Gregor sat on the sofa in his office, his feet bare as he’d long since kicked off his socks and shoes. The coffee-cup Dmitri had brought him an hour before, was sitting on the low table beside him, long since emptied.
Yuri was standing in the doorway where he’d been waiting for the last ten minutes, his arms folded across his broad chest in obvious impatience.
Both Yuri and Kris had opted for the typical macho appearance that was so popular amongst their countrymen, especially the former military types, with heads shaved and muscles aplenty, and from where he was sitting, he had to admit that they carried off the rough and rugged, ‘he-man’ persona beautifully.
Gregor might even have believed it himself if the brothers hadn’t been working for him all the time his kids were growing up, and he hadn’t seen how Sophia and Serge could wrap the two of them around their little fingers with just a smile. Besides, he’d known them since they were snot-nosed kids. It was hard to be intimidated by the brothers, when you could call that image to mind any time you wanted to.
Gregor glanced at the clock above the mantle showed it was almost eight o’clock, telling him that he’d been talking to Tulli non-stop for almost three hours.
Three hours!
Had he ever had a conversation with one person that had lasted this long?
Nope! That was the truth of it.
He had business meetings, of course, and he’d been part of family gatherings, but he genuinely couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a one-on-one conversation with anyone that lasted more than half-an hour.
If you’d asked him this morning, he wouldn’t have thought you’d find enough to talk about to stay interested in a conversation with someone for that long.
And yet, not only had they almost hit the three-hour mark, but he really didn’t think they’d run out of things to say yet.
He glanced at Yuri who was now busy studying his watch. The man wouldn’t know how to drop a subtle hint if his life depended on it.
So far, in his conversation with Tulli, Gregor had discovered they had a mutual love of books, both enjoyed nature documentaries, and they had a shared love of the theatre. Neither of them had any time for opera, but both rated Hollywood musicals as some of their favourite films.
The biggest surprise though, was not that they both enjoyed watching sports, but that they each rated soccer as their favourite team sport.
Of course, each had at heart the connection with their birth country, with Tulli supporting Poland and Gregor supporting Russia, but that just added to the conversation.
Gregor glanced back at the door to see that Kris had now joined his brother, and both were staring at him as though he’d grown a second head.
Kris was nowhere near being the more ‘subtle’ of the two brothers, and he immediately tapped his watch and started twisting his fingers round and round each other in a sign obviously meant to tell Gregor to wind up the conversation.
As Tulli’s laughter trailed off, Gregor knew he would have to wind up the call, much as it pained him to do so. Whatever Kris and Yuri wanted him for obviously couldn’t be ignored any longer.
“Tulli, I really hate to bring our conversation to an end, but I have two very unhappy looking Russian bulldogs staring me down, and judging by the looks they’re giving me, I think they have something they want to talk to me about.”
“Oh dear. Have I gotten you in trouble with Kris and Yuri?” Tulli chuckled.
“Not yet.” Gregor laughed. “But if I keep ignoring them, I think they may up and quit on me. They can get sulky like that if they’re not the centre of attention.”
Tulli’s snort of laughter was almost as priceless as the identical look of indignation on each of the brothers’ faces.
“Well, I’d hate to be responsible for them quitting on you, especially as I have no doubt whatever they need you for must be far more important than listening to my endless chatter.” Tulli offered. “But before you go, can I just say thank you for wasting so much of your time talking with me. It’s been the most enjoyable time I can remember, for… well, for longer than I can even recall.”
“Tulli, I don’t consider a minute of it was wasted.” Gregor insisted. “In fact, if I can quickly resolve what seems to be a pressing issue, if Kris’s scowl is anything to go by, then I’ll try and call again later. If not, I’ll send you a message anyway, to say goodnight.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Tulli said cheerily, and he could almost imagine her smile, and her eyes a light clear grey.
Gregor ended the call and put the phone on the side table to charge.
“Did you want me for something?” He grinned at the brothers.
“I was just about to put the kettle on, and wondered if you wanted a hot drink.” Kris smirked at him.
“Yeah, right.” Gregor shook his head. “Ok, so, I’m guessing it’s something a little more serious than a hot drink. What’s up?”
Yuri stepped into the office and took a seat across from Gregor, while Kris strolled to the drinks refrigerator and extracted a bottle of water.
“We’ve had confirmation from Hannah that Lucky Vega and her team are already in town.” Yuri informed him. “They flew in late this afternoon, and were met at one of the small airports. They’re in the wind.”
Gregor sat forward.
“What is the situation with our security?” He looked between the two men.
“We have a full team already positioned around the grounds, plus another team in and around the house. Around fifty men in all, armed with automatic weapons.” Kris confirmed. “We also have men in the attic armed with fifty calibre machine-guns. The angle of vision isn’t as perfect as we would like, as the windows up in the attic are small and flat to the walls, so we can only cover maybe two hundred and forty degrees, but it takes in the gate and the driveway, so unless they’re going to drive a tank straight through the outer wall in our blind spots, they should come into our line of sight several times.”
Gregor nodded in agreement.
“If that’s the worst of our problems, then I’ll take it.”
“Gregor, why don’t you just get the hell out of here, and let us deal with this for you?” Kris asked. “You don’t have to be here at all, y’know.”
“I know you would take care of it if you could, and I greatly appreciate it.” Gregor nodded. “But I’m hoping that by staying here it will draw them in. I can’t have this Vega woman thinking I’ve gone into hiding somewhere, or she might try and go after either Sophia, or Natalia and Serge. That’s unacceptable.”
“I understand that, I really do.” Kris nodded. “But what if we could find a lookalike to stand in for you?”
“Kris, we’ve looked at all of these different ideas already, and I still refuse to let anyone else make a target of themselves, just so I can stay safe.” Gregor was adamant about this. “If I didn’t have to, I wouldn’t even have our security teams putting themselves at risk. It seems immoral somehow, to say that my life is more valuable than theirs.”
“Gregor, that’s what these guys live for.” Yuri smiled. “They’ve spent years in the military putting their lives on the line so many times that it’s like a drug to them. They’re doing it for you just for kicks!”
Gregor simply couldn’t understand that mentality. He could understand putting himself in harm’s way to protect his family. As a parent, it was almost a given, that you would give your life to save your children.
But to risk injury or death because it was an adrenaline rush? Nuh-uh! He didn’t care if some people thought that made him less of a man!
“We’ve spoken to Tuck this evening, and he’s put more than half of their family into lockdown, just to be safe.” Yuri confirmed. “The rest of them are staying at his place, and they’ll use that as a base of operations for the next few days. He said something about keeping his office closed, so he’s obviously taking the threat seriously.”
“I feel so awful that they’re even involved in this.” Gregor frowned. “They wouldn’t have been there but for me asking them to go to Colombia.”
“Yes, they would.” Kris argued. “Once they realised that Candy’s son was involved, they would have gone down there anyway. All your involvement changed was how easy it was for them to get down to Colombia, and how much additional support they had because of the Russian military backup.”
“Kris is right. Alex’s involvement meant that the Alpha-Stalwart family was in the mix already.” Yuri supported his brother’s argument.
“And why was Alex involved?” Gregor asked. “Because Sophia’s step-father used his connections to get a Marine team sent in to find her. It doesn’t matter which way you spin it, guys, Sophia and our family connections are at the heart of this.”
Gregor shook his head, trying to straighten his thoughts.
“Sophia’s intention in going down to Colombia was to do some good, and for the villagers and the children, I have no doubt that she succeeded. For Tulli and her sisters, and the dozens of other women trapped down there, it’s beyond doubt that Sophia’s trip turned out to be a lifesaver.” Gregor acknowledged. “But, ultimately, it’s that same chain of events that led us to where we are now. So, I feel it’s my responsibility to make sure it ends with me, here.”
“The only way it’s really going to end is with Lucky Vega’s death.” Kris pointed out. “Any other alternative isn’t really thinkable.”
“Yeah, well, if she comes in with a full team of thugs, then there are going to be a lot of dead bodies on the lawn.” Yuri smiled. “It’s our job to make sure that none of them are Russian.”
“We’d better make sure none of them are rabbits, either.” Kris snorted. “I’d rather face down a vengeful Lucky Vega rather than an unhappy Sophia Diminova, if just one of her furry bunnies gets hurt.”
“Oh, hell yeah!” Yuri smiled.
Gregor’s phone ringing caught his attention, and when he saw it was Hannah, he put the call on speakerphone.
“Hannah? I’m here with Kris and Yuri.” Gregor announced. “How’re things going at your end?”
“Oh, it’s all quiet on the western front.” Hannah chuckled. “Everyone knows the plan, and they’re all where they need to be.”
“Have you got Tuck’s place secure as well?” Gregor asked. “We don’t know that Hilary didn’t give Vega information that would lead her to you.”
“No, we don’t, which is why Tuck’s taking no chances.” Hannah laughed. “Both your place and Tuck’s are being patrolled by the Feds tonight. Plus, Philadelphia’s finest are patrolling the area as well. So, maybe you could tell your security guys not to shoot and ask questions later, if they see the same cars cruising past every fifteen minutes, hmm?”
“I can pass that message on.” Yuri smiled.
“Ok, then I guess we’re all set for the night.” Hannah sighed. “If anything does kick off at your place tonight, all of the Alpha Stalwart team have their weapons to hand, and can be at your house in less than ten minutes.”
“Hannah, we have a small army here as it is, plus, as you say, we also have FBI and police back-up. We’ll be fine.” Gregor reassured her.
“Ok, then.” Hannah still didn’t sound convinced. “I’ll talk to you in the morning, I hope.”
“Sure thing, Hannah.” Gregor didn’t know what to say to reassure her. “Thanks for all your help. Again!”
“Always my pleasure.”
Hannah disconnected the call, and Gregor sat back.
“Will we?” He glanced at Kris and then Yuri. “Will we be fine?”
“Hell, yeah.” Kris scoffed. “It’s like I said earlier… I’d soon as face down Lucky and all her men than your Sophia if her bunnies get hurt.”
“We’d better warn the men of the importance of not shooting Feds, police or rabbits then.” Yuri stood up. “Although, not necessarily in that order of priority.”
Gregor nodded.
“Bunnies first!”
“Always bunnies first!” Kris grinned.