Jordan’s cell rang and not two seconds later Stefan’s. They both talked to their respective callers.

Jordan started to tell Stefan, “Landon’s leaving for New York and Juliet’s going to Italy. Jensen, Conner, and Hunter are also leaving for school —”

“Nikolai’s been taken,” Stefan interrupted

“The kids are not safe.”

The second Tyler had heard Viktoriya’s voice he knew. He told her under no circumstances was she to let her fathers know she had contacted him. Tyler assured her he would take care of everything and called Stefan as soon as he hung up. When Stefan got off the phone with Tyler he contacted Lorenzo to have everyone called in.

“Whoever this guy is, he’s torturing Nikolai,” Tyler told Stefan, biting his lip to keep from crying.

They gathered around as Tyler gathered himself and called Vince. The conversation was brief — if that. Tyler told him he was going to come out for a visit and Vince had made any excuse he could, even pointing out they would be in Fort Worth within weeks.

“Okay, man, I just miss you.” Tyler shook his head at the group.

They formed Plan B. This was not the first time they would be leading a massive assault team to get back one of their own, and Nikolai was very much one of their own. Vince was Tyler’s best friend and he took that as an honor; the man who was cold and unfeeling the day they had met was now a very big part of his life as well as his family’s.

“You with me?’ Tyler asked.

“When am I not?” Greg smiled.

“You got the kids, Mark?” Stefan confirmed.

“I always do. Bring him home.”

Tyler loaded a clip in his gun. “Oh, we will.”

Two days after Nikolai was kidnapped, Vince and Andrei sent Viktoriya to Antonio and Marco. They were entering an abandoned warehouse with a briefcase of money the man had asked for. Andrei looked around and nodded to Vince.

“Over there.”

“So nice of you to come.”

“What’s your name? I like to know the name of the guy I’m going to kill,” Vince snarled through clenched teeth.

“It’s Yuri… Yuri Borkosky, and I will be the only one doing the killing tonight.”

Vince saw his son dragged out and shoved forward. Andrei squeezed Vince’s hand and shook his head slightly.

“Hey, Pops.” Nikolai smiled.

“Your son has quite a sense of humor, Mr. Markov.” He took Nikolai by the neck and put a gun to his temple. “Now, hand over the money.”

“This is all about money?” Vince asked.

“Oh no, you see, you killed my father and took over the job that was supposed to fall to me. I’d like that job now along with the money to start said life.”

“Well this is enough to set you up for life.” Vince kicked the briefcase over. “Now, give me my son.”

“I will give him to you, the same way my father was given back to us!”

Andrei became enraged. “You will not touch my son!”

“Oh, but I will.”

Vince pulled out his gun and Yuri cocked his own. “You do not have the shot Mr. Markov; you will hit your son, I can assure you of that.”

“Vince,” Andrei cautioned, his heart pounding.

Vince put the gun down. “I can’t; I don’t have a clear shot.” A voice from above startled Vince.

“Put the gun down or I swear I’ll blow your head clean off.”

“I told you to come alone!” Yuri shouted, too stunned to take action.

Tyler rappelled from the rafters and landed in front of Vince and Andrei. “They didn’t know I was here.” Tyler glanced over at Vince, still training his gun on Yuri. “Don’t ever think you can hide shit from me.”

Nikolai chose that moment to make his move. He twisted in Yuri’s grip and grabbed his wrist, forcing the gun back on Yuri. A shot rang out and Yuri fell to the floor, holding his abdomen.

“That’s for beating the shit out of me.” Nikolai snarled. “I’m only just beginning.” Nikolai turned to Vince and stuck out his hand. “May I?”

Vince pulled his eight-inch knife from its sheath and handed it to his son. “Do what you need to do.”

“Oh, I will.”

Tyler flipped his rifle over his shoulder and turned to face Vince. He grinned and pointed at him.

“Don’t ever try that shit again.”

Vince grabbed him and hugged him. “Thank you!”

The three of them walked to the side, allowing Nikolai to finish off Yuri.

“What is it with people named Yuri?” Vince sighed.

A half hour later, Nikolai returned to them covered in blood. He wiped the knife off on his pant leg and handed it back to his father.

Andrei ran to Nikolai, checking him over. “Oh God, what did they do to you?”

“Couple broken fingers.” Nikolai held out his hands.

Andrei pulled his face up. There were terrible bruises across his face and neck. “You should not have to pay for the sins of your fathers.”

“Chill, Dad, I’m fine.”

“Are there any more?” Vince shielded Nikolai.

“Greg?” Tyler spoke into his radio.

“What’s up?”

“Are we clear?”

“All clear. Lorenzo and Justin just took out the last stragglers.”

“Roger that. We’ll wait right here for you guys.” Tyler frowned at Vince and Andrei. “How dare you try to keep us out of the loop?”

  “He told us not to tell anyone,” Andrei argued. “We could not risk our son.”

“Wow, Uncle Tyler.” Nikolai was looking at Tyler in full gear. “You are a badass.”

Tyler hugged him. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I think they expected me to cry. I am a Markov.”

Vince hugged his son, lifting him from the floor and holding him tight. “I love you!”

“I love you too, Pops.” Nikolai hugged his dad.

Andrei hugged them both and Tyler smiled at the three of them together. He noticed the rest of the group drifting in; they all hugged and Stefan and Jordan took a head count.

“Blow it and send a message to anyone affiliated,” Stefan instructed.

“I will send it,” Lorenzo said gleefully.

“I love it when you’re explosive,” Reece teased.

“I almost pissed my pants when I ran out of ammo.” Justin shook his head.

“You did?” Brandon didn’t believe him.

“Yep, but Damon saved the day.” Justin chuckled. “I still can’t believe the guy fell for it.”

“What did you do?” Tyler narrowed his eyes at Damon.

“What? I told him his socks were untied.” Damon smiled wide.

“Oh, God, Damon!” Tyler grabbed him and kissed him hard. “I worry about you.”

“Yeah? So do I.” Heath chuckled.

“Are we done here?” Jay asked.

“I’d say yes,” Roman offered.

“Let’s go home,” Jordan suggested to the group.

 

As soon as the jet landed, Katiana flew into her brother. She held him tight and kissed his cheeks.

“Oh, my God, I was so worried!”

“I’m okay, really.”

“You get kidnapped and tortured and you’re just okay, huh?”

Nikolai was puzzled that all his friends were around him. “Didn’t you guys leave?”

Landon smiled. “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.”

They all tackled him. Nikolai noticed Colin standing nearby.

“Hey.” He held his arms wide.

Colin sailed into him and held him; Nikolai pulled him in closer, loving the way Colin felt in his arms.

“I was so scared,” Colin whispered.

“I’m all right.” Nikolai felt Colin’s body shaking and held him closer. “Hey, hey. Really, I’m okay.”

“If anything worse had happened to you…”

“But it didn’t.” Nikolai smiled. “Can we go home now?”

“Amen.” Jordan smiled.

They were all at the Youngblood house celebrating Nikolai’s return. Phoebe had come with her brothers and Stefan wanted so badly to talk to her. Nico came up next to him.

“Let her come to you.”

“I miss her so much.” Stefan watched Phoebe with Conner.

“I know the feeling.” Nico saw Tanner talking with all the guys.

“Go talk to him; you know you want to.” Stefan gave him a shove.

Tanner had gone out on the deck. Seeing Nico was killing him. He watched the ducks on the pond and sensed Nico’s presence beside him.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

“Look, I’m sorry I left the way I did.”

“It’s okay. I don’t know why I thought I was so special.”

“But you are.” Nico pulled his face up. “I know you know how much I care.”

“Do you really?”

“I always have.” Nico pulled him into his arms and held him.

“You’re still going to leave, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but I will call you. I promise.” Nico held him tight.

“I miss you so much,” Tanner cried.

Nico held him to his chest and fought back his own tears. It wasn’t fair to Tanner. Nico was older and Tanner needed to be with kids his own age. He pulled Tanner’s face up.

“I will always be here for you.” Nico wiped the teen’s tears.

Phoebe approached Stefan. Even now she couldn’t make herself stop loving him, but he had hurt her to the core and she just couldn’t forgive him.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” Stefan tried to read her and just kept his mouth shut.

“Things have been tough all around and I want that to stop.”

“I’m so sorry, Phoebe —” Stefan started.

“Don’t.” Phoebe held up her hand. “It’s over, Stefan. Let’s just try to be nice to each other. Good luck in school.”

Stefan watched her walk away and his heart broke. Again. He quietly went outside and Heath followed him. Watching his son in pain was not a pleasurable experience. The dads had all sat around one night discussing their kids and had made a pact a long time ago that their children’s lives would not interfere with their friendships.

“Are you okay?”

“She said it’s over, Dad. It’s over.” Stefan started crying and Heath took him in his arms.

“It will be okay.”

Colin had Nikolai in his arms, snuggled in bed watching TV. Almost everyone had gone home and Colin had begged to stay with Nikolai. Vince had finally relented, as well as Paul, and the boys were in Damon’s old room.

“How’s your hand?”

“It’s okay.”

“I can’t believe they broke your fingers.” Colin held his hand gingerly.

“Better that than cutting them off.” Nikolai closed his eyes.

“It’s okay you know — it’s me; let it go, Nik.”

Nikolai finally cried. He had been scared to death but he wasn’t going to let his kidnappers know that. He didn’t want his fathers to feel guilty, either, so he had held it all in. Now the floodgates opened. As his whole body rocked with his sobs, Colin held him close and kissed his forehead.

“I was so scared.” Nikolai scooted closer to Colin, his sobs having subsided to hiccups.

“It’s okay, you’re safe now.” Just hearing Nikolai in pain made him cry; this was his Nik, and someone had hurt him. The bruises on his face were bad and Colin ran his fingertip over the one around his left eye. Nikolai sighed and finally fell asleep wrapped in Colin’s arms; he smiled down at the peaceful face and kissed his cheek.

“ ʼNight, Nik.”

Morning came and Stefan rolled over to find Jordan staring at him; he smiled and palmed his face.

“What is it?”

“I want to make love to you,” Jordan whispered.

Stefan pushed him down on his back and ran his lips softly over Jordan’s. His hand ghosted down his stomach and wrapped around Jordan.

“Or you could make love to me.”

“Mmm.” Stefan took his mouth.

Jordan closed his eyes as Stefan made love to him. In all these years he had never once been bored. The blond-haired, brown-eyed pouty-lipped man had been in his thoughts from the moment he opened his mouth and said his name. Stefan had been quite the surprise. Jordan had known what he wanted in life before he met him and after he did, knew he wanted Stefan forever.

“I love you.” Stefan whispered in his ear.

“I love you.” Jordan took his face in his hands. “I’ve always loved you, even when I was being a complete jackass.”

Stefan’s body was still magnificent. He still worked out every day. Jordan’s idea of a workout was picking up the remote for the TV. Jordan chuckled and Stefan tightened his grip.

“I want to hear you,” Stefan growled.

“Flip me over!”

Stefan flipped him and entered Jordan fast from behind. There was a loud moan and Stefan ran his hands up Jordan’s back, grabbed his shoulders, and began pounding into him.

“God, yes!” Jordan let out a loud moan and stroked himself.

“Stroke it faster!” Stefan thrust in and felt Jordan’s tight ass clamp down on him.

Jordan held on to the bed with one hand and stroked himself with the other. Stefan was relentlessly pounding him, and his orgasm was imminent.

“Babe!”

“I’m coming!” Stefan gasped.

The loud cry from Stefan prompted Jordan’s orgasm seconds later. They both collapsed on the bed, breathing hard.

“God, I love you.”

“I love you, too, Dr. Youngblood.”

They showered and changed then headed to the kitchen for coffee. Stefan looked out the window and saw his namesake down by the pond. He motioned to Jordan and they both went outside.

“Hey.” Stefan sat down beside his grandson and Jordan joined them on the other side.

“Hi, Grandpa.”

“What’s up?” Jordan pushed Stefan’s hair out of his eyes.

“It’s Phoebe, isn’t it?” Stefan took his hand.

“Last night, she told me it’s over for good.” Stefan looked out at the water. “I can’t stop loving her.”

“Don’t stop. She’ll eventually come around.” Jordan rubbed a hand over his back.

“I’m glad I’m leaving. I know that sounds bad, and I’m going to miss you guys but to be here around her?” Stefan shook his head.

Stefan hugged him. “It will all be okay.”

“God, I hope so.”