My phone vibrated again as her message dropped on the screen.
Elizabeth;Are you still there? Or has my suffering bored you to sleep?
I inhaled sharply, a faint tick in my jaw.
Me;I’m still here.
Because I was. I always was wherever she was, even if not in real time.
Elizabeth;I didn’t realize it’s 3: 00 am already. I’m so sorry for keeping you awake.
Me;But I’m not complaining.
Elizabeth;Do you want go to bed now?
Did I feel like going to bed? Yes.
Would I go to bed?
Not if she was still interested in keeping the conversation going.
Me;I don’t know.
Elizabeth;Is there a chance you would come to Braemont tomorrow? I want us to go on a movie date.
My gaze flickered to the new set of blue light illuminating the dark room, a gentle buzz slicing through the quiet air.
It was my other phone. Another life. One Elizabeth wasn’t aware of.
I shifted, stretching over to grab the phone from the nightstand. My thumb immediately swiped across the screen, the phone brought to my ear.
“Takharnov,” I answered, my voice low and controlled. It was my second-in-command, Alexei Takharnov.
A soft chuckle came from the other side. “I didn’t think you’d still be awake, Marshal.”
I glanced at the other phone. Elizabeth’s last message was still displayed on the screen.
“I didn’t think so too.”
Takharnov didn’t pry. No one ever dared to. Because they were never meant to question me. All they had to do was obey instructions, carry out their duties to its fullness and protect the empire and the ruling Pakhan at all cost.
“We’re heading off to the dork in an hour,” Takharnov informed after a breath. “The shipment’s cleared. But I need the confirmation from the previous manifest. I need to verify the last drop before I finalise the deal with the client.”
My fingers tightened gently around the device, my gaze drifting to the door of my room. My office was across the hall. That was a long journey.
“Wasn’t it cleared the last time?” I asked. I was sure I’d had this conversation about clearing and verification last week.
“With the Cosa Nostra, yes. The ‘Ndrangeta are still down with ten percent to clear up. The Camorra cleared the last one plus the previous one. The Luchesse is who we are meeting at the port. I can’t remember if they cleared the last one. I need you to help me confirm before we conclude on this month’s deal,” helisted out names I was all too familiar with. “You know they can be sketchy. Always trying to be smart.”
“Alright,” I exhaled tiredly, a bit lazy to stand up and have to cross over to the other room. “Give me some minutes.”
“Take your time, Marshal.” There was a shuffle of boots against the pavement. “In the meantime, we’ll be heading to the dork.”
I hung up, pushing myself off the bed.
My other phone buzzed with a message.
Elizabeth;Are you ignoring me?
