Chapter 9
Zachariah
I had hoped to have a few more days of quiet bliss before the world came knocking. All we had was one night. Only one freaking night to ourselves as a married couple.
At four in the morning, my phone began to ring, which of course woke my newly wedded wife. She gave me a sad, knowing smile as she rolled off of my chest so I could answer the irritating device. I hadn’t been called at such an ungodly time as this for nearly five months now.
The last time my phone rang this early in the morning, before the birds even rose, was when Avidya came into my life. She had been taken in the dead of night by my own men. One was already swimming with the fishes, and the other would soon be joining him.
“Hello,” I answered, my voice laced with sleep. I sat with my legs over the side, one hand attempting to rub the sleep from my eyes.
“We need you at the Loop,” Shemoli’s voice crackled over the speaker in his own Russian way.
“For?” I asked out grouchily, not in the mood to deal with work right that minute. I had more important things that needed my attention. And wasn’t my father taking care of these types of things for another day or so?
“A situation,” Shemoli replied, his voice filled with unsaid anger. “Your father is here.”
“Alright,” I sighed out. “I’ll be there in a few.” That explained a little bit, at least. Still didn’t make sense.
Clicking the end button on the screen, I gave out a long drawn out sigh. My father didn’t often visit my buildings, so I knew that there was something going on. Something that I couldn’t just blow off like I desperately wanted to.
“That bad?” Avidya asked.
Looking at her, I noticed her hair was a bit messed up from our night of passion. I not only took her once, but twice. I would have loved nothing more than to take her once more before I had to leave, but I was sure she had to be sore. A dusting of blush touched her cheekbones.
Man, did I love this woman.
“It’s not an everyday occurrence that I get a phone call like this,” I explained, “and when it happens, it's normally not a good thing.”
“Oh,” she responded, her bright green eyes lighting up in concern. “You won’t be gone too long?”
“I shouldn’t be too long,” I said before kissing her addictive lips once more. I didn’t want to leave her here all alone. But what choice did I have?
Pulling back, I kissed the tip of her nose and let my smile spread across my lips. I was surprised she didn’t want to know more of what I had to do, though I didn’t even know myself.
“I’ll send someone over to keep you company,” I said as I pulled myself away from her and the bed so I could get dressed. “I don’t want to leave you here alone.”
“I’d be okay,” she stated, determined to prove herself. “I can take care myself, you know?”
“I know that Vidie,” I said with a smile that reached my eyes. “But I’d feel better if you have someone here with you.”
“Alright,” she said with a shrug as though she didn’t want to be left alone for too long by herself either.
It didn’t take me all that long to get dressed and ready to leave. Before leaving, I stopped to give Avidya yet another scorching kiss with promises of what I couldn’t wait to do to her later after I returned. I left her there blushing as I winked goodbye.
I didn’t really want to leave her but knew I had no choice. Not when it came to the family business. Least of all when my father was also called to be in the same place as I was.
No one would ever dare to go against Carlos or the Don. Not if they didn’t want the promise of a death filled with pain.
Knowing the perfect person to call as I backed out of the garage in my most used car, I didn’t have to think about it. I sent a text to Jonas to let him know what was happening before calling.
“Hello, Zach,” my mother’s voice floated over the speaker on the Bluetooth that was connected to the car’s speakers.
“Hey, Mom,” I greeted. “Sorry to call so early, but can you come stay with Avidya while I take care of something?”
“Of course,” Mom replied without a beat. “I’ve been up for a bit, so you didn’t wake me. Your father was called and I’m assuming you’ve also been summoned.”
“Yeah,” I sighed out. “He didn’t give me any details.”
