Cosa Nostra

Return To Sender

"Send in The Wolf." Roman heard Father say. Sounds like there is a job for me after all, he thought to himself.

Seconds later a man emerged from Father's study, directing the double finger point at him. Roman obliged, swiftly standing up and straightening out his suit jacket. "Father wants to speak with you." The man said.

"How's the wife, Nikolai?" Roman asked as he gracefully made his way towards the study.

Nikolai stopped Roman with a hand to his chest, which he immediately removed once Roman looked down at it. "Why does everything that comes out of your mouth sound like a threat?"

Roman let out a genuine laugh, and Nikolai joined him. The two men hugged briefly. "No, seriously. How is Natasha?"

"She'll be quite happy to hear that you're back." Nikolai answered. "And if she invites you over for dinner, you mustn't refuse."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Roman replied with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, but it was sincere nonetheless.

Nikolai returned a sincere smile of his own, but it was quickly replaced by the serious expression he now wore on his face. "Well, go on in. You know Father doesn't like waiting."

Roman nodded his head and continued walking towards the study. He knocked on the door, but didn't wait to be invited in before walking in. He closed the door behind him and made his way towards the desk where Father sat waiting for him.

Father stood up from his chair. "You got more tattoos." He said, motioning with his chin to the visible tattoos on Roman's neck.

Roman immediately sensed the concern in Father's voice. "I never stick around long enough to be seen. The handful I've granted that privilege to are too dead to identify me."

"You know me too well, Roman." Father said, referring to the fact that Roman is able to perceive his concern just by the tone of his voice. "Did you really need more?"

"No one needs tattoos, but once you go under the needle, you never go back." Roman shrugged. "It's my second addiction."

"At least this addiction can't kill you." Father said, retrieving a file from a drawer on his desk. "What's your first addiction?"

"None of my addictions can kill me, Father." Roman said, stepping closer to Father's desk. "My first addiction is the very reason I am here, and the reason I will always take your calls."

Father slid the file over to him. Roman grabbed it and opened it, studying its contents with great care and instantly realizing he recognized the man in the photo. "Roman, I hate to do this to you, but I need this done tonight. You know I'd give you weeks to prepare if that were an option, but the rat leaves the country tonight."

"May I ask why?" Roman asked, closing the file.

"Omertà." Father responded swiftly, telling Roman everything he needed to know. In their world, omertà was law. "If I let him live, Igor will rot in prison. As long as that rat is still alive, the Feds have everything they need to make sure Igor never sees the light of day again. He's facing life without parole. They have every intention of making an example out of him. By some miracle, the rat bastard hasn't signed the immunity deal yet. He won't sign until they get him out of the country. Igor doesn't want to run, but I protect my own." Father continued.

"Consider it done, Father."

Father nodded his head and walked over to the painting on the wall behind his desk. Roman averted his eyes out of courtesy as Father unlocked the safe hidden behind the painting. He pulled out a briefcase full of cash from the safe and placed it on his desk. "It's all there. I even threw in a little extra for the inconvenience."