that he is calling me in the next few minutes as they have arrived at their AirBnB, not too far from here. I’m nervous that they
are here in case they do something stupid, like try to storm the mansion.
My phone rings with a video call, and I answer without hesitation.
Dima and Lev’s faces fill the screen. They look tired, pissed and agitated. Lev’s hair that's normally in a military cut has grown a little. His green eyes stare me down like they can hurt me through the screen. Dima still looks impeccable, considering the journey. His black hair is perfect, his beard neatly trimmed and those husky blue eyes full of ill intent. Maybe for me or the whole situation.
“It’s hot as fuck here,” Lev complains.
“Will you shut up about the damn weather and focus?” Dima admonishes and Lev scowls.
“How was the journey?” I ask. They don’t look impressed.
“Who gives a fuck about the journey? We’re here and want to get our boy back and get home. I assume you have a plan?” Dima says, irritated and eager to get the ball rolling.
“I’ve agreed to take over from my father as heir. But it's complicated. I’m meeting with a rival group who I think I can make a deal with to help me secure the house. Get Simon out and then clean up the problem.”
“How many men are there?”
“Guards, I’m not sure, but at least twenty to twenty five on rotation, if not more.”
“Shit. This rival, can they take your dad on? Do you trust them?” Lev asks.
“No I don’t trust them, but I have something they want that I can give them. It’s a deal I think they will snap my hand off for, but I have to be careful. I can’t leave the house currently until I’m trusted not to run, so I have a contact setting up a meeting. Then I just need to find a way to get there.”
“What can we do?” Dima asks.
“When they come to secure the house, you can come in and retrieve Simon and take him home. You don’t need to be involved with the rest. That's my concern.”
“Hold on, what about us that want in on the action?” a voice shouts from behind them. Half of a face appears on the screen. Ivan.
“How many of you are here?”
“Aside from us, Jules and Aaron. Noah and Chase are flying over too,” Dima says.
“Tyler’s brother, Chase? Why?”
“Noah wanted to see what was going on, apparently. Chase couldn’t convince him not to get involved. Besides, it's his jet we’re using so I couldn’t say no,” Dima says.
“Yes you could if you had the balls. That Noah is a dick,” Lev says.
I haven’t met Chase. But I briefly met Noah at the docks when he came to disperse of that Tim guy. He didn’t talk. But he was freakin’ intimidating.
“Don’t talk about my bestie like that. He’s great and we could use him if needed,” Ivan says like a fangirl.
“Look, I’ve got to go as I have to meet with my father, but I will message you when I have made contact with the rivals and then we can end this.”
“How is Simon?” Dima asks.
“In pain. Broken. Hates me.”
“I’m not happy about what's happened, Carlos. Far from it. But I get the situation. You had to do what you thought was right to get you all out safely,” Dima says and I’m suddenly overcome with the feeling of a weight lifting off my shoulders that someone else understands. Can see that I would never hurt Simon.
“Thanks D.”
“We’ll wait for your call,” Lev says before bluntly ending the video call.
I’m actually glad they are here. It will be good for Simon to see them, to know he has people who care, because I’ve done a pretty shit job so far.
