This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise showed, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this story are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All characters are adults over the age of eighteen.
A note from the Author
I accidentally skipped publishing this. I meant this as a closing for the Family Submission series, and echoes some events in Santo Diablo. I wanted to tie this up for the people that only read this series and not my others. It has some behind the scenes conversations between Sarah and her daughters that aren't included in the other series. Nothing earth shattering, but it fleshes their motivations out some. Sorry for overlooking this. The reading list is at the end, so you'll know where this fits in the timeline. Thanks for reading!
Assassin Wolf
Family Submission Pt. 06 Epilogue is Prologue
When Russell was escorted into the dining room, my heart skipped a few beats. Sure, he was escorted by Rich's security team, but I still felt dread. This was the man that abused me and Riley for years, the son of the man that I hold responsible for my mother's death. Here he was, sitting across from me. The only solace I had was Penny seated next to him. I witnessed Penny dispatch three men in Rich's office with little effort, so I knew I was safe. Still, it wasn't easy.
The next surprise almost made me pass out. After asking me to stand, Rich had Deborah escort my daughters into the room. I quickly went from shock to elation, not sure if this was real, or I was imagining it. I rushed to my three girls, but looking back, I don't remember moving. My mind was a tangle of emotions and disbelief. I don't know how long we hugged, but I know all four of us had tears running down our faces.
My joy overcame me, and I practically ran to Rich to thank him. I gave him an enormous hug, which almost tipped his wheelchair sideways. After recovering, I stood up and my daughters walked over. I introduced Rich to them, then noticed Riley's eyes grow wide and she took a few steps back. She noticed Russell, who sat there looking stunned. Violet and Ellie followed suit, backing up away from Russell as if he could move through the table and hurt them.
"If I may," Rich remarked, seeing the distress on my daughters' faces. "Ladies, you no longer need to fear Russell, his brother, or anyone else associated with Crimson. They will no longer cause you any trouble. Now, if you would like to have a seat next to your mother at the table, we can all eat. You've been traveling all day and must be hungry."
This helped them relax, and we all took our seat, my daughters flanking me at the table. We all ate, Russell included, and began talking, well, except for Russell. He sat quietly, looking around nervously. My daughters asked questions, ranging from Rich's wives to how Rich saved them. He explained the operation, his teams taking the lead while the FBI backed them up. While we ate, the FBI was rounding up the leadership of the two Crimson chapters that held us.
I saw the anger rise in Russell when Rich revealed he tracked all the money he sent Russell and transferred it to overseas accounts. Rich also explained that he tracked other accounts that Russell transferred money into and drained those accounts as well. Some of those belonged to Crimson, which prompted more threats from Russell.
Rich was not happy with Russell's attempt to take me after promising he wouldn't bother me again. Russell made a few threats, but Rich was quick to shut them down. Rich revealed he bought tickets in Russell's name to Saudi Arabia, flying through multiple countries with new tickets for each stop. Every ticket had a new name, and it would take Crimson some time to track his final destination.
Then Rich brought out his last surprise. After Russell told him no one would believe he left without his family, Rich had an answer. Led by Rich's security team, Russell's wife and daughter were brought in. They were both naked, hands secured behind their backs by handcuffs, and gagged. I knew Russell was married, but didn't know he had a daughter. How can someone with a daughter do what he did to other women? It was beyond me.
Russell became enraged, flying out of his chair. This startled me and my daughters, and I almost fell backwards. Everyone else at the table was calm, except for Julie and Penny. Seated next to Russell, they stood up simultaneously, spinning toward Russell, and together, pulled him backwards. I saw the three of them fall, disappearing below the table, and out of my sight. A few moments later, the two women pulled Russell to his feet, his hands now secured behind his back.
With Russell's wife and daughter crying, Russell cursed Rich, calling him every name in the book. His expletives had no effect on Rich, who had one last dagger to drive into Russell. Pointing out Russell's and Crimson's habit of branding the women they submit, Rich had Katia show their family's symbol; a tattoo of a red, smiling devil with a pitchfork on the inside of her left thigh. Rich pointed out all of his wives had that same tattoo, and it matched the tattoo on his right bicep.
Then, Rich had his guards lift the left legs of Russell's wife and daughter, exposing the same devil tattoo Katia wore. I saw the blood drain from Russell's face as Rich told him the two women now belonged to him. Russell was broken, but Rich drove the dagger in further, telling Russell that he wanted his last thoughts to be of his inability to protect his family. After that, Julie and Penny pushed Russell out of the dining room.
My daughters and I were silent this entire time. I glanced to the right and left to see how they were doing, and they all looked to be in shock. The next person to enter the dining room was Rich's father, Brian Burkhart, and senior agent with the FBI. He introduced himself to Russell's wife and daughter and offered them a spot in witness protection. It didn't take them any time to agree; it was that or be left with Rich, and neither woman wanted that. I honestly didn't know if Rich would have kept them as slaves like he told Russell, but the women didn't know that.
After Brian took the women away, everyone had questions. Rich explained Russell was now dead at the hands of Penny and Julie. I saw Penny take out three men in Rich's office, but my brain still couldn't reconcile it. Penny was caring, ensuring my daughters and I felt safe. To believe that she could just kill someone, even after I saw it firsthand, was difficult to believe. And to think she wasn't the only woman at the table with that in her background.
Rich informed us he called my brother Dave and his wife Lyndsey. They were both expected to arrive at Seaside the next day. I wasn't too happy to hear that, considering Dave and Lyndsey never believe me that Crimson had us. Rich told me he wanted to ensure my daughters had support, and believed family would help them overcome the years spent under Crimson. That's when he surprised me again; Rich gave me the option to go back and live with my family in Hawaii, or anywhere else I wanted.
That scared me. I didn't want to leave. I finally found someone that made me feel safe, and the thought of being alone was terrifying. Rich told me to take the night to think about it after I told him I wanted to stay.
After talking a bit more, Rich excused himself, and his wives left with him. It left me with my daughters as the staff started cleaning the table. I offered to help, but Deborah refused, telling me to show my daughters around and enjoy the evening with them.
I walked my girls back to my room, and they couldn't believe what they saw.
"Are you kidding me, Mom?" Riley announced after walking into the room. "This is your room? It's bigger than the apartments I've lived in."
My daughters walked around the living room, touching everything. Riley was the first to find the cabinet with the alcohol and drinks. She opened the double doors and stood back.
"Holy crap," Riley remarked. "I've seen nothing like this in my life." She reached in the refrigerator and grabbed on orange juice. After finding a glass and mixing the juice with vodka, she sat on the couch. "I could get used to this."
Ellie and Violet followed suit, and each grabbed a drink.
"OK Mom, first off, thank you for saving us," Ellie remarked after I sat down. "If not for you, I would be sucking some asshole's cock right now."
