A U R O R AI parked the car in front of the house which definitely required a gardener. It was one of those countrysides set up with quiet and peaceful neighbourhoods where mostly retired people decided to settle. Every house was immaculate though except for the one where I was heading to.Fishing out my phone, I checked the text Viktor had sent me a while back and then looked around. I doubted if this was exactly the place where ex-Navy SEAL would settle down. It was too...domestic.I walked up to the lawn, overgrown with grass and weed, and then knocked on the door. No electric bell. Just old school brass ring.A few seconds later I heard the lock click as the door opened slightly. A man peeked out a little, and I caught a glimpse of his face. Tall, tan skin with cropped hair, almost bald on the sides and an apprehensive look in his eyes."Simon?" I asked.He assessed me with a deep frown. "Depends, who's asking?""Viktor Romano."The cloud in his features cleared out as he nodded
A U R O R A What is the definition of loss and suffering to people like us? A few weeks ago, my misery had peaked to a primed spot. I had mourned, raged and cried over the loss of a man whom I loved, marinated in grief and wallowed in self-pity. There were so many stages of my suffering that I had believed it to be real, but the one unfolding before my eyes transcended all the other horizons of loss and suffering. Before me, there were two parents, howling over their son’s body. Mrs. Romano cupped his boy’s face as if she were trying to coax him into waking up while Alessandro Romano, the man known to be invincible to Chicago, were bested down by Stefan’s death. He stood stoically, but it was his red, void eyes that spoke volumes. The sight was harrowing. I did not even have the strength to reach out to Sammy. She could barely stand or even breathe in the wake of her loss. Stefan was everything to her, to this family. The youngest, spoiled and beloved. She shook violently, cryi
A U R O R ATwo days laterThe phone rang incessantly as I drove through the streets of Chicago. It is from Viktor’s office. Since he was in no position to deal with the daily shit, Marco and I decided to take up the matters but individually. We divided the responsibilities geographically and took up the issues as and when required so that neither Viktor nor Dominic has to bother themselves. But, apparently, the idiots at Viktor’s office did not understand the difference between taking orders and executing them. They would call a hundred times a day, seeking instructions on frivolous things and would strum the last of my nerves until I would pick up a damn baseball bat and struck against their empty heads.I ignored the first few rings but when they did not stop calling for 10 minutes, I picked up.“What now?”“Ma’am,” came a stammering voice from the other end. “There has been a blast at the warehouse.” I slammed the brake so hard, my body jerked forward and the car came to a halt.
A U R O R AThree years later.It was just one of those days in Mexico.The entire room was a mess and I did not make it a point to clean the same. Partly because I had never stayed in one place for far more than necessary and also that I never wanted any apartment to feel like home. I had pushed myself so far out of my comfort zone in the last three years that mundane life made me restless. I never wanted to be comfortable again or relaxed. Been there, done that. I’d fear that if I do, I’d end up shattered or dead. Three years ago, I chose to be sent to this country to eliminate the threat in Chicago and slowly, I did. After I had left Chicago, there were two more attacks and the third was taken care of by Marco, as I was informed. The setback send a rippling effect in Mexico as the Carillo Cartel set up new strategies. Unfortunately, they did not realize that their fucking villas were wired. I’d been employed as a maid, getting the easy access into their homes. I had a few years
A U R O R AI stepped out of the airport and stood out there for a long moment.When the cold wind touched my skin, I absorbed the familiarity of the feeling. This was Chicago. This was home, even when the haunting memories kept me away, I longed for it. I just didn’t realize until now. I hailed a cab and headed for the first destination I had planned. It would not be an easy one, I knew, but I had to. I searched for the right words all along the cab ride, coming up with nothing when the cab came to a halt. Grabbing the small duffle, I paid and got out. I thought of calling or dropping a text, I didn’t know how it would be received. Also, what would I say? What could I possibly say that would make three years worth of the mess go away? So I waited around, lounging on the chair of the small room and hoped for the best.I had almost dozed off when I heard the door unlatch and turned around. Sammy, too, paused at the threshold, surprise etched all over her features before she blinked it
AURORA I didn’t know the name of the magic pill Sammy gave me the next morning but somehow, I felt fresh as a daisy. Considering the night we had, I wondered if I was going to lie in my own vomit the next day. Thankfully, it didn’t happen. I grabbed my phone, going through the messages Viktor had left me last night and also a bunch of files detailing some chick named Nora. Apparently, she slept with Dominic and got close to the family. I didn’t bother how she pissed Viktor off but given the way he wanted me to ‘take care’ of the problem, I was guessing that she had royally fucked with Viktor to incur his wrath. Strolling down to the office, I didn’t bother knocking and barged in. Dominic and Viktor were hunched over the table, frowning over something. As soon as they registered my presence, Dominic rolled his eyes. “Do you ever fucking knock?” He wasn’t least bit surprised to see, especially when he nagged me the entire time to come back probably because Viktor had already inf
A U R O R A17 years old, pastI ran.I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, clutching the torn backpack like my life depended upon it. Actually, my life did depend on it. The men following me were no saints-actually criminals if I didn't know any better.Two days back when I strolled inside the abandoned building looking for a shelter and accidentally discovered the basement where the stash of drugs was kept and guarded, I thought if I could steal some for myself, it would at least be able to pay for my food for the next month. So, I waited for a couple of days for an opportunity and managed to steal few packets so that I could sell some.I wasn't a drug addict but I knew that selling these would definitely earn me some bucks.And I needed them, desperately.I had been hoping from homeless shelter to shelter for the past year, hiding from the police and every goddamn person who were eager to exploit a seventeen-year-old girl. I might have been an orphan and homeless but I wasn't he
A U R O R A17 years old, past"I will fight you.""That's what I thought." Viktor smiled eerily, taking his leather jacket off and the injured man hobbled towards him quickly to hold it."This should be fun." Dominic flashed a smile at his brother, communicating without words and walked back towards the other corner, propping himself against the dirty, bloodstained wall.Viktor took a step forward and stood with his hands tucked inside the pockets, exuding confidence that was no match to mine. The sliver of danger glinted brightly in his blue eyes. Pride and arrogance were rippling off him so fiercely that it almost paled me.What made me so insanely greedy to live a little that I agreed to play right into the hands of a wolf? I thought that's what stupid people called 'hope'. And right now I was stupidly hoping for a miracle.Drawing in a painfully deep breath, I steeled my nerves and made one last attempt to save my life. The fingers clasped the knife so hard I could bet the knuckl