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by S. E. Rose

  “You sure you’re OK?” she asks again, this time touching my sweaty forearm.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I just had a nightmare and decided since I was up, I’d go for a run,” I say.

  “Oh, I get it. Breakfast should be ready soon,” she offers as she turns to finish her morning run.

  “Thanks,” I say as I head toward the boat to shower. Melissa is just getting out of the shower and has a towel wrapped around her and another twisted up with her hair.

  “Better?” she asks me, giving me a small smile. I lean in to kiss her.

  “Yes. I’ll just be a minute,” I say as I hop in the shower and rinse off before throwing on some jeans and a t-shirt.

  Breakfast is in full swing as Mel and I walk into the house. Family members are everywhere, eating, talking, laughing. Children run around and it’s delightful. For a split second, or half a split second, I forget about my future espionage career, and I enjoy my family. Then Jack walks in and gives me a look and my future comes tumbling toward me.

  He motions for me to follow him, and I set my plate in the sink and bring my mug of coffee into Jesse’s study. Jack shuts the door. Walsh, Bryce Jesse, and Cody are all sitting there, waiting.

  “Did you study the documents?” he asks me.

  I nod. “Yep.”

  “Good. The four of us have also studied the documents. We are going to prep you with more intel Walsh has uncovered. We need you to be believable. To make Ben think you want to take over for your father. Do you understand?” Jack asks. For a split second, my dad’s image flashes in my mind, not my bio dad but my real dad, the only one I’ve ever known. Sean Stevenson. I don’t think of him often, because quite frankly it’s too fucking painful, but when I do I miss him more than I can even explain.

  Jack gives me a concerned look, and I nod.

  “Alright, then be prepared for a good several hours of debriefing,” Jack announces as we all take seats at the large conference table on the far side of the room. The room is super high tech with a drop-down movie screen and state-of-the-art television monitors that allow Jack to pull up multiple images off his computer. He explains again the intricacies of Alexei’s business, and then Mohammed’s and how the two were actually working together, an underworld conglomerate of sorts. He tells me more about Ben, his past, his youth, finding out Alexei was his father. His escape from prison and who Jack thinks helped him. The name of my biological father’s cohort from Colombia makes me sit up and listen more intently. The man named Juan was like a second-hand accomplice to my father, he was one of the men guarding the villa the night my sister was abducted and taken there. He was also put in charge of the search for her following her escape. I had assumed he had been murdered or found by now, but perhaps I was wrong in assuming that.

  I get quite a history on Mohammed and Saeed, who apparently went to college in the States where they met Alexei’s cousin Pavel who was working for Alexei. Mohammed and Saeed apparently launched the sex trade early on in the States when it wasn’t such a big game. They were young, made friends with girls and then abducted them and sold them off to Alexei’s men who took them abroad on yachts. The yachts would meet up with other yachts at sea and an auction of sorts would be held. Girls would be moved from one boat to another based on their buyers. What happened to those girls no one knows. Some likely were killed or died from drug overdoses and others are probably still kept as sex slaves.

  The information I’m being told is disturbing and I want it to stop, but I also want to know everything. Jack continues, and Walsh updates me that Ben has arrived in D.C. and is holed up at some private condo of an acquaintance. Hank’s whereabouts remain sketchy at best, but Walsh assumes he is somewhere in the general vicinity of the city.

  Tomorrow is the day. They have a car arranged to bring me to a fancy restaurant in D.C. where a small private dining room has been reserved. I am to meet with the two men and tell them my plans to take over my father’s business as the rightful heir. I am to offer Hank money for the data and a gentlemen’s agreement with Ben to reinstitute our fathers’ business deals. Then I’m to get the fuck out of there. I’ve been given a bank account number that goes to a fake account set up by Walsh. Baxter will accompany me as my private security detail. Bryce explains that he probably will not be allowed in the dining room, but he’ll wait right outside.

  To say I’m nervous about an unsanctioned-by-the-government meeting with one international criminal/prison escapee and one double agent sellout is putting it mildly. Jack and Bryce finish their spiel, and Jack pushes a large glass of scotch in my direction. Normally, I would turn it the fuck down, but right now I need hard liquor like a fish needs water. I take several long pulls and set the glass down as I look at all of them.

  “You can do this,” Jesse says, breaking the silence. Cody nods.

  “I know,” I admit out loud. I know I can do this, but I’m not sure if I want to do this. Regardless, I know that I am going to do this.

  “Alright then, let’s grab lunch and enjoy the rest of the day,” Jack says, and everyone gets up. I have no idea how I will “enjoy” the rest of my day. Jack and Jesse are the last ones in the room, and Jesse puts his hand on my shoulder.

  I turn to him, and he gives me a look, something crossed between concern and pride. “I’m proud of you, Nick,” he says, and he pulls me into an embrace. It’s awkward as I can’t remember the last time we hugged, but I reciprocate, and we stand like that for a full minute, really hugging, not a bro hug. What the fuck is it with the men in my family the past few days? Finally, he thumps my back and pulls away.

  “Thanks, Uncle J,” I say to him. Jack pats my back.

  “I’ll be right outside the restaurant in an undercover car,” Jack assures me. I nod and head toward the kitchen. Joanie, Jesse and Vanessa’s housekeeper, is busy preparing a lunch for everyone. She is so quiet and unobtrusive that I often forget she’s here. She fills in regularly for Lillian, and I really like her.

  “Good afternoon, Nick,” she says cheerfully. She’s placing potato salad, quinoa salad, and coleslaw in giant serving bowls. Two trays of small sandwiches sit ready to be served. A tray of fruit sits next to that as does two bowls of chips.

  “Impressive, Joanie,” I tell her as I grab a few chips. She slaps my hand.

  “Now, now, Nicholas, wait for everyone else,” she chides like a seasoned grandmother. That makes me wonder how my own grandmother is doing. I know Bryce has a guy keeping track of her down in Florida, but it doesn’t mean I don’t worry about her from time to time. I make a mental note to call her later.

  Joanie stops with her preparations and looks at me. “You OK, sweetie?” she asks, leaning against the massive kitchen island.

  I give her a small smile. “I’ll be fine,” I tell her.

  She gives a look that says she believes that about as much as she believes in the tooth fairy. “You should talk to your mamma. She’s a good listener,” she offers.

  I know she’s right, but I also know that this isn’t something I can talk to Mom about, in fact, I can’t really talk to anyone that wasn’t in that room five minutes ago. My thoughts are broken with squeals of joy, and I follow them into the great room to find Rosa and Frankie knee-deep in a kiddie pool filled with colorful plastic balls. Leidy is pouring more over their heads and laughing as they dance in crazy circles. Lance and Lily are curled on the couch watching their children play. Cody has taken a seat next to Zoe and my mom is sitting on the ground trying to keep the balls from rolling into every crevice of the room. Vanessa uses a camera to snap some photos. Jack and Jesse walk in behind me, and we watch the scene unfold. It’s hard for anyone to take life too seriously when those three kids are having such innocent fun, but the sight also sucker punches me in the gut. So much is riding on my success tomorrow. I’ve never had so much pressure in my life, and I’m second-guessing whether I can pull it off. Then I feel hands slide around my waist. I look down to see Mel in front of me, smiling up at me with such joy on he
r face.

  “Mel! Mel!” Leidy cries.

  She turns as Leidy begins dragging her down by her arm. She picks up Rosa who laughs and she flips her upside down, so Rosa can pick up some balls and then a full-on ball fight ensues. Everyone gets into it. We don’t stop until Joanie is calling out that lunch is served. We all freeze where we are and drop our weapons and scramble into the dining room. Joanie has set out a buffet on the table and another with drinks along the side cabinet. Everyone dives in at once. Lance secures food for his kids. I notice the look of pleasure on my sister’s face as she actually gets to eat at the same time as the grown-ups. I give Lance a smile and he nods, knowing that I caught his act of chivalry.

  At some point, I see my mom and Vanessa head into the great room to clean up our mess, and I follow them.

  “Need some help?” I ask them as I pick up a few balls.

  “Sure,” they reply simultaneously.

  We pick them up, and then Vanessa goes to hand Joanie the wine glasses that were left. My mom and I stand staring at each other.

  “I know something is up,” she says.

  I raise an eyebrow, but I don’t trust myself to speak.

  “Nick, please,” she says tossing her hand in my direction. “I wasn’t born yesterday, and, oh, that spy I live with, he’s great at lying except to me.”

  I don’t answer her.

  “Fine, don’t tell me, but whatever is going on, please be careful, Nicholas,” she says. She walks over and hugs me, and I hug her back. Seriously, I haven’t been hugged this much since I was a kid.

  “I love you, Mom,” I say to her and kiss the top of her head.

  “I love you too, Nicky-poo,” she says into my chest.

  And in that moment, I know I can do this. If it means we can bring these fuckers down and my mom, my whole family will be safe, then damn it, I’m doing it.

  Chapter 15

  Nick’s Playlist: “Rise Up” by Imagine Dragons

  I stare up at the building. The restaurant is on the top floor, overlooking D.C. I’ve been here once before, some government holiday function that my mom dragged us to when we were children. I glance over at an unmarked car across the way, and I know Jack is inside it.

  Baxter stands to my right. “You ready, sir?” he asks me.

  I nod, and we walk in like we own the place. Jesse lent me one of his expensive suits. It’s odd that we are about the same size. The suit is a little large on me, but it works. We take the elevator up to the top floor and enter the restaurant. A maître d’ shows us to a back room. I note that three other large men stand by the door. I nod to Baxter and open the door. As planned, I am the last one here and hopefully the first one out.

  Neither Ben nor Hank stand when I enter to room. They are sitting at a conference table. Three place settings are out at the far end of the table, one on each side. Ben has taken the seat in the middle and Hank is on the right. I walk to the left and remember what Jack said, well, I try to remember everything he said.

  “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” I say to them as I approach my seat. I can see Ben sizing me up while Hank gives me a look of pure curiosity.

  “Good afternoon, Nick,” Ben says, finally standing and offering me his hand. Hank follows suit and then we all sit. We’re quiet for a moment as a waitress comes in and takes our drink orders. I note Ben orders an expensive vodka, and Hank a cheap beer. I opt for a scotch on the rocks, not overly priced but a decent bottle, as Jack had suggested.

  “I was surprised to hear of your interest in the family business,” Ben starts. “Particularly since your sister testified against me.”

  I nod. “I suppose we are like our parents in that way. Lily is like my mother, and I am like my father,” I explain.

  “So, one twin is good, and the other is…well, you?” Hank asks.

  I give him my evilest smile. “I guess that is a fair depiction. I like to think I am the more, business-oriented twin,” I say. I look at Ben. Now that I know he’s Alexei’s son, I feel foolish that I never made the connection before as there are several physical similarities. “Anyhow, we are both carrying on our father’s legacies then?”

  He gives me a small smile. “Yes, although I find this to be a bit of an awkward meeting as your mother killed my father,” he states, his smile falling. He pauses and searches my face for a response, but I keep it neutral. “The real question is, can I trust you?”

  The air seems to be sucked from the room. I can actually hear the air-conditioning. I’m wondering if they can hear the buzz of the recording chip that is embedded in my shoe. I had noticed that there was some sort of scanning device as I walked into the room. At first, I assumed it a metal detector but, now, I wonder if it was looking for audio equipment. Jack assured me that the one on me is untraceable and can’t be scanned for in any way. I tell myself to speak, and it takes a moment before the words leave my mouth. “I can understand your predicament,” I say slowly, taking a sip of my scotch. “And that is why I asked for both of you to be here. I plan on offering the funds to purchase the data we need from Hank. Once we wrap up that business, I would like to meet with you privately, to…shall we say calm your fears,” I add.

  “Alright,” Ben agrees. He pulls out a laptop and opens an offshore bank’s accounting system. He hands me the laptop, so I can type in my account numbers and security codes which I memorized just yesterday. I’m praying that they are correct. I hit submit and hand it back to him slowly as I watch the program accept the numbers. I want to breathe a sigh of relief, but that would be a deadly move on my part. “Very good,” he says and hands it to Hank. Hank hands me a USB drive.

  “Well, gentlemen, I’d love to stay for lunch, but it sounds like you have other matters to address and our business is all wrapped up here. So, I’ll be heading out now. That is the only copy of the data, it’s been deleted from my computer,” he says awkwardly as he nods at the drive and stands.

  “I trust we won’t be hearing from you again?” Ben asks him, his look is so cold that it could easily freeze the sun.

  “Not unless you need my services for something,” Hank says and exits the room. One down, one to go, I think to myself.

  A waitress comes out and sets down food. They are plates of light appetizers.

  “Well, it’s your meeting, Nick,” Ben says as he takes a bite of a cracker with caviar on it.

  I nod. “I realize our families have an adversarial past. Your father kidnapped my mom and sister. My mom killed your dad. Your business partner likely killed my biological father. My sister testified against you.” I pause and take a bite of a cracker as well. It gives me a few seconds to prep the next part of my speech. “I’d like us to put all that behind us. I’m assuming from my intel that you are ready to take over your dad’s businesses and after doing some research of my own, I have decided I would like to take over my dad’s as well. I believe my father’s absence has left a void that needs to be filled and since Mohammed and Saeed are gone, it only makes sense for me to fill it, since I have become so, shall we say, well-versed in this area over the past few years,” I say, pausing to see if he can put two and two together. And he doesn’t disappoint.

  “Are you implying that you had Mohammed and Saeed killed so you could take over?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

  “Now, now, Ben, murder is a very strong word. I believe both gentlemen and their brother all met unfortunate ends,” I say, remembering to take credit for the plane crash that killed their brother as well, because why not.

  Ben gazes at me and then takes another bite of his food. He lets the silence permeate the room as he chews and contemplates what he will say next. Thank God, I put on twice as much deodorant as normal because I am a nervous, sweaty mess right now.

  “Well, Nick, I do believe you are not at all what I expected,” he admits.

  “Well, Ben, I appreciate that,” I say. I stare down at my iPhone where I have an email firing me from Cody’s company. It’s not for real, but it’s enough to show Be
n here that I am desperate for money. My trust funds have been conveniently hidden for now, showing zeroes as well. If Ben did his homework, then he knows I have nothing and that I would be willing to risk it all.

  “When could you be down in Colombia?” he says.

  I shake my head. “You misunderstand me,” I say. “We can, of course, get our old liaisons in Colombia to set things back up, but I would like to branch out much closer to home.”

  “Here?” Ben inquires, his eyebrow raised again.

  “Yes, here,” I say, taking yet another bite of food.

  “What’s the market like here?” he asks.

  “Depends on which market we are discussing. The drug trade has some holes which I believe we could fill. It will take years to fill in those gaps, but the human trafficking. Well, our predecessors’ absences have left very large voids. I think we can fill them quite easily,” I say. “May I?” I ask, pointing to the computer.

  He passes it to me and I bring up the presentation that Walsh embedded on the dark web for me and pass it back to him. He reads through my proposal, made yesterday, and nods several times.

  “This is quite thorough,” he states. “Who do you have working for you?”

  “As of now, I have a small group, mostly security and IT related,” I say, keeping it vague.

  “I’d like to think on this for a few days,” he says, taking another sip of his drink.

  “Of course,” I say. “I’d like an answer in seventy-two hours,” I add.

  “Reasonable,” Ben says. Ben waves his hand and the waitress comes over to the table. I hand her a black AmEx card that Jack had made for me, and Ben nods his appreciation. I pay, and he stands. “I have other matters to attend to this afternoon,” he states.

  “We’ll be in touch then?” I ask him as I stand also.

  “Yes, of course,” he says, and we shake hands before he exits. I realize suddenly that I am the last one in the room, not exactly as planned, but I’m alive and that’s a good thing.