by S. E. Rose
The car is a giant limo that holds Zoe, Cody, and Bryce. I immediately call Melissa.
“Hey,” she says, sounding breathless.
“Hi,” I say quietly.
“How was your flight?”
“Fine, long. I guess it’s late there, huh?”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t sleep, so I’m binge-watching Breaking Bad,” she says.
“You haven’t seen it?” I ask.
“Oh no, I’ve seen it. I just like to mindlessly watch it sometimes.”
I laugh. “Interesting.”
“So, how’s Philly?” she asks.
“Actually, I’m heading down to Maryland to see my mom.”
“Oh? That’s nice. Where in Maryland?”
“She’s staying with my aunt and uncle near Annapolis.”
“Cool.”
“Yeah, have you been there before?” I ask.
“Sure. I have a colleague who does some marine mammal work for the Smithsonian,” she says with a yawn.
“You better get some sleep, beautiful,” I say to her.
“Yeah, I’ll talk to you tomorrow?” she asks, her voice so hopeful.
“Of course, sweet dreams, Mel.”
“G’night, Nick.”
I hang up and flip through some photos I took in the Azores. My favorite one is of her leaning over the railing of the sailboat as we were heading to Pico. That’s when I remember I forgot to resend my text to Lily. I hit send and lean back in the seat.
My phone pings a minute later.
Lily: Where did you see that boat?”
Nick: It was anchored by our hotel.
Lily: Nick, call me now.
I hit call, and Lily picks up on the first ring.
“What’s up?” I ask her, feeling queasy all of a sudden.
“Nick, that’s Alexei’s boat,” she says, her voice trembling.
“What? Are you sure?” I ask her.
“Positive.”
We are silent for a minute, and I feel her fear. Our twin connection is strong, and right now I know she is afraid.
“I’m hanging up and calling Jack,” I tell her.
“OK,” she whispers.
“Lily, where are you?” I ask her.
“We’re almost to Uncle Jesse’s house. Why?” she asks.
“Nothing. I’ll call you back,” I say and hang up.
“What’s wrong?” Cody asks when he looks over at me.
I pull up the photo of the yacht. “This is Alexei’s.”
Cody’s eyes widen. “Are you sure? Who was that?”
“That was Lily. I sent a photo to her, joking around about future gifts, but she recognized it. I guess probably from that day she got abducted. I’ve never really talked to her about that day, but I suppose she must have seen this boat,” I explain. “Bryce!” I yell, knocking on the window behind me.
“What’s up?” he asks, rolling down the partition between us.
I turn my phone around and show him the photo after I hit send to Jack. “Is that…wait, Alexei had a boat…” He trails off as he looks at the photo.
“Yeah, he had that one. I just sent it to Lily, and she confirmed.”
My phone buzzes, and I glance at the message.
Jack: Call me now.
“Shit,” Bryce mutters. “Put him on speaker.”
I call Jack and hit speaker.
“Jack?” I say when he picks up. “I’m here with Zoe, Cody, and Bryce.”
“Where did you take this, Nick, and when?”
“About two or three days ago near Horta.”
“I just ran the registration. It’s Alexei’s boat,” he says. He starts to say something else, and I tune out for a second as I remember the figure on board. Oh, Jesus!
“Wait, oh God! Jack, I saw a man on board when we went by it. I thought he looked familiar,” I say as I hurry to pull up a photo of Ben from the trial. Bingo. “Damn it! I just pulled up Ben’s photo. That’s why I recognized him. Jack, Ben is on board that vessel. He is not in Russia. That yacht was anchored there when we left this morning.”
“Fuck!” Jack yells, and I hear him punch something or kick something in the background. “I’ll call you back, Nick. How far out are you?”
“About an hour,” I say, looking out at the signs on the interstate.
Jack hangs up, and we all look at one another.
“Well, that is…shit,” Zoe mutters.
“Yeah, shit,” I repeat.
Cody wraps his arm protectively around Zoe. “Nick, I’m calling Lance,” he says as he picks up his phone. I nod, and half listen to him talk with Lance. It’s better that he talks with Lance than I talk with Lily. I know she is freaking out, and Lance can help calm her. I’m suddenly so glad she’s with him. Lance is a great guy. He’s also fiercely protective of my little sister. I was skeptical at first as Lance and Cody are much older than us, but now, I’d trust both of them with my life and certainly the lives of my family.
This whole situation is actually getting seriously strange. We were really just a normal family, living our normal lives. Part of me wants to blame Jack for getting my mother involved in all of this crazy shit, but I know now that Jack didn’t have as much to do with it as my own mother did. And seriously, what are the odds that Lily’s and my biological father played a role in this underworld crime. Even my own mother, an author, couldn’t write this stuff, it’s too fucking unbelievable.
I’m lost in thought when Cody says my name. I look over at him, and he’s holding out the phone to me.
“Hello,” I say, knowing full well it’s Lily.
“Nick,” she whispers. I can tell she’s scared, but I don’t know if she’s whispering because she’s scared or because her kids are within listening distance of her.
“It’s going to be alright,” I tell her. Really, I think I’m just telling myself.
“I had a dream last night,” she says quietly, and I know it was one of her nightmares. It woke me too. It’s strange like that, a definite twin thing.
“I know,” I say to her.
“You felt it?”
“Yes.”
“It was about Ben. He found us,” she says, her voice barely audible over the phone.
“We’ll be safe. We will, Lily. Uncle J, well, he’s got it on lockdown over there,” I try to reassure her.
“I’m scared,” she whispers. I can feel her fear, and I wish I could hug her. It’s always been my job. I’m the one who comforts, and she’s the brave one, always falling and getting hurt, but then she gets right back to it after a hug from me. The fact that she admits her fear in this moment, rattles me to my core.
“I’m right here, Lil. This time, you aren’t alone. There’s an entire army of us, and we will protect you,” I say.
“I love you, Nicky-poo,” she says, her voice trembling.
“I love you too, Lilypond,” I say to her. “Let me speak to Lance, OK?” I ask as I hear squealing and laughter in the background.
“Nick?” Lance’s voice comes on a moment later.
“How close are you?” I ask him.
“Nearly there,” he answers.
“Good,” I say, feeling better that my sister and her family will soon be behind the impenetrable defenses of my uncle’s home.
“We’ll see you soon,” Lance says.
“See you,” I say, and I hand the phone back to Cody who promptly says his goodbyes to Lance before hanging up and pulling Zoe into his lap.
We are quiet for the next forty-five minutes until my phone buzzes.
“Yes?” I answer as I see Jack’s name on my screen.
“How far out are you?” he asks.
I look out the window. “About fifteen minutes.”
“Good. It can’t be confirmed yet whether Ben is on board, but Alexei’s vessel did leave Horta a few hours ago,” he says.
“Shit. Where is it heading?” I ask.
“It’s heading west,” he says.
“As in the U.S.,” I
mutter.
“Yes,” he admits. “I’ll see you soon.”
We hang up, and I relay the information to Zoe, Cody, and Bryce. We remain silent until we reach Jesse and Vanessa’s home.
Chapter 11
Nick’s Playlist: “Unconditionally” by Katy Perry
It’s a bit of a family reunion once we pull past the gated entrance with a guard house and the long drive through trees to the giant house and outbuildings. It’s a compound. My mother, Jack, Lily, Lance, my nieces and nephew, Jesse, Vanessa, and all our security are gathered on the front porch.
My mother runs out and gives me a hug before hugging Cody and Zoe. We all greet one another and head inside to debrief at Bryce’s request.
We are seated in a giant great room with two full sectional couches and two giant, oversized chairs with ottomans. The kids are whisked to a playroom by the housekeeper, Joanie, who is nearly sixty, a divorcee whose children are grown. Joanie has been filling in since Gianni and Lillian, Jesse’s driver and his wife from his NYC residence, have been on a month-long cruise with their son. They decided to move down to Annapolis when this house was built. Jesse seldom stays in New York for long periods anymore, so he has a part-time housekeeper and a company driver that drives him. I’m a little bummed that Lillian isn’t here because she makes awesome cookies. I sigh as I think of her. I’m glad my uncle has such amazing people in his life. I sort of wonder if Jesse and Vanessa will have kids soon. They haven’t talked about it, but Vanessa just finished a tour, and they have some down time right now.
“We don’t have confirmed intel yet on whether Ben is aboard the vessel, but that boat is heading in this direction,” Bryce says. “We would like everyone to stay here for at least the next seven to ten days. Although, I get it if you have to leave for work. It’s just easier if we are all in one location. We’ll sort that out after this weekend. In the meantime, I’d like everyone staying here in the main house. I’ll have one security officer posted here around the clock. I’ll have two officers securing the perimeter at all times, one at the gatehouse, and then one floater. You aren’t imprisoned here, but please clear any activity outside of the property with me beforehand, so I can have someone with you. And I mean any activity, grocery store, bank, what have you. Jack’s working on getting us more information, but for now please just relax and enjoy this, unplanned, family reunion,” he says.
We then splinter off into groups to unpack and claim rooms. I eye Jesse’s yacht docked out back.
“Uncle J,” I say.
“Yep,” he answers as he opens a beer before handing me one.
“Do you mind if I take over the yacht?” I ask him.
He grins. “If you must,” he says coolly.
I roll my eyes. “I must.”
He laughs. “Just let Bryce know. He really did want everyone inside, but it should be fine.”
I tell Bryce my plan. He doesn’t love it but allows it.
I go and start unpacking when I hear a ping on my phone.
Melissa: I lost my grant.
Nick: I’m sorry, beautiful. What can I do?
Melissa: Find me a job. (crying emoji)
Nick: I’m calling you.
I hit send, and she picks up immediately.
“I’m sorry I’m bothering you with this,” she says, and I can tell she’s crying, and I want nothing more than to teleport to the Azores and hold her.
“Beautiful, you never bother me. So, when is your gig up?” I ask her.
“End of the week,” she says.
“That’s fast. Do you have any prospects?” I ask her.
She sighs. “I put out some feelers this morning. I don’t know. I hope something comes up,” she says.
“Well, you are always welcome to crash at my place,” I tell her.
“Thanks, Nick,” she says.
“I’m sorry, Mel,” I say to her.
“Shit happens, right?”
I smile. “Yes, it does.” If only she knew.
“How’s your family?” she asks.
“Fine, it’s nice to see everyone,” I say. “Plus, I’m staying on my uncle’s yacht, so I really can’t complain.”
She laughs, and that sound warms my heart.
“I could come back out there,” I tell her, even though I know I can’t at the moment.
“No, it’s alright. I’ll be fine,” she assures me.
“Call me anytime,” I say to her.
“Thanks, Nick,” she says.
“I’ll talk to you later,” I tell her.
“OK,” she says. And we disconnect.
I really hate that I’m not with her. I’m sure she’s devastated. I could tell how much she loves the islands when we were there, and I loved them too.
I look out at the water, but that only makes me miss her even more. I pull out my computer, so I can get some work done. It’s going to be a long few days.
By day three, I’m losing my mind. Jack debriefs us at least twice a day. I’ve gone fishing, crabbing, played endless board games with various family members, read a book, texted Mel nonstop, and even done some work with Cody on the Azores project.
“I need to get out of here!” I declare as I walk into the kitchen to find Vanessa and my mother cooking.
“Nick, why don’t you help us make dinner?” my mom suggests, giving me an understanding smile. Damn it! That woman knows me too well.
“Sure,” I groan.
“We’re making manicotti and garlic bread,” Vanessa says as she hands me some shells to fill with some kind of cheese concoction.
“Seriously though, I do need to get out of here,” I reiterate, giving my aunt and mother a look.
My mom sighs. “I know, Nicky-poo. I just want us all to be safe,” she says.
“Mom, I don’t think a trip to the grocery store will make or break this security operation,” I lament like a child.
“I suppose not,” she says, surprising me.
“Really?” I say, not able to hide my surprise and pleasure.
She laughs. “I’ll talk to Jack.”
She disappears and comes back in with a knowing smile. “I do believe we need more garlic bread,” she says innocently as she hands me her car keys.
“Wait, solo?” I ask her. She nods with a grin.
“But just the store down the street,” she says.
“Oh, hell no!” Lily says as she walks into the room. “If he gets to escape, so do I. I need it, even more, he doesn’t have three little people hanging on him.”
I chuckle as I hear one of her kids yell “mom” from the other room. She gives me a pleading look.
“Fine,” I grumble, handing her the keys. She smiles sweetly and then seeing my face she pauses.
“But I’ll need help carrying the groceries,” she says with a grin and just like that we scramble out of the house, full-on sprinting to my mom’s car and fighting over who gets to drive. Lily wins, as usual. We speed off to the nearest grocery store, leaving Bryce in the driveway shaking his head as a plume of dust flies up behind the car.
The grocery store is only five miles away, but it may as well be a hundred miles away. We crank the music, put down the windows, and open the sunroof.
“God, this is divine,” Lily sighs. “This feels like a vacation!”
“Jesus, Lil, you need to get out more,” I say with a laugh.
She sighs again. “Yeah, the whole mom thing can be a real life suck,” she admits, giving me a sheepish grin. “Don’t get me wrong, I love those monkeys, but Jesus they are so fucking demanding. The twins are going through this phase right now where everything is theirs, and Leidy wants to murder them. I have barely gotten any work done in weeks. Thank God that Lance has patience because my little bit of patience ran out months ago.”
“You really know how to sell the whole parenting thing,” I say to her.
“Stay childfree,” she says to me like a knowing grandmother.
“Childfree?” I laugh.
“Yea
h, childfree,” she laughs.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say as she pulls into the grocery store parking lot. We take our time, buying way too much junk food and a few other things that we just had to have. It’s actually fun. I haven’t gone grocery shopping with Lily in years and by the end of our thirty-minute voyage, we are snacking on Twizzlers and Kit Kats and about ten other types of candies and chocolate bars.
“God, I love chocolate and peanut butter,” she says as she takes a bite of a Reese’s Cup, and I steal the other one from the package.
“I agree. It’s a match made in heaven,” I say.
“Or hell, because these are definitely going straight to my ass,” she says giggling. “But fuck it; I just don’t care right now.”
“Hear, hear!” I exclaim as we toast with our candy and laugh some more. By the time we get back to the house, we are on a full sugar high. We’re laughing and joking around and for a few minutes, I remember just how great it is spending time with my twin. Lily just gets me and vice versa. It’s nice.
“Well, guess you two went a bit crazy,” our mom states as she surveys the six grocery bags we’ve set on the counter.
We shrug, look at each other and burst into another fit of giggles. My mom gives us her mom look and holds out a hand. Like bad children, we hand over a bag of candy with guilty grins on our faces. Mom can’t hold it together and starts laughing as she pulls out a Twix bar and takes a bite.
“Oh, this is so good,” she moans and we all fall to the floor laughing.
“Are you guys drunk?” Zoe asks as she enters the kitchen with Cody and Lance.
We shake our heads and look at one another and then howl with laughter for no apparent reason, other than the three of us sharing some deep-seated history with candy. Zoe looks down at the bag of candy between us and launches herself onto the floor.
“Don’t hold out on me!” she exclaims as she digs into the bag and pulls out a supersized box of Nerds. She proceeds to open the corner of the box and lets them rain down into her mouth. “Omph…ma…godsh…sthro…grud,” she tries to speak with her mouth full of candy and starts laughing too. We all combust into complete hysterics. Vanessa joins us on the floor, and then Cody and Lance join and pretty soon we are making such a racket that Jack, Jesse, Rosa, Frankie, Leidy, and our entire security team come bounding into the room with confused looks on their faces. The twins immediately see candy and run to Lily, who has a mouthful of Tootsie Rolls. She shrugs and hands them each a piece of a Hershey bar and gives Leidy the rest. My mom throws a bag of Skittles at Jack. He laughs while taking a seat next to the twins. Bryce just shakes his head and walks back out with Pierce, Dean, Silas, Riley, Dexter, and Baxter in tow. The fact that we literally have an army of security guys here only makes me laugh harder, why I don’t know, but in this moment, it is really fucking funny.
