Chapter 7
Blaze stands on the balcony of the hotel room admiring the sunset and orange sky above. Although her and Axel decided to try to get on with the day by taking a tour of Vienna, she can't help but contemplate how tonight's going to end. What can of worms are about to be opened when they reveal everything to Adam?
She suddenly feels a warm energy and that familiar comfort when Axel steps out onto the balcony and puts his arms around her waist from behind her. She closes her eyes and breathes in the moment when he kisses her neck.
"I'm sorry about earlier," he says, still keeping his arms clutched around her as she turns around to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck to hug him tightly.
"I shouldn't have shut you out like that" he continues.
"Axel, I just want you to know that whatever happens, whatever is said tonight, it won't change anything or how I feel about you. We stick together no matter what ok?" They gaze into each other's eyes for a moment before passionately kissing as one state of mind for both of them quickly leads to another.
It's amazing how the physical chemistry between the two of them is always there but can accelerate to a maximum within a matter of seconds. Neither of them have ever had this bond with any previous partner before. Rather than just an act of pleasure, sex and intimacy between them is soul deep and so powerful that it's breathtaking. To feel this connected with another soul is not something everyone finds in a lifetime.
An hour later and the sun is down whilst the two of them lie there spooning in the darkness still as close as ever. They know this moment is the calm before the storm so they treasure every second they have here together.
"I've figured it out, I know what I need to do now" Axel says as Blaze turns around to face him.
"What do we need to do? Whatever it is I'm with you all the way" she responds.
"You're so beautiful, you know that?" he gently tucks her hair behind her ear.
"Whatever they think they can find on you, we'll get there first. Adam and Clark will fix it and will make sure any evidence is destroyed."
"I know but the simple solution is that if Tim is out of the picture, all of our problems go away".
"What are you saying?" Blaze questions him with concern.
"I have to kill him". His tone is serious.
Blaze pauses, slightly shocked by what he is thinking. "There has to be another way, what about his daughter? His wife? He is a problem but he's still an innocent man and they don't deserve that."
"Believe me, I've thought about this from every angle. Apart from Adam, he is the only one in that precinct that the syndicate can blackmail in exchange for a lead on me. Adam is loyal and won't betray me, I know I can trust him. But Tim? He's a snake and this is the only way".
"And what about the rest of the syndicate?"
"Electra is out for revenge. She knows that whatever thugs they have left can't take us down. So for her this is the only way to really gain authority over the police. She's the one who put Tim in power and she'll kill him anyway once I'm behind bars. But it won't come to that".
"Then we have to find her and kill her too along with anyone else who is willing to take over the syndicate. That organisation needs to be wiped out clean." Blaze replies.
"It's not as simple as that. Killing Electra won't end the syndicate, just like killing Mr X didn't. They're so embedded in the system, in the police, in politics, business. Their dirty money is invested everywhere, They are the system and they still control everything".
"So we can't beat them then?" Blaze asks.
"No. But there's still a way we can change everything".
"How?"
#Phone rings#
"Hey Kaz, we'll be down in 10 minutes" Axel promptly replies.
"Adam has just arrived by the way" he replies.
"Ok, tell him to wait there for us".
As soon as Axel and Blaze step out of the elevator and into the lobby of the hotel, they can't help but draw attention from the other guests. "What a lovely young couple" an older lady comments next to her partner as they pass by holding hands.
"Hey Adam" Blaze gives him a reassuring smile when she notices him, the reunion between the trio is warm and pleasant.
"My car is ready and waiting outside" Kaz enthusiastically mentions to Axel.
"What? Where are we going?" Adam replies worriedly.
"Trust me ok?" Axel responds. "First let's take your bag upstairs" he insists as Adam follows Axel towards the elevator. "We'll be down in 5 minutes babe" he says to Blaze as she waits in the lobby with Kaz.
"So how do you two know each other then?" Blaze asks the barman inquisitively.
"Your guy there saved my life last night. It's a long story but he fought off 3 guys including a gunman when they tried to attack me at the bar last night."
"Oh, are you ok? That must have been a shock" she replies with concern.
"I'm great! And really I owe my life to Axel, the way he fought off those guys…."
"Damn! Looks like I missed all the fun" she smiles "next time I want a piece of the action, I miss a good fight!"
"You're a soldier too?!" Kaz responds in awe.
Blaze laughs "no, no way! I don't think I'm disciplined enough for that! But I am a Judo expert".
"Woah that's incredible! I've always wanted to learn!"
"So where has Ax arranged for you to take us?"
"My home is only a 5 minute drive from here and is a safe quiet place for you three to have your meeting".
"I see. Thank you".
"Leave your bag back there along with your phone then go in the bathroom and put those clothes on". Axel demands as soon as they arrive at the hotel room. Adam glances over towards the chair to find a pair of his friend's jeans, a white t-shirt, jacket and sneakers.
"First you change the location of the meeting and now you want me to dress for the occasion?" Adam replies feeling like Axel is being overly cautious.
"I'm not taking any chances" he stands with his arms folded.
"You don't trust me?"
"Yes, I trust you. It's the people you work with I don't trust".
"Hey what the fuck are you doing man?!" Adam shouts as Axel takes a knife then rips into the seam of Adam's jacket. He pulls out a thin silver metal wire and holds it up in front of Adam where they both recognise the bug device.
On the way out of the hotel, Axel places the device under one of the lobby bars. "They'll have fun listening to the conversations here" he grins.
Just a five minute drive from the centre of town and the group have arrived in Kaz's neighbourhood although it couldn't be any further away from the touristic city centre. It's typically a European residential street with narrow cobbled lanes and external shutters on the windows. But when you look closely, this street is quiet with its residents hidden behind graffitied walls, closed iron gates and wooden-boarded up properties.
Kaz glances around as he takes out his key to open a pad-locked tall gate. Behind it is a broken door that leads into a large run down building with at least four apartments inside, mostly sheltering migrant workers and their families.
"Our space is small and there isn't much here, please excuse the mess" he replies shyly.
"Thank you, we really don't mind" Axel replies gratefully.
Kaz leads them up four flights of stairs where they pass several families each with their own room, kitchen and bathroom. Eventually they arrive at a space containing a small table, two beds and an old fireplace where they each remove their shoes.
As soon as the trio enter, they are greeted with so much warmth and happy smiles. "Welcome to our home!" Kaz smiles. "We are all celebrating the neighbours birthday downstairs tonight so stay here as long as you need. Our home is your home!"
"Kaz that's really kind of you but I didn't realise you had family here. I don't want to put them out of their way" Axel replies.
"No no way! You put your life on the line for me, my family and I will never forget that!"
"Do you all live here then?" Adam asks.
"Yes. This is my mom, brother, his wife and their three children".
"Thank you for allowing us into your home" Axel addresses Kaz's mother in Arabic.
"Thank you" Adam and Blaze repeat in English.
The group are taken back by the family's kindness when they see a large tray of rice and stewed chicken with stuffed vine leaves on the table along with two jugs of water left for them.
"It's not good to have a meeting on an empty stomach. My mom insisted" Kaz smiles as the family encourages them to eat during their meeting. That familiar scent of home comes to Blaze's mind after over 20 years.
The younger lady decides to approach her with a smile then she gently takes Blaze's hand before saying something to her that she can't understand. Blaze sheepishly glances towards Axel and Kaz waiting for a translation from one of them.
"My sister in law said mashallah you are very beautiful. But why can't you speak any of our languages? You're similar to us".
Blaze smiles "it's been a long time".
"ma ismuki? (what is your name?) Blaze smiles asking the lady who appears to be a similar age to her.
"ismi Azra" she enthusiastically replies. Blaze is immediately taken back and pauses in front of the lady as her eyes start to tear up.
"What's wrong?" the others ask.
"Mashallah that's a beautiful name. That was also my sister's name".
"I'm so sorry, please don't cry" the lady responds. "I'm ok" Blaze wipes her cheek with her palm. "She died with my family a long time ago. Thank you for reminding me of them". She feels a chill down her spine for a second as the lady gives her hand a gentle squeeze with a reassuring smile before Kaz and his family say goodbye to the team. They follow the three children who excitedly run downstairs to play.
"Kaz's family are amazing! I'm so glad you were there at the right moment to save him when you did". Blaze says to Axel as the three of them tuck into the food that was left for them.
"This is pretty good!" Adam comments with his mouth full of food, hungry after a 12 hour journey.
"I remember meals like this back home when I was a little girl, they're the best!"
"I wanna see if I can find Kaz and his brother another job. I know his family wouldn't want him working behind a bar and besides, that place is dangerous. He told me it wasn't the first time guys like that came into the hotel." Axel responds.
"I'll also help in the morning, depending on what he would like to do" Adam says "one things for sure though, you were right! Probably that whole hotel is bugged by now".
"Doesn't this remind you of old times?" Blaze smiles.
"What meetings in the warehouse? Yeah all we're missing right now is Max bench pressing in the corner" Axel laughs.
"I really wish we could hang out like usual right now but remember I'm here for one reason. Shall we begin then?" Adam snaps them back to reality.