dominik was right, it’s Jakov. Inhaling a slow, annoyed breath, I turn to the tall, powerful man. He stands in his usual black combat pants and black shirt. He has a smirk on his face that I long to carve off and keep as a trophy.

“Kasapin,” he says softly, and I spit on the ground in front of him. The kid hits me in the back of the knees with the butt of his rifle.

“Pity,” I mutter while glaring up at the boy. “I was going to let you live.”

Jakov laughs lightly as he motions with his hand for his men to fall back.

“So, Nika.” Him saying my name sends a rage through me that I can’t allow him to see.

“For years now I’ve served under you, watching and waiting.

Planning the exact moment for me to reach out and take your empire.

I’ll be honest, I thought it would be harder than this.

But you made it too easy.” His smirk is cold and calloused.

“A fucking kid, Kasapin.” He tsks as he circles me.

“You can’t be the head of a criminal organization like ours and have such a weakness.

Honestly, I did you a favor getting rid of the brat. ”

“You fucking piece of—” I lunge for him, but stop at the sound of a rifle leveling at my head.

“How did you know?” I grit out while trying to come up with a plan.

I can’t allow Jakov to live. He lives, and there will always be a target on Dominik and Zora.

How do I kill him before these idiots shoot me?

Jakov lets out a loud, cold laugh while stepping closer to me. “What do you take me for? A moron?”

“Well, if you’re ask—” Jakov silences me with his hand across my face.

“You are not in the position you think you are anymore. You are no longer Kasapin. You’re just a woman—a weak woman, a simple mother!

I could’ve taken my rightful place years ago had I just snatched that brat!

” In an instant, I grab the barrel of the boy’s rifle and yank it from him.

He’s taken by surprise so it falls to me easily.

I hear the men behind me, but pay them no mind as I level the gun at Jakov.

“You know what’s worse than a ‘weak woman’, Jakov? A man who thinks muscles equal true strength.” He huffs, but I see the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “You’re right, no one should fear a ‘simple mother’.”

My finger itches to pull the trigger. “They should fear a protective one.” I pull the trigger at the same time Jakov lunges toward me. The round hits his shoulder and his men rush me. I shoot two, and two others run, leaving me in a standoff with the kid and Jakov on the ground, screaming in pain.

“Drop your weapon!” the young man yells, and I hear the fear in his voice.

“No,” I rasp out. “Drop yours, little boy. This isn’t your fight. Leave, and I’ll never look for you.” He’s the first I’ve ever offered such a luxury to, but I can’t kill a boy, I can’t.

“Niko! Shoot the cunt!” Jakov screams at the boy.

“Niko,” I say slowly. “Please, I can’t let him live. You heard him, I have a daughter, I can’t allow him to continue to breathe the same air as her.” Niko looks conflicted as he shakes his head.

“I have a duty!” he yells while jerking his gun. “I’m sorry for your girl.” He raises his weapon but it’s too late. I watch the blood leave the bullet hole between his eyes before he falls to the ground in a heap.

“Ninety-eight,” I whisper out before turning to Jakov.

“You made me kill him, a child.” Jakov laughs lightly through his pain.