The Deep End

[Ivan Sarkozy]

Ivan smiled sheepishly. "Nah, I know. It's just..." He looked around- no one nearby seemed to be paying attention but he dropped his voice anyway. He couldn't hide the rage that laced his voice, causing it to shake. "That...woman is holding my family hostage." He took a breath and calmed himself with a breath. "Her men had guns to my parent's and little brother and sister's head. She showed it to me on her monitor." The memory clouded his mind and he had to physically shove it away. It resisted. "I held the power and had air wrapped around her throat, ready to...I don't know choke her or even rip her head off. She had some guys with her, but I could have easily torn them to shreds too. But the monitor..."

He paused again, taking a breath. "My other brother and sister have their own families with children. And I..." Only Alex knew, outside of his family. "And I have a five year old daughter that I just found out about. She and I and her mother...we're becoming our own family. Slowly, but there all the same. If Yun finds out..." Hot coffee sloshed over his hand, but he ignored the burning and pulled a few napkins from the dispenser to clean it up before tossing them and the crushed cup into the trash.

His voice was deadly steel. "The Syndicate did the same to my father, blackmailing him to work for them. They have me now. I won't let them hold them over me." He stopped, then went on, voice quieter. "But I have to do it smart."