Bruno/Miles
Razzag takes a deep breath, “I like you. You remind me of myself many years ago. I wish I could say the same about Kaled and Wasim, I hope that they can continue building upon my legacy,” he says, slapping his son on the back. “Today, I'm on the top of the world Mr. Cox, but it wasn't easy, I had to win over the most powerful men in the world to be able to do my business freely, nobody can claim they did what I did and I'm very proud of myself for that. But you have to understand, the sheik has and will always have priority. I’m sure you understand how this works; if he wants the merchandise, I'm going to give it to him.”
“I'm giving you a blank check Razzag, I would accept the offer if I were you, because you know just as I know, power never gets old and has to be inherited. I think it's time you realize things work differently these days.”
“Mr. Cox,” he rests his elbows on the desk. “While that might be true, I’m still here and regarding your offer, however very generous, pales against the sheik’s influence and power and for that alone I cannot undermine him, no matter how much you insist on it.” Razzag gives his final verdict.
I don't give a shit, I'm not leaving here without that kid and my brother.
I watch him for a few seconds, observing the superiority this horrible man think he exudes in front of me. But what he doesn’t know is that just a few hours from now I will be watching the life drain from his eyes just like his brother’s.
“Well, then, gentlemen...” I get up and I button up my suit. “There's nothing else to do here, if I may...”
Someone knocks on the door.
“Come in,” Razzag commands, and an extremely jittery man enters the space.
“Sir,” says the brainless man in Arabic. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to talk to you.”
“Can't you see I'm in a meeting?” Razzag protest.
“Yes, sir, but this is an emergency,” when he sees that Razzag gives him time to talk, he quickly adds. “Mr. Wasim's mansion is on fire.”
Both Razzag and his son get up from their seats at the same time.
I don't waste a second listening to their concern; I walk through the door, brushing my shoulder on the brainless man, and go out in search of Sarah. As soon as I emerge to the big Greek hall or whatever the fuck it is, I run into a group of people, all drinking champagne and laughing out loud; everything is the same, everyone is waiting for Razzag to have his meeting.
I open the white door and there's Sarah, but there's something off; something is wrong with her. Sarah gets up from her seat like a spring and Dante walks towards us, I watch both of them with caution and above all, silence.
What the hell is going on?
“Bruno, Dante already knows everything, we have to get out of here as soon as possible.”
I look at my brother in the eye, looking for some trace of the man I used to know. After all these years of thinking I'd never see him again, here he is, all grown up. My body wants to hold him tightly, but something tells me it's not a good idea, so instead I stretch out my hand, hoping to shake his. He responds immediately, squeezing my hand tightly, and watches me gratefully.
How bizarre. We look like two strangers meeting for the first time.
“Bruno...”
“We should go,” I interrupt, “there was a fire.”
“We know,” they both answer at the same time. “We started it.”
“What?! How?!” Dante and Sarah look at each other in complicity. “Wait...” I pull her hair and find a wound on her forehead. “What is this, Sarah? What happened?!”
“It doesn't matter,” she says dismissively, “we've only got a few minutes, until they check everything again.”
Sarah's face tells me something went wrong, but this is no time to investigate.
“I need to go get the kid, Sarah, I need to find him first.”
“I know where he is, Amira told me; behind the stage there's a room, the slaves are all there.” Sarah adds.
“I can take you. I know another way to get in, but there will be guards posted inside.” My brother says. Fuck my brother, I never thought I’d hear my brother talk to me again.
“Works for me.” I promptly reply.
“Bruno!” Calls Sarah. “Amira's coming too.”
