"Hey! Wake up guys!" Sydney woke with a start and felt Sark do the same. Sergei was standing over Sydney, shaking her gently. "We're landing in five minutes." He left the room.
"Good morning beautiful," said Sark, leaning over to kiss her lips softly.
"Good morning," she said with a sly smile. They both stood up and smoothed their wrinkled clothes. Then they walked out of the room and into the main part of the plane. The plane began its descent and landed within a few minutes. Before anyone could exit the plane, Jack came in and gave them the "low down".
"We don't want to call much attention to ourselves, so we'll be going back to your mother's home in pairs. Irina and I, Alexei and Julian, Sydney and Sergei. Sydney and Sergei, you take the car at the airport." He tossed Sergei a set of keys. "Black BMW. Alexei and Julian, your car is two blocks from the airport. Red Mercedes. Irina, you know where ours is. Irina and I are taking Ana. If either of you aren't back at the house within an hour of your estimated arrival time, Irina and I will immediately begin looking for you, so no screwing around." He glared at Sydney.
"My God, Dad, that was one time. I told you, the temptation of Duval Street shopping was just to much." Sydney grinned impishly. Jack turned to Sergei.
"Sergei, I don't care if you have to hog-tie her. No shopping." Sergei grinned.
"No problem, Jack."
"Okay, Sergei, Sydney, you're the first group to leave the plane." Sydney kissed her father on the cheek and gave Sark a quick kiss on the lips, then her and Sergei walked out of the plane and through the airport. Within minutes they were standing in front of a Black BMW.
"I'm driving," Sydney said, smirking at her brother.
"I don't think so, little sister."
"Rock, paper, scissors you for it." Minutes later the car pulled out of the airport parking lot, music blaring and Sergei sitting in the passenger seat pouting.
"Its not fair. That's an American game."
"You're the one that agreed to it."
"You know I bet Julian's having a fun time with Alexei."
"SERGEI! What is he going to do?!?!?"
"Now why would you think I would be in on it?" He grinned innocently. "I had nothing to do with it."
"Bullshit."
"Okay so I had something to do with it. He's just going to ask him a few questionsâ€from the questionnaire."
"THE QUESTIONNAIRE? THERE'S A QUESTIONNAIRE?"
"Of course there's a questionnaire. We've got to know what questions to ask prospective brother-in-laws." Sydney screamed in frustration.
POV Change: In the red Mercedes
"All right, Mr. Lazarey, lets get this over with."
"I was wondering when the interrogation would commence."
"So you have no problem with me asking you questions?"
"Of course not. I expected it. Sydney's an amazing person and its obvious you love her very much. I would be a little worried if you didn't ask me some very intrusive questions."
"All right. This is very simple. I ask you a question, usually a one word one, you answer it in full. I WILL find out if you don't."
"I would expect nothing else. Don't worry. I have nothing to hide from you."
"Or my sister?"
"Of course not."
"Parents?"
"Adrian and Maria Lazarey. My father was a Russian diplomat. He was killed by Lauren Reed. My mother died when I was 10. My father got mixed up in some nasty business. They took my mother as†collateral. Unfortunately, he couldn't play their price."
"Job?"
"In the past I've worked for you mother, usually as Sydney's adversary. Lately I've been doing freelance work. Last job I had was with the CIA, working with Sydney."
"Kids?"
"None."
"Do you want any?"
"If they're with Sydney. After we're married of course."
"Good answer. Home?"
"I've got a small house in the country in Ireland. I've been living our of hotel rooms for a while though, or at your mother's house before that."
"Financial situation?"
"I inherited eight hundred million dollars from my father. I had five million before that. You do the math."
"More than enough to make Sydney comfortable." Sark laughed.
"She has expensive taste, but more than enough."
"What do you value more than anything?"
"I value loyalty. Because before your sister, I had none. For or from anyone else. Now I have both." He smiled sadly.
"Last question. The classic one. What's your intent?"
"I intend to marry your sister. I intend to give up this life and ask her to too. I intend to find a remote area and settle down with her and live happily ever after. That's what I intend to do."