(3.2) Cold Shower v2

Dmitri rubbed his hands together and blew into them. Mostly in effort to give them something to do. Though he knew he shouldn’t be starring at Yuri’s granddaughter it was too much to look away from. Beyond the fact that she was very pleasing on the eyes Ashaka had an aura about her that drew attention. During the brief moment he was able to avert his eyes Dmitri noticed that she was the cornerstone of everyone on the pool terrace.

“She’s even more conniving than her grandfather, only thing worse than a snake is a snake that wears low cut shirts,” again Yuri broke Dmitri’s trance.

Dmitri laughed, “You really are a dirty old man.”

“Hey, I can’t admire a woman?” Yuri paused. “Watch her though, watch how she plays all these people out here. It’s like her own little orchestra.”

Dmitri didn’t really need the invitation to continue following Ashaka’s liquid flow through the crowd. However he did pick up on the way she molded everyone’s conversations. He could almost make out the golden thread she wrapped around people. She was effortlessly making herself the most compelling topic. Unfortunately to his social graces he could not make out the fact that she was working her way over to them.

“Oh no, watch yourself Dmitri,” Yuri elbowed Dmitri.

“I’m so glad to hear that you are doing so well Boris. If I can have your forgiveness though I’m interested in meeting that young man over there. Please take care and we will definitely have to stay in touch more.” After finishing her conversation she turned Dmitri’s way.

Ah hell. Dmitri stood a little bit straighter. He wished to death that he had changed out of his blood stained clothes. The beautiful young woman came their way with a gleam in her eye and a subtly sensual smile on her face.

“Do you always go with the used-and-abused look?” She was deliberate in getting the first words in.

Dmitri’s hands felt like they had nothing to do again. “Sorry, laundry day.” He smiled, and she too in return.

“It’s not often that I get the chance to greet the new men,” she offered her slender hand to him, “I am Ashaka Alekseeva.” She smiled again, her red lips were hard to look away from.

“Dmitri, Dmitri Volkev nice to meet you,” he shook her hand. Her skin felt like silk and he was certain his felt like sandpaper.

“Listen Dmitri,” she moved her lips dangerously close to his ear, “be careful here. It is easy to stumble into more than you can handle. But I’m sure someone with as much… potential as you can handle quite a lot.”

With that she left her golden thread wrapped tight around the youth’s ear.

“I need to withdraw now, Dmitri have a good night. And I believe it was… Ivan, am I right?”

Ivan nodded, “Yes ma’am, thank you.”

With that she left, leaving the two men nothing more, save for a very nice view.

Dmitri turned around after Ashaka left, “Whew man.”

“I know, told you she was trouble. Did you see the way she was hitting on me.” Ivan chuckled.

Dmitri shook his head with a grin, “Yeah, you should definitely pursue that Ivan, I think she has the hots for you.”

“What can I say I have my wily charms that women can’t resist,” replied to a departing Dmitri, “Where are you going?”

“Cold shower. Have a good night old friend.” Dmitri waved as he left.

The voices outside were left behind as Dmitri made his way back to his own room. It was much quieter within the manner and all be it for the sounds of his footfalls it was silent. When he got back to his pseudo-apartment room he laid down on his bed. His eyes drifted across the ceiling before they slothed shut.

The room was left dead. The lights remained on but could not disturb Dmitri’s deep sleep. As the night progressed the only motion in the room came from Dmitri’s fervent twitching. Even though the youth could release from the trying day he could not escape the visions of the night. That haunting dream came back, pulling at his fears.

Dima.

Dima. Why have you forsaken me? Why have you betrayed me?

Dima. You’re the same as the one who killed me.

Dmitri’s mouth nearly convulsed in response.

No sister I would never.

Shut up. You’re no better than him, you’re a villain, a crook, and a liar.

No. His mouth moved with the word. No.

“No!” Dmitri sprang up from the bed violently.

“Yes.” Ivan was standing over him. “You’re about to be late.”

“Jesus Christ Ivan,” Dmitri took a moment, “You are not the first thing I need to see when I wake up.”

Ivan put the package with the suit on Dmitri’s lap, “You’re sweating, bad dreams?”

“Yeah, they had you in it,” Dmitri got up to change in the bathroom.

“At least you’ve kept your humor,”Ivan sat down in the recliner across from the bed,”Hurry up, you’ve got five minutes before we need to be down stairs.”

“Oh crap, I forgot about that. Um, Ivan?” Dmitri asked for him from within the bathroom, “How do you tie this thing?”

“Don’t worry about just throw on the suit and let’s get a move on.” Yuri got up from the chair and went to leave. “I’m going without you, hurry up.”

“Christ, one second,” the fumbling was audible from behind the bathroom door.

Dmitri came out with half his shirt tucked in and both shoes untied.

Ivan tried to swat Dmitri, “You can at least tie your shoes, or do you need me to show you how to do that as well?”

Dmitri was holding the tie in his mouth so his response was muffled, but distinctly sounded like fuck you.

Quickly the pair made their way to the foyer where a handful of other men dressed similarly to them stood waiting for something.

“Looks like Yuri isn’t here yet,” Dmitri mentioned.

“Yeah lucky for… why did you bring the tie, you wont need it.”

Dmitri shrugged, “Good luck?”

The men gathered around all went quite just in time to let Dmitri’s words resound around them.

“You wont need luck my boy,” Yuri said as he walked into the foyer from the main hall, “Your friend Ivan there will be more than capable of showing you the ropes.”

Yuri said nothing more and walked past the suits, who promptly followed close behind him. As well Dmitri and Ivan followed.

There were four sedans, all with the standard mobster-black paint job, lined up in the turnabout driveway.

As they descended the stairs Dmitri leaned over to question Ivan, “Do you know where we are going?”

“Nope, but I do know that it’s a meeting with Yuri and some other big shot in the family,” Ivan replied.

As he moved to swing the sedan’s door open Dmitri noticed the silver handle of a hand gun tucked tight to Ivan’s chest.

“Are you expecting something bad?” Dmitri motioned with his head towards the gun.

“Expecting and being ready for are two different things,” Ivan climbed into the car after Dmitri, “In this case I’m ready for it and you are not.”

“You don’t happen to have a spare one do you?” Dmitri asked.

“Nope,” said with a smirk.

Fuck

The cars sped off, leaving flings of snow in their wake.