Exiled from his beloved mother Russia, The Red Reaper now resides Stateside where wet-works would consume his isolated existence.. An outsider in a foreign land, there is only one thing that shines any light on his dark days..
For years he has watch...
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Lucky O'Cléirigh
"What does that mean? Death?" I take an awkward step back, distancing myself.. Though not for fear of him.. For fear of how badly I want to be close to him, even as he speaks the terrifying truth.. "Like the Grim Reaper?"
"Da.. Thiz exactly.." He scoffs in dark amusement with a dry chuckle..
"It's not funny!" I growl, my temper and my temptation at odds with each other.. A battle of sense and stupidity, a war or right and wrong is being fought between my head and my heart..
"Iz little bit funny.." He puffs on his cigarette.. "You are not having 'ze reaction to any ov' thiz information az I anticipate.."
"What?" I look around the deserted Marina.. "Am I supposed to be scared? Should I run away screaming?"
He smiles lightlessly.. "Now thiz would not surprise me so much.. I know how you like to run from me.."
I know he is teasing, talking about how I had hid from him after the unfortunate embarrassment at Kirby's wedding, after which I had run away from any form of contact with him..
"Oh, fuck you!" I hiss.. "You always do this.. You make light of the dark and dark of the light.. You make it impossible for me to know what you're really thinking or to feel what I feel without wondering if I am losing my mind!"
"Ah, I do not mean to create such conflict, Malishka.. Forgive me.." He sighs, the humour dissipating from his tone as he bows his head in deferral..
"You better start explaining yourself, Big Bear.." I scowl back at him and he takes a slow breath as he lifts a placating hand to calm me..
"I am indebted to a dangerouz man.. I do not have the choice to live otherwise, if I am to remain in Darkport.. I muzt kill, or I will be ov' no more use to 'ze Pakhan.. When that day comes, I will be retried.."
"Retired?" He says the word like it's such a terrible thing.. "But-- that's good-- right?"
He smiles, humourless and haunting.. "In my line ov' work-- Not so much, Malishka.."
"Right, so who do you work for?" I fold my arms across my chest and resist the urge to stomp my foot like a petulant child..
"I cannot say.. You know already too much, Solnyshko.. There iz so little I can control.. Not who I am.. Or how I feel about you.. But I muzt do what is right, I cannot allow 'ze Pakhan to take you from me.."
"Take me?" I puzzle at the terrifying prospect.. "Why would he take me?"
"To him, you would be only another means by which to manipulate me.. Or to punish me.." Konstantin takes a subtle step closer and I take another backwards, wobbling in my strappy silver high heels.. "He iz destruction-- Chaos.. I cannot stop him.. Not without much sacrifice.."
"What kind of sacrifice?" The whisper catches in my throat..
"'Ze kind I am not prepared to make.." His stark stare cuts through me to slice open a sliver of fear..
![Red Reaper - Soldiers of Fortune [book one]](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/372012339-64-k647181.jpg)