What Kind of Man
A blind one?
“You made me miss my flight…” Simo smiled dryly at Booker.
From his hospital bed, Booker groaned and in a dry voice replied, “Shit… seeing your face, I thought my black ass died and woke up in hell.”
Simo chuckled.
“Iravani?”
“I personally delivered him to a US F-15 going to wherever your boss wanted. I think the whole F-15 squadron was escorting…”
Booker sighed with relief. “Thanks, man. I owe you… don’t I?”
“Big time. Why is Iravani so important?”
Booker eyed Simo for a long moment. “He oversaw Natanz… in Iran.”
“No idea what Natanz is…”
Booker chuckled. “Ask ChatGPT.”
“What's ChatGPT?”
Booker raised an eyebrow. “You'll see soon enough.”
“Ok, fine. So Natanz is a big deal?”
“Bigger… So, what the hell happened?”
Simo regaled Booker with the details and brought him up to speed on what happened after he passed out. “Your boss seemed happy…”
“My boss? My boss as in Deputy Director, and former Marine General, Robert Roark? He was happy? Shit, I missed a once-in-a-lifetime event.” Booker chuckled, then began coughing.
“Easy there.”
Booker nodded and managed to get control of his coughing. “Been here before… these fucking chest tubes...”
“Maybe you should stop getting shot.” Simo grinned.
Booker suppressed his laugh. “You think?”
“Maybe?” Simo grinned and held out his hand. “I have another first-class flight on Emirates in a few hours. I was told I even get to use the shower. A shower on a plane? Crazy.” Simo smiled as he shook Booker’s free hand.
“VIP? My boss must really be happy. You take care… and thank you for having my back.”
Simo eyed Booker for a long moment, then replied, “As long as you have mine, I’ll have yours.”
Booker held his reply, but gave Simo a nod.
Theo was watching for Simo at Arrivals at Los Angeles International Airport.
Right on time coming out the door was Simo.
There was no missing the man. He stood six foot five, with a build like a linebacker, and now sported a black ponytail.
Simo had told him it was his last vestige of defiance against the Greek military and government that spurned him and forced him to leave his homeland.
Watching Simo look for him, Theo immediately picked up that something was amiss. Even though Simo looked well-groomed after such a long flight, his walk and demeanor were wrong. Something happened. Something bad.
Simo saw him and waved. Theo unlocked the back of the Escalade and watched Simo in the rearview mirror as he deposited his bag in the back. Then, more slowly than normal, Simo got into the SUV.
Speaking Greek, Theo greeted Simo, “Welcome back. Did you have a successful trip?” Simo turned and looked at him for a long moment, then simply nodded once.
Theo nodded back, put the big Cadillac into gear, and headed out.
About halfway home, the silence finally itched enough at Theo. “What happened? I can tell something went wrong…”
Simo interrupted by sighing heavily at having to speak, then answered, “Job done. They are happy. I’m tired.”
“Ok… that doesn’t answer my question.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Theo nodded and turned his attention back to driving. Shortly, Theo pulled up in front of Simo’s Beverly Hills condo. “You going to take a few days off before coming back to the club?”
Simo paused for a long moment then, without looking at Theo, replied, “No. I’ll be there tonight. Pick me up at 4 PM.” Simo got out of the Escalade, shut the door, and left Theo looking after him with great concern.
“What’s up with Simo?” Georgie, the lead bouncer, asked Theo, as Simo brushed by him without a word.
Theo casually tapped his temple and replied in his broken English, “Much happening in his head,” then patted Georgie’s huge shoulder. “Keep a good eye open…”
Georgie smiled and leaned close to Theo. “It’s better if you say, ‘keep an eye out’…”
Theo smiled genuinely. “Yes, thank you. Keep an eye out!” Smiling, Theo headed off into the club to make his routine club security rounds.
Theo had made it his routine to say hello and make quick small talk with the staff every night.
He always got them to smile at his jokes and antics.
His heart still ached at the sudden death of his wife and newborn baby almost two years ago, but he was in a better place now.
He had come to be close friends with Becky, the kick-ass, diminutive former Marine who was Aurae’s eyes and ears, as well as their best cocktail waitress.
He had considered asking her out but, up until recently, he decided a friendship with her was a better choice.
He missed her squeaky voice of late, but she was in Miami now.
Ari and Sagar were having problems in the Miami Club Aurae and sent her there to ‘keep an eye out’.
Theo chuckled at the corrected phrasing and wondered why someone would take their eye out.
He decided he missed something in the translation.
The thought of Becky entered his mind again, along with the intriguing idea of making love to her.
He chuckled aloud as a question burned to be answered: would Becky make squeaky noises during lovemaking, as Simo had once joked?
Theo peered into the floor-to-ceiling mirrors as he passed by.
He paused and saw his own reflection. It had been almost two years since he had made love with a woman…
the last time being his wife. Erini had owned his entire heart, mind, and body…
His phone vibrating in his pocket broke his thoughts.
“Ella, Eleni!” Theo smiled happily at his cousin’s call.
Speaking Greek, Eleni’s voice greeted him. “Theo, is Simo back yet?”
Theo ignored Eleni’s gruffness and continued smiling into the phone. “Why?”
“Theo, stop. Is Simo there?”
“Maybe…” Theo replied, mimicking Simo and his favorite response.
“Theo…” Eleni paused, then sighed heavily. “I am being fired from the police force…”
Theo’s smile disappeared. “No! Eleni, I am sorry. Why?”
“All the men refuse to work with me. I bust my ass all the time, but since all that happened with Simo and you… I have lost their trust. And being a woman in a man’s military makes everything worse.”
“I am sorry, Eleni. Yes, Simo is back. I have to warn you, something bad happened. He won’t discuss it.”
“Great…” Eleni sighed.
“You should come for a visit.”
“What do you think Simo will say?”
“Trust me, he’ll try and recruit you.” Theo smiled.
“Ok… I’ll call him. Yasou.”
The line went dead before Theo could say goodbye. Smiling, he put his phone back into his pocket. Theo continued his rounds thinking about Eleni being here. Undoubtedly, she would still be a hard-ass and a pain in his own ass.
Simo sat in his plush office chair and watched the empty dance floor down below. The DJs were in early and practicing their elaborate light show. He watched the two work their magic as they practiced their show when his cell phone rang.
Simo glanced down at his phone and answered. “Hello?”
“Good evening, Simo…”
Immediately, Simo caught the wrongness in Ari Ascher’s voice.
“Ari, is there something the matter?”
“Astute as usual, my friend. Yes, on many fronts there are problems…”
“How can I help?”
“Let us discuss this in private, shall we? Say tomorrow at noon… my home?”
“Of course, Ari. Noon.”
“Very well, and thank you, Simo. Good evening.”
“Sure. Goodnight, Ari.”
Simo hung up and stared at his phone for the longest time. Something was amiss. Something very bad. Simo had the urge to call Ari back and ask, but knowing Ari, it would best wait until tomorrow. He slipped his phone back into his pocket where it rang once again.
Speaking Greek, Simo answered. “Ella, Eleni.”
“Yasou, Simo. How was your trip?” Eleni replied.
Simo paused and looked at his phone to make sure it really was Eleni. First, Ari acting strange and now Eleni. She was always giving him shit when she called him. “What is the matter?”
After a long pause, Eleni answered. “I am being fired.”
“Fuckers,” Simo spat. “Where can I send you your airline ticket?”
“Just like that?” Eleni replied.
“Yes, just like that. I have a spot open. My fifth team member is in Miami.”
“You know where. Email me the information.”
“When?”
“As soon as you want me.”
“I’ll do it now.”
“Simo…”
Simo interrupted Eleni. “Skip it. It will be good to see you.”
“Yasou,” Eleni replied, relief in her voice.
Scanning through his contacts, he dialed Deepa, Sagar’s secretary.
“Good evening, Simo. How can I help you?” came Deepa’s slightly Indian-accented voice.
“I need a one-way business-class ticket from Athens to Los Angeles for a Ms. Eleni Tsekeris. Her contact information is on file.”
“When should this happen?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Shall I forward the information to Ms. Tsekeris.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Very well, Simo. Is there anything else I can assist you with?”
Simo paused for a moment. “How are things in Miami?” Simo caught the pause in Deepa’s voice.
“Simo, it is best you discuss this with Mr. Ascher…”
“I understand. Thank you, Deepa. Have a good night.”
“Thank you for understanding. Good evening, Simo.”
Simo hung up and tossed his phone onto his desk with a grunt. Reaching behind his head, he smoothed out his ponytail and stared down at his phone.
As he began to turn his chair back toward the window overlooking the club, his phone rang once more.
“Fuck. Now what…” Simo muttered and answered, “Yes, Georgie?”
“Hey, Boss. Lilly Delmore is here and would like to come in and speak with you.”
“Fuck…” Simo sighed, thinking what the hell else might complicate his life tonight.
“Should I send her away?”
“No. Escort her to the main bar. Thanks.”
“You got it, Boss.”
Simo stared daggers at his phone, daring it to ring one more time. With a grumble, Simo retrieved his black leather blazer from his closet, put it on, and left.