Chapter 25 Cian
CIAN
Two days after our escape, Faina and I finally get a chance to rest and recharge. A blazing sun bakes down from above, soaking the deck of our yacht in toasty, golden rays. Faina sunbathes several feet away from me and it’s painfully difficult to keep my eyes off her.
She reclines back with one leg bent at the knee and one arm tucked back behind her head as her skin takes on a darker golden tint.
Wearing a white bikini with gold trim and metal hoops at her hips, the only thing that stands out is the fresh white bandage around her wrist. Her eyes are hidden behind gigantic sunglasses so I can’t tell if she’s awake, forcing me to keep my glances to a minimum.
But it’s difficult. Every day I’m reminded of how beautiful she is, and every day I face the twisted concoction of feelings sitting heavy in my chest. Love and lust mingle with pain and betrayal. Desire clashes with mistrust.
I love her. There’s no doubt in my mind that everything I felt for her back when our relationship was a secret and everything I feel for her now is the same, maybe even more intense with it being the only good feeling in my heart.
But she lied to me.
She watched my entire world fall apart, she found me on the brink of giving up and still didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth. A Russian cop.
Does Anastasia know? Should I tell her? It wouldn’t do me any good now, but what about after?
After Hawk is a dream. There’s no guarantee I’ll even survive this which makes clinging to my upset feel weak and pointless. Why waste what could be our last few days together stewing in these feelings?
But try as I might, I can’t move past it.
Faina moves suddenly and my breath catches in my throat as I try not to stare, but it’s impossible not to.
She leans up and grabs the bottle of sun lotion, then squirts a good amount onto her unbandaged hand.
Then she lifts her other leg and very slowly starts spreading the lotion over her bare, golden thigh.
Each stroke is slow and sensual and I can almost feel her warmth beneath my aching fingertips.
The ghost sensation of a memory. Her hand moves down to her knee and then slowly sweeps back up to her hip.
Just as her fingertips reach the pale crease of her hip, I stand abruptly and walk away.
My desire for her physically can’t overrule what I feel inside. It’s not fair to either of us.
But if I watch her any longer, then I’ll end up with a tent in my shorts and a weak explanation.
After checking in with the captain of the yacht who assures me we’re on course and making good time, I use his satellite phone to call my contact, Ollie.
“Hey Ollie, is now a good time?”
There’s some scuffling on the other end of the line before he speaks. “Yeah, sorry. Just had to wrestle a wire from out of my dog's mouth. Honestly, the fuck is wrong with these mutts that they think anything lying loose on the ground is chewable!”
“Can’t say I’ve ever run into that issue.”
“Yeah, well.” Ollie smacks his lips together and taps what sounds like a spoon. “How’s the yacht?”
“Way better than I expected.”
“The fuck? You think I’d have you traveling in some kind of tug boat?”
Leaning against the railing, I gaze down at the passing blue ocean being kissed by white foam as the yacht cuts through the water. “Honestly? Yeah.”
“Listen, if you wanna be inconspicuous in these waters, then you gotta be invisible and to be invisible, you gotta be luxurious!”
“Do I wanna know how much this is costing you?”
“Nah,” Ollie scoffs. “But Saoirse would kill me if I let you down so…” He clears his throat. “Actually, I never uh… I never got to tell you how sorry I am that—”
“The Serenity.” I cut him off before the conversation can tail into topics I want to avoid. “Is it still docked in Egypt?”
“Lemme check for you— no, Arthur, you can’t eat that!
Look! There’s food in your bowl, you big dumb dog.
” Groaning, Ollie mutters something under his breath while I catch the clack of keys on a keyboard.
A light breeze picks up and touches like a whisper across my bare arms and legs.
This April sun is going to burn me to a crisp at this rate.
“How are the facilities?” Ollie asks. “Never been on a yacht myself.”
“Well, I was able to shave, take a shit without being stared at, and sleep in a solid bed for the first time in months, so I’d say pretty good. I almost feel out of place, y’know?”
“Hmm well you Giffords held your wealth in ranches and businesses, not flashy cars and yachts.”
“True.”
“Alright, yep! The Serenity is still docked in Egypt. Ain’t scheduled to leave for a while so you’re good. Although not to be the bearer of bad news, but you seen the news lately?”
“Not since we left Europe, why?”
“You and that chick, you’re top of Interpol's Most Wanted.”
“Higher than Hawk?”
“Yes.”
Fucking Richard. What a dick. “I guess our escape was a blow to the wrong ego.”
“Probably.” Ollie scoffs. “I can get you into Egypt easily enough, but that’s as far as my reach extends. I wish I could help more.”
“You’ve already done more than enough. Thanks, Ollie.”
Being shoved to the top of that list doesn’t worry me but it does mean Hawk will know we’ve escaped and are trying to pick up his trail. My head dips down below my shoulders and I close my eyes.
I’m way out of my depth. This was supposed to be easy. Find Hawk and kill him.
I miss New York.
After returning the phone to the captain, I head back to the top deck where Faina was sunbathing to give her the news but instead of finding her soaking up the sun, she’s pacing back and forth running one hand through her hair with a visible sparkle of tears in her eyes.
“Faina?” All thoughts of Hawk flee my mind. “What’s wrong?”
She spins to face me, sending her hair flying across one shoulder in a wave, and presses one hand against her abdomen as if it will help stem her tears. “Nothing.”
“Stop lying to me,” I snap, struggling to keep my tone gentle. “Talk to me.”
She scoffs and turns away, dragging her hand through her thick hair once more, then she lumps down onto her recliner. “I was just thinking.”
“About?”
Sniffling, she clasps her hands together and then looks up at me with her wide, beautiful blue eyes. “The night at the restaurant when we were attacked, you remember?”
Nodding, I sit on the recliner opposite her.
“Well, I’d been in contact with Anastasia when you went into the bathroom and she was worried. She was urging me to move quickly, but after everything with Interpol, we’ve been delayed for weeks now and I can’t get through to Anastasia. What if we’re too late? What if—”
What if what happened to your family happens to mine?
She doesn’t say it but the implication is heavy in the air and my heart skips a beat. Faina covers her mouth and closes her eyes as if she’s trying to calm herself down.
“I don’t want to say they’re fine in case they aren’t because I don’t know,” I say softly.
“But I do know Anastasia. And they know about Hexagon, they know what could be coming. If anyone is prepared for something like them, then surely it’s her?
And with Erik on her side…” My teeth briefly sink into my cheek.
“Knowing your enemy is half the battle. We didn’t stand a chance.
We were caught off guard, but Anastasia? She already knows.”
Faina sniffles, refusing to let her tears fall. “Do you think being prepared is enough?” she asks softly. “Do you think it will save them?”
“I hope so. If we knew why Hexagon was so intent on New York then maybe it would be easier to understand. I mean…” Puffing out my cheeks, I sit straighter.
“There’s no denying Hawk is the third benefactor behind that entire human trafficking operation that my sister unearthed but why is it such a big deal?
Domenico was importing people from Europe so I can’t believe New York was the heart of the operation.
And they’re cyber-criminals. Not to diminish our power, but so far, everything with Hawk has been extravagant.
Surely, we’re just a drop in the ocean for him. ”
“Maybe it’s ego,” Faina murmurs, dropping her hand and rubbing her palms together. “It’s not the first time we’ve disrupted such a disgusting business.”
I nod slowly. “Maybe.” As much as I want to comfort her, the sadness in her eyes isn’t fading and there’s nothing I can do to ease her.
Maybe I’m not the person to do it.
“Wait here.” Leaving her on deck, I hurry back to the captain for the satellite phone and by the time I’m back with her, I already have the call connected.
“Who is it?” Faina watches me with hope in her eyes, hope that’s dashed the moment Rocky Barati’s voice fills the air. She was hoping for Anastasia.
“There’s a voice I haven’t heard in a hot minute,” Rocky says. “Shit. I thought you both were dead.”
“Seriously?” I sit next to Faina.
“Yeah, man. With all the shit going down, it just made sense. But it’s so fucking good to hear your voice, Cian.”
“It’s good to hear yours too.” Just listening to that New York twang with a shadow of Italian pulls painfully at the nostalgia in my chest. Rocky sounds like home and that’s more painful than anything. “Listen, we can’t talk for long. Too many outgoings y’know?”
“Sure, sure.”
“We tried to get in touch with Anastasia but we’ve heard nothing.”
“Ah, shit.” Rocky groans. “Listen, I don’t know how much you know, but the city, man, it’s like a fucking warzone.
I feel like I’m fighting three wars at once.
I’m losing people every single day, I’m losing money, I’m losing business and shit, it’s not just here.
I’ve had family slaughtered in Italy, friends in Japan gunned down in the street. ”
“Holy shit,” Faina gasps. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Right?” Rocky laughs. “It’s like every Mafia family woke up and chose war.
As for Anastasia… I’ve not heard anything.
They closed ranks not long after the uhm…
” Rocky stops suddenly. “Cian, I’m sorry, brother.
For what happened to your family. I want to say if there’s anything I can do, but I know that shit is meaningless. ”
The air around me grows cold until Faina’s hand rests upon my forearm. “Thanks, Rocky.”
“Yeah, no problem. Anyway, we haven’t heard from the Russians.
Several of their buildings got blown up and even the cops are running around like headless chickens.
I reached out but I haven’t heard anything.
If they’re going through anything like I am, then they’re stretched too thin and running out of money. ”
Faina’s lips press into a thin line. “Thanks, Rocky.”
“No problem. Sorry I can’t be more help. Listen, I gotta go, but stay safe, okay? Stay alive.”
“You too, Rocky.” I end the call with a press of a button and an eerie silence falls between us.
Hearing his voice is like a blast from the past but at the same time, he sounded strained.
Like he was in some kind of pain. Given Hexagon’s reach, I’m not surprised they're suffering.
Low funds, drained accounts, dead men in the streets.
The city I know and love is crumbling and one man is responsible.
Hawk.
There’s not enough time in the world left for all the shit I want to do to him. And even then, it won’t be enough for what he deserves.
“Cian?”
Faina pulls my attention back to her and I flash a small smile. “It’ll be okay.”
“Will it?” Her brow lifts. “Because right now it feels like we’re too late to save anyone.”