Mickey's Free

Beginnings

Mickey disconnected the call with Svet and took the last drag on his cigarette before climbing out of his brother car. It was only early morning but he had been driving all night to make sure he was back in Southside by sunrise and knew before he could deal with Svet's shit he needs to get some shut eye.

He'd been released for over a month and this was the first time he had been back home. The house hadn't changed on the outside or inside, his brothers must have decided the junk on the lawn didn't need to be cleared and the dishes in the sink didn't need washing. He moved to his room and noticed his cardboard sign meant to deter Mandy from his room still hung there and as he looked around the room he realised it was exactly as he left it. Posters on the wall, bed sheets all messy from the last time he had slept in it then his eyes stopped at a photo of Ian he had stuck to his wall. Sighing he went over and pulled it off and studied the photo of the boy he had loved. Mickey felt tears well up in his eyes and looked up towards the ceiling berating himself for being a pussy.
"Fucking Ian Gallagher" he muttered and tossed the photo on the floor. Removing his clothing he crawled into bed and closed his eyes and willed himself to stop thinking about Ian and how much he had loved him.

Mickey woke up to an annoying voice calling his name. His wife – fake wife he amended to himself.
"Mickey get up, you have things to do. You promise" Svet said as she threw his clothes at him.
Mickey sat up. "Bitch, don't tell me what to do. Get out of my room and make me some coffee". He watched as she rolled her eyes and left his room and looked out his window and judging by the darkness he had slept quite a bit. Pulling on his clothes he questioned his return to Southside and wondered if he was insane. He had made a deal with Svet that if she managed to get him out of prison the he would owe her one. He had been out a month and it was time she collected.

As he stared at her from across the kitchen table he wondered what this women couldn't do if she put her mind to it. She had gone and visited Sammy and persuaded her to recant the events of Mickey drugging and locking her in the moving crate and in return he would recant any crazy women ever running down the street with a gun aimed at him. It took a few months of police bullshit but with both victims / criminals swearing nothing had happened there was no choice but to let Sammy and himself free. With all the money Svet had collected from Mickeys inside job there was enough to bribe Sammy to never return to Southside. Mickey had been clear to Svet that he wanted her to tell Sammy if she returned to Southside or that if she had tried to mess with Ian again he would bury her six feet in the ground beside her Chubby Chuck. Svet had recorded the conversation between her and Sammy on her phone and played it back to him. He had to hold himself back from actual laughter as she also brought up a photo on her phone she had taken of Sammy, two red hand prints on each of her cheeks and what looked like the beginning of a black eye. Even he had to admit that Svet was badass.

His brothers had moved to Chicago to be closer to their sister Mandy so when he was released he went there to be with them. Besides Svet, Sammy and his siblings no one knew he had been released. Iggy had done well and his siblings all seemed to staying out of trouble despite ripping off the general public by stealing their electrical appliances and selling them for a little profit.

"You must kill my husband" Svet said her Russian accent still noticeable but not as strong has he remembered.
Mickey raised his eyebrow "I just got out of prison and I don't fancy going back. Besides you married him, you do it" Mickey watched her and knew she was strategising, he was now use to her scheming ways. If she could manage to persuade you that going to prison for 15 years was a good way to make some money then he was sure given 5 more minutes she could have him think he had wings and could fly.

"He will take your son and the twins" she leaned in "he will sell them as sex slaves like he do to me!". She finally expelled. Svet didn't like to lay her cards on the table but she knew she had to do it. This was her sons life, more important that power battle.
" Christ women" Mickey stood up and ran his hand through his hair "why can't you marry normal men!". Mickey lit up a cigarette and gave her a glare.
Svet shrugged "In Russia this is normal". Mickey laughed then at the absurdity of this statement and then groaned at the realisation that she was serious. Serious that her husband was bat shit crazy and serious that she wanted him dead.

Mickey sat back down and took a few more drags of his cigarette. He gave her a small nod of agreement and saw her visibly relax. Svelt rarely showed any fear but he had heard it in her voice the first time she called him with the idea to help him get out of prison. He had known she was in trouble and despite not caring about her, she was still the mother of his son and therefore family.

"Where's Little Yev" Mickey asked.
"He with Kevin, babysitting duty". With another eyebrow raise from Mickey she explained everything he had missed white being locked away. From her relationship with Kev and V, the Alibi and her husband.
"Bring him round tomorrow and some food. Fuckin' brothers stocked the fridge full of beer. Like that's all I need to survive or somethin'"
Svet nodded and got up to leave, when she got to the door she turned to him "you go see carrot boy now you out?". Mickey sighed, he had managed to go 10 minutes of not thinking of Ian and then she had to open her mouth.
"No, and it's none of your fucking business anyway" he replied.
"Good, he no want to see you when you locked up and now he have boyfriend. Very handsome boyfriend named Trevor, they come by the Alibi and have drink. Ian very happy now, not like when he with you. No more acting crazy" with that remark she left.
"Fuck you" he swore and threw the full mug of coffee she had made for him at the door she had just close then went to grab a beer from the fridge.