32. Rurik
THIRTY-TWO
RURIK
My phone pulls me from sleep.
I growl, reaching behind me to shut it off. I never have the ringer on. Ash gets so little sleep as it is. I don’t need shit waking him up. I fumble until my fingers close around the vibrating thing, pulling my half-hard cock out of Ash in the process.
Now I’m fucking mad.
I hit ignore to silence it, but my brain snaps into full consciousness, and I force my eyes open. There is only one person who can ring through, and he’d never call me.
Call from Nik
Fuck.
“Hello?”
“Everyone’s been trying to call you.”
“You know I ignore those bastards. You’re the only one who gets through and I was sleeping.” I don’t scold Nik. He only calls when it’s important. “What’s going on?”
“Dad snuck out of The Velleity at some point yesterday, and he’s trying to get back in. Mom and him are in a standoff.”
I sit up. “For how long?”
“Like twenty minutes.”
“Are you taking the jet?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Hurry. Locke wants to leave. He’s already mad because you didn’t answer his call.” Nik’s tone carries urgency.
“He can suck my fucking dick.”
“Just hurry.”
“Do what you can to keep him on the ground. I’m five minutes out.”
“I will.”
I reach under the pillow for my gun and then lean over to kiss Ash. “I have to go.”
“Why?” he grumbles half asleep, and I almost stay in bed. The rest of them can kill Dad, I just want to bury myself inside him and go back to sleep. Especially after he was so vulnerable last night.
I didn’t think I could fall more in love with him.
“I need to get to New York for a family emergency. I’m in a bit of a time crunch. If I don’t go, Locke will probably leave without me. I promise to explain later. Is that okay?”
If he asks me not to go, I’ll stay.
“Is everyone okay?”
“Unfortunately.”
He gives me a questioning look.
“I promise I will explain tonight.” I cup the back of his head, bringing our lips together.
“Okay.”
It takes us two fucking hours to get to The Velleity and every fucking minute feels like forever. We’re all on edge on the car ride over and there’s way too many people on the street at five am for Lower Manhattan.
My mother isn’t exactly blocking the doors to The Velleity, as that would violate the code of conduct, but she’s pretty prominent right off hotel property, standing with her arms crossed and not at all trying to be inconspicuous.
And while she is within her rights to kill someone one inch off of Velleity property, anything deemed to draw too much attention to the notorious hotel would make her membership subject to review. She’s playing a dangerous fucking game.
The Jackal doesn’t mess around with the safety and sanctuary of his property.
My father isn’t in sight, but like the rat he is, I’m sure he’s scurrying around nearby.
We approach cautiously.
“Why are you here.” She exhales, clearly frustrated. “All of you should be at school.”
“Like we weren’t going to come when Lyra called.”
Mom narrows her eyes. “She needs to stop listening at doors.”
But she should know better. We’ve always used our youngest sibling as a little spy. And she’s fucking good at it.
Lyra slips out of the front door of The Velleity like she was waiting for us to get there. “They can help.”
“I told you all, I’d never ask you to go against your father. It’s my vendetta. It’s not your job to avenge me.”
“It’s as much ours as yours.” Nik steps forward, rarely one to even speak in heated exchanges. “I know you don’t want us in the middle, but we already figured out what happened, and this is who you raised us to be. Expecting us not to choose a side is like expecting us to swallow the disrespect.”
“It’s not vengeance. It’s fuck that motherfucker—not only disrespecting you but also for dragging us through all this. He betrayed all of us,” I add.
“I’m sorry. I know he disrespected all of us, but it’s still not your responsibility, and I’d never ask you—”
“We are here because we want to be here. You don’t have to ask.
In fact, all of us are tired of having our feelings dismissed.
None of us want a relationship with the bastard, and honestly, we’ll all be happier when he’s dead.
Now if you’d let us fucking help, maybe we can put it to bed.
” Locke ends the conversation, and thankfully, Mom doesn’t argue.
“You’re all adults. I guess I can’t stop you,” she relents. Lyra carefully takes a step forward, but Mom points back at The Velleity. “You are seventeen, young lady.”
“I’ll be eighteen in a month.”
“I don’t care. You’re not allowed to partake in the business at all until you’re an adult.” Mom points at the hotel. “Back inside.”
We all found ways around that rule in our youth, and I know Lyra has too, but Mom can’t let her be so open in flaunting well-known rules, especially on Velleity property.
Lyra grumbles but slips back into the hotel.
“Where’s Li?u?” Locke asks, casually glancing around, scoping the scene from Mom’s vantage point.
“Doing recon.” Mom studies us, clearly considering her options.
“The Jackal?” I’m shocked he’s not out here already.
“I don’t think he’s been alerted to the situation yet.”
“I’m shocked Dad didn’t call him.” I’m not happy the Jackal is letting dad stay, even if he hasn’t broken any rules, it puts a bad taste in my mouth.
“I think his patience with your father is growing thin.” Mom’s gaze flicks to the building across from us. “But you know the Jackal can’t play favorites. It’s bad for business.”
“Do we know where Mikel is?” I casually check my gun, wishing we’d stopped at the armory for better supplies.
“I don’t know. I had a contact spot him heading this way from midtown, and I caught him trying to sneak back in, but he fled. We chased him but lost him, so we decided it was better to prevent entrance.”
So he’s coming back into the city from somewhere. But where? And why? What kind of business would make him need to be back in the states. I need to figure it out.
“When did he leave?” Locke asks.
“I don’t know. I’ve had the exits under surveillance since he got here.”
“Could he really sneak out?” I’m surprised.
She shrugs. “Either he had a really good disguise, or there’s a rat.”
I grind my teeth. I’d like to think Mom knows her team, and I don’t like the implications that Dad has turned one of them and could get out of the hotel without her knowing. “Well, that’s worrying.”
“I agree.”
“Are you sure he’s coming back here and not going to the airport?” Locke asks, always the pragmatist.
“He wouldn’t have come all the way back here if he wasn’t.”
Locke gives a non-committal tilt of his head. “How would you like us to help?”
“If one of you will take my position and one the underground entrance, then the last of you can help Li?u and me hunt.” Mom leaves it to us to decide which.
“I’ll take the back.” Nik turned down the alley. “Call me if anything changes.”
Locke and I size each other up.
“I’ll stay here.” Even I can admit Locke is the better of the two of us at hunting.
It’s not my fault I get distracted easily and would much rather have a direct confrontation than track my prey.
Unless it’s Ash, so maybe my dick is the master tracker among us.
I keep that to myself, sure neither of them would enjoy it.
Rurik: I wish I was out on the water with you this morning.
Ash: I wish you were too.
Rurik: Be safe.
The sun brightens the sky, sending light dancing off all the buildings.
It’s nearly seven and the city is alive.
We’re running out of time before the streets are packed and it’s going to get harder to find anyone but it’s been radio silent, which either means nothing, or Mom is closing in and doesn’t want to alert him.
I probably won’t know until he’s dead or they need backup.
Rurik: How was your row?
Ash: Lonely.
The single word makes my heart hurt.
I’m itchy about leaving him alone. I know his bodyguards are there, but he was still drugged, and I don’t like it.
Ash: How’s it going there?
Rurik: Badly. But only because nothing has happened and I hate waiting.
Ash: When will you be back?
Rurik: Hopefully tonight. I’ll let you know.
He hearts the message, and I choose to believe it’s his way of showing his feelings before he can bring himself to say it.
I’m smiling at my phone still when a mammoth of a man strolls out of The Velleity.
He’s dressed in impeccably tailored brown slacks and a tight cream sweater with a long forest green overcoat draped over his shoulders.
His signature look to conceal his double armpit carry.
And there’s something about a guy his size, dressed as nicely as he is, that signals he’s dangerous.
“Rurik.” The Jackal holds out his hand.
I take it, inclining my head. “Nice to see you, sir.”
“What brings you to this particular street corner so early in the morning?” he asks like he doesn’t know.
I’m sure he was briefed about the situation this morning. Nothing goes in anywhere on or near The Velleity without him knowing.
“I’m enjoying the sunrise and watching the city coming to life.” While I’ll always be respectful to the Jackal, I won’t give him an inch. I won’t let anyone in this business intimidate me.
Showing weakness or submission to the Jackal isn’t any better than outright defying him. He respects neither.
“I presume your loitering is tied to your father?” Other than his large stature, the Jackal looks like a pretty regular guy by New York standards.
He’s attractive and distinguished but that’s not uncommon here.
Which might lull a regular person into a false sense of security, but I once saw him take out two sharp shooters with their rifles trained on him from a distance with a handgun while beating the shit out of a third guy.
At forty-five, his reflexes are better than guys my age.
I’ve heard rumors over the years on his training, and they are all bizarre and totally believable.
He’s anything but ordinary.
When he took over ownership of the Velleity a decade ago, no one was surprised.
“I’m not sure why you’d presume such a thing. Both my parents are current occupants of The Velleity.” I’m calm, giving him the respect he’s due but not backing down.
He slides his glasses down with one finger, looking at me over the horned rim. “And yet, my instincts tell me otherwise.”
“I know the rules, sir. I don’t intend to break them.” The truth, mostly. While I am a hot head, I do understand the importance of The Velleity. I’m not sure what I’d do if faced with my father on the property.
“Your presence here is a courtesy we extend to your mother because of her valued contributions to the establishment but not something we need to continue in the future if you decide to be a problem.”
Had he heard me running my mouth to my mother the last time I was here?
The wheels in my head turn.
“I understand.”
He nods and returns to the hotel.
We search for the next twenty-four hours, but there’s no sign of him. He’s vanished into the sewers or something and I hate it. Too many things are not adding up recently, and it’s making my brain itch, leaving me frustrated and unsatisfied.
Locke sits next to me on the jet. “Rurik?”
“Yeah?”
“You sleeping with one of the prospects?”
My lip curls and I glance over at Nik, who looks as shocked as I am. “Who told you?”
“You don’t deny it?”
“Who the fuck told you?” I ask again.
“It doesn’t matter. You knew I’d find out. Why didn’t you tell me?” Locke is calm, but he’s always calm. Our psychopathy has always presented differently. He’s calculating and never reveals what he’s feeling. But we usually get along pretty well. As long as I keep my secrets.
“Because it’s none of your fucking business where I stick my dick.” The statement massively downplays my relationship, but I wasn’t going to explain it to him. He’d only see my feelings as a bigger mess he has to deal with.
“This isn’t a fuck. You haven’t slept at home in over a month.” How long has he been holding this?
“My statement stands. Why is it any of your fucking business?” I don’t like where this is going. If our stubbornness collides it could turn into an all out war.
“Because it gives him an unfair advantage in the eyes of the board. They don’t know if you’re helping him. There are customs and rules.” Him and his fucking rules.
“Viv is his cousin. He’d get in anyway.” I have him there.
“But she didn’t put him up.”
“Because she didn’t want to out herself—” I shut myself up. I’m not going to argue semantics with him. “It doesn’t matter and you know it doesn’t so get off my dick.”
“Think of how this all looks. What if the board finds out.”
“They’d come to the same conclusion. Viv gets him in and I’m not helping him.”
“It’s not about if you’re helping him or not. It’s how it appears.” His jaw flexes.
“Who do you think this looks bad for? Are you sucking the dick of someone on the board?”
“My leadership at Legacy could affect my application to the Velleity.”
Is that really what all this is about? He’s fucking overreacting.
“They aren’t going to care.”
“You don’t know that.” Something’s got him all worked up.
I chalk it up to dad.
“I actually don’t care. You’re not going to ban him or you would have already. You just want to hold it over my head.” I stare at Locke, daring him to say I’m wrong.
“That’s not the case. I don’t want either of you to be under extra scrutiny considering how things are currently going with Mom and Dad.”
I know he’s talking about the risk all of this could put on our standing with The Velleity and our future. But I don’t give a single goddamn.
“I’m not stopping. He deserves to get in. Even without Viv or me.”
“You need to be careful. None of this is the game all of you treat it like.” He doesn’t want to piss off the Jackal, and I understand that. But this is more important to me. If I have to fucking go protect Ash and his fucking brother myself, I will.
“Thanks for the advice.”
“I have your back, Rurik. We are family. You need to trust me more.”
Now I feel bad. “I have yours too. I do trust you. Mostly.”
He rolls his eyes but doesn’t say more.
The conversation with Locke leaves me jittery on top of the cryptic one with the Jackal and yet another dead end with dad.
I’m maxed out on pent-up energy I need a release before I explode.
If I don’t find some way to work it out, it’s going to get out of control, and then I can’t be held responsible for my actions.
I’m exhausted by the time we get back to Exitier, and all I want to do is climb into bed with Ash and forget everything else.
Only I find him sitting on the edge of his bed, already in his crew clothes, a full hour before he needs to be up, staring at the wall like a fucking zombie.