NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 12- A TYRANT

            The men exchanged looks with each other, his words, undoubtedly having a nerve calming effect on each of them, including Diane, odd enough.

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't end you  here and now and put an end to your legacy?" Sebastian asked, pulling out a hand gun and pointing it directly at Russo's forehead but He didn't so much as flinch.

          With an incredible amount of composure maintained, he cast a cool glance at each of the three men, letting out a sigh, he turned back to the one holding the gun. He shrugged.

"Do it."

              The leader's grip fastened ever so tightly on the small pistol. Both men staring into each other's eyes with a burning intensity. One ready to end it all in a second and the other, unbothered. Diane kept a fixed gaze on both men.

            Looking from Russo to Sebastian She wanted the leader to do her a favour and shoot at him but Russo was so maintained, that she feared, a man that didn't have a trick up his sleeve wouldn't be so composed in the face of death.

                 Sebastian corked the gun, the sound sent a chill down everyone's spine and just as he was about to pull the trigger, Diane silently urging him on with her eyes, wishing she could pull the trigger with them instead, Russo intervened, holding the latter's arm upward causing the bullet to go off into the sky, he sent a hard punch into the latter's abdomen, followed by a rib-cracking kick that sent the latter down to the ground. Seeing their leader, hurt. The other two rushed to attack him.

"Shit...." Russo cussed, rolling his eyes. He reached for a nearby, metal rod.

             Blocking an attack from one of them, he sent the object flying into the air, the rod landed on the other man's chest in a hard whip causing him to fall to his knees with a loud pained groan. Diane could only watch speechlessly at the scene.

         The villagers had now woken up from the sounds of fighting. They surrounded the scene each holding their lamp with shocked expressions on their faces seeing the security guards on the floor, rollling in pains.

"Is this how you show hospitality?" Russo asked, tossing the object aside. "I come here for a place to stay for the night but what do I get?" Anger was rising in his voice with every word. "I choose to come in peace not to seem like a tyrant, goddamn it! But I'm rejected in my own fucking country?!" He was yelling now.
The frightened villagers took steps backwards.
"I am not my father, goddamn it!" Russo cussed in frustration.

           But that made no difference to these people since he hadn't been able to make an impact even as a son but how could he explain to the world that his father has constantly seen to it that he was nothing but a shadow standing behind him.

"You're not wanted here!" The voice was from Sebastian, now recovering from his injury.
"Not wanted. I own these lands for fuck's sake!"
The latter got to his feet. "Leave! You've done enough harm."

             Russo turned his back at the leader to let out a low chuckle. One that only Diane got to see and it was enough to scare her. There was nothing amusing about that laugh. Pulling his gun out of his pocket he turned back around and pointed it at Sebastian. To hell with it all, he didn't care anymore.

"I am the commander of the Russian army and the son of your General so you will show me some fucking respect, do you fucking understand?!"

Gasps and murmurings could be heard among the people and Sebastian hesitantly nodded.

"Do whatsoever you wish."
Oh shit!

            Now he had successfully made them conclude he was a tyrant afterall but they started it didn't they? They pushed him to the edge, didn't they? But the society would never see it that way.

            The villagers had dispersed into their homes and an empty shed was the only place available for the two Soldiers to spend the night. Russo was in such a bad mood that night, he wasn't sure he had it in him to get some sleep.

               He stepped into the shed. Diane walked silently behind him, closing the door once she was in. Russo sat down on the bare floor, his back against the wooden wall, throwing his head back, he closed his eyes and let out a tired sigh.

"You were awfully quiet throughout tonight's episode." Diane heard him say, eyes still closed.
"What could I say?" She shrugged.
"Well now, I would like to hear what you have to say." Came his voice, now calm and relaxed.
"Huh?"
"You are a citizen of Russia. You must have something to say just like everyone does. What do you think of my father's government?" He asked.
She looked at him but his eyes were still closed.
'You don't wanna know.' She thought.
"A little disappointed. This....wasn't the paradise he promised us when he was sworn in."
"Do you think I deserve to pay for the sins of my father?"
Before, She would have said yes in a heartbeat but now, why the hell was she not so sure anymore?
"I'm not so sure."
"So that is a 'yes'."
"I never said..." She trailed off with a sigh. "....let's just get some sleep and focus on a way to reach out to the Men by tomorrow."

                  He didn't respond. The conversation was over. Had he gotten the answer he was after? She wasn't so sure. Was he disappointed in her? Had she broken him more than the villagers did?

              Hell, why should she care? Sins of his father or not. One thing was certain tonight and that was the fact that Russo used his power to make things go his way even when the villagers objected.

            Which meant one thing, Justice only resides in the hands of the higher powers. The poor masses could only dream of it and it made her all the more, furious.

          First, she had to get back to her father and hope he was okay. Then, she would go back to shadow and find away to get the Fedorcenkos out of power, forever. It would be her shame to bear for life if she failed this mission.