Author's Note: Yes, I'm still alive. I apologize that it takes forever to update the fic. I was hospitalized last year and I had a surgery a few months back. I was supposed to post this chapter a year ago, but again my health wasn't really good. Anyway, I hope you can enjoy this chapter and hopefully I can update faster this year. If not, I am sorry in advance. Please leave me a review; it will give me the energy to update faster. Massive thanks to That70sshowlova a.k.a Logan who beta'ed this chapter, and now a fan of Veronica Mars - I really appreciate it!
Previously on 'To Neptune and Back': In the present time, Logan admitted, not in so many words, that he is still in love with Veronica. She is surprised but tries to hide it as she starts to feel something that she cannot explain. In the flashback, Veronica and Gory kissed in a heated moment and they both are shocked by this revelation.
Downtown Neptune
Logan was driving his BMW through downtown, with the top of the car opened and letting the wind mess with his hair. His sunglasses covered his eyes; nobody knew that he was sad. He couldn't help it. Today was really bittersweet.
He was still in love with Veronica.
How fucked up was that?
But when you were alone in the world, millions of miles away from home and being held captive by the rebels and a secret organization who turned him into an assassin, there was only one thing that could keep you sane after all this time – thinking about someone who makes you feel alive.
And that was Veronica for Logan.
Veronica kept him alive and sane.
Flashback,
Somewhere in District des Montagnes, République de Côte d'Ivoire, 2009
Logan almost couldn't hear anything as his ears were ringing. He was bloody, sweaty, and only wearing pants. Blood covered his eyes; most of it wasn't his, but he closed his left eye as blood from his forehead trickled down his left face. His knuckles were bloody as well; he almost couldn't feel the pain as he punched the guy in front of him.
He could hear the guy's nose crack.
He felt like he was in a bubble and all the voices were muffled.
Muffled and ringing. All bouncing up and down in his brain.
And when he heard the ringmaster announce something he realized that he was in the middle of a cage fight. Logan looked around and saw dozens of people surrounded the cage – they were yelling and hollering. Some of them were hanging on the cage like monkeys and throwing trash at him.
He couldn't hear what they were yelling about. He didn't even know where he was but he knew that he was fighting for his life. He looked at his opponent; a big man who had a broken nose stood up and grimaced menacingly.
"Ohhh! He's standing back! The Wolf is now in trouble! I don't think he can make it," The ringmaster announced from his bullhorn.
Logan looked around in a daze; eyes blurry from the blood, his head light from the injury, and his stance automatically in a defense mode. He didn't remember why he had to fight this man, but if he didn't, then he would die.
Maybe it was his head injury and the ringing of his ears, but he thought he heard Dick's voice. "Come on, Logan! Wooooo!"
Logan tried to find Dick, but he couldn't find him amongst the crowd. "Dick...?" he whispered.
Maybe it was a hallucination, Logan had one of those most of the times, but he could see Dick cheering among the crowd, and he was holding a fistful of cash. His surfer blond hair was apparent in the sea of people with darker hair. He was wearing a blue shirt with a brown jacket, the look he often had when he was in high school. He looked so young and carefree – he was laughing with the other 09ers in the crowd. There were John Enbom, Scott Ram, Tad Wilson, Caz Truman, Cassidy Casablancas, and many more. They were all cheering and hollering.
"Fight that bum!"
"You can do it, Logan! Kick his ass!"
"Bum fight! Bum fight! Bum fight!"
Logan swallowed hard.
In that moment he knew how much regret he had about things he had done in the past. And it seems his past came back to him and bites him in a hard way.
Karma was a bitch.
"Logan! Concentrate!" Someone yelled from his corner. "Wake up!" The ringing in his ears stopped, and Logan snapped back to reality. He realized that he wasn't in a bum fight nor was he in high school. He was in a cage fight, fighting for his life.
"You broke my nose, little man."
Logan couldn't react quickly when the huge man bear hugged him, and he screamed in agony. He could hear his back crack and the crowd cheered wildly. Logan screamed again, and it seemed this was it for him – he would die in the match. Maybe that would be better; maybe the world was a better place without him.
For a second, he could see Lilly, Duncan, his mother, and...
Veronica.
Come back to me...
In his mind, she was calling him to come back. To come home.
In his hallucinations, in his dreams, in his fantasy... she said those words. She asked him to come home to Neptune.
That would never happen, would it?
He was being murdered right now, broken into two, being screamed at, and his heart was not even here, in this moment.
His heart was a million miles away from here, in Neptune.
With someone who he should be with.
He should never have left.
"Logan!"
Logan snapped his eyes open, hearing someone calling his name.
He looked sideways and saw a man watching him intently. There were several people with him who were also watching him, and they seemed like they didn't what they were seeing: Logan was losing.
He wasn't supposed to lose in this illegal underground cage match. The man seemed angry and he yelled,"Logan! Concentrate! What the fuck are you doing there?! Kill him and win this fight, soldier!"
Right. He must win. It was an order.
Win. No matter what.
Logan extracted himself from the huge man and head butted him. The man howled in pain and stumbled backward. Logan dropped on the floor and tried to breathe again; his whole body felt like Lego pieces, but he adamantly tried to stand up. They have been fighting for fifteen minutes, and Logan was losing. He couldn't afford to lose, or he would face consequences. He got up fast, ignoring the pain, and immediately put a chokehold on his opponent. The tight grip around the man's neck, made him wheeze and breathe hard. He was tapping Logan's arm, a sign of surrender.
Logan was about to release him when he caught the man's face.
His order was clear. Kill his opponent.
So he did.
With a swift movement, Logan snapped his opponent's neck.
The huge opponent was dead before he hit the ground.
The crowd went wild and roared with approvement. The ringmaster announced his win and it seemed everything went clear and crisp. Logan could hear again and also his vision seemed like it was in HD – he could see the blood, the sweat, the facial expressions from the crowd, and the man's satisfied smile.
Logan swatted the ring master's hand who wanted to raise his hand in victory.
He just killed a man and he didn't feel a thing.
###
"That was a really poor performance, Logan." Logan didn't pay attention to the man named Dr. Van der Maarschalkerweerd, who was talking in a quiet tone. They were sitting facing each other in an office. "You need to be able to concentrate when you're doing your task."
Logan was going to give a snarky answer when he realized that he just didn't care. He kept quiet and looked down.
He almost died today.
It seemed it was his fate, wasn't it? Dying but not really wanting to die.
What's so good about living?
But right now it wasn't his choice. Someone else was taking him a hostage; someone else was taking control of his life.
Dr. Van der Maarschalkerweerd took him from that dark dungeon that belonged to the rebels. The moment he woke up in that hospital, he already claimed Logan's life. He had plans for him. And now, after weeks of rehabilitation in that hospital, Dr. Van der Maarschalkerweerd started to train him to become a hitman.
Dr. Maars — Logan shortened his name with a great irony because his name resembles the Mars name — was working with several rebels and organizations. His job was to train and keep the health of the soldiers. They didn't recruit Logan or the other soldiers from different countries; they abduct them, just like child soldiers. They snatched them from their families and forced them to hold guns and kill people, or their families would be killed, or in more extreme circumstances they brainwashed them to make them loyal to their leaders. After weeks of being trained and psychologically tortured, nobody was surprised that they would change their allegiance.
Dr. Maars seemed to pay more attention to Logan after he heard about an American survivor who was imprisoned in the dungeon by the rebels. Logan spent weeks in that dungeon when he finally succumbed to hallucinations.
Logan was Dr. Maars' pet project.
He recognized Logan after few days in the rehab and decided that Logan was perfect to be a professional hitman. Logan had connections with Hollywood and important people thanks to Aaron Echolls. His only alive family member, Trina Echolls, was a celebrity. Who would suspect a celeb like Logan Echolls as a professional hitman or a spy? An American celeb, nonetheless.
But right now, Logan needed to be able to survive the street fights in order to be an efficient killer. Dr. Maars would not take any kind of failure.
"I'll do better next time, Dr. Maars," Logan muttered.
The doctor nodded and opened a file. "Your government is looking for you. Secretly, of course. They can't really mention to the public that the son of Hollywood stars Aaron Echolls and Lynn Echolls was kidnapped by the rebels. The public only knows that you went missing in action." He pulled out a newspaper clipping. "The tabloids are having a field day with your step sister. She arranged a Kickstarter for making a documentary about your life and the Echolls' family and she is also trying to have a charity for your benefit. She's been telling everyone that your father is framed for a murder he didn't commit."
Logan glanced at the clipping and saw Trina's face was plastered there. "Nothing to do with me. Trina can do whatever she wants."
"Usually when I show other soldiers something from back home, they either get emotional or try to bargain me into returning them home." The pale doctor put the clipping back in the file. "You, however, never showed any kind of emotion ever since you woke up in that hospital."
"Emotion is overrated."
"That makes you efficient," Dr. Van der Maarschalkerweerd commented. "In theory."
"We talked about this, Dr. Maars. I don't have any connection with Neptune or any other places. Everywhere is the same."
"Interesting." The doctor opened another file and read loudly. "Who is Veronica?" Logan's body suddenly tensed. He formed a fist, but he didn't say anything. Too late, the doctor saw his reaction and he formed a smile. "Ah. Now we're getting somewhere."
"She's nobody."
The doctor closed his file and looked at Logan. "When you were in the dungeon and in the hospital, you were moaning her name during your sleep. Now you want to tell me her significance in your life?"
Logan stared at the doctor; right this minute, he wanted to snap the doctor's neck. Finally he said, "Nobody."
The doctor didn't say anything back, but he wrote something on his notepad. It was a tense situation, especially when Logan cracked his knuckles. He could really kill the bad doctor in a second if he wanted to. He was being held hostage against his will. He was a prisoner of war, so to speak.
"Logan." The doctor broke the tension while still writing on his notepad. "Have you heard about your friends that were captured by the rebels?"
Logan's jaw was moving. He suddenly remembered Zeus. "No."
"They are being held hostage by those people. When we got you out from the dungeon, they only let one American soldier to be exchanged by us. Consider yourself lucky that we saved you from them." He looked up from his glasses and looked at him. "You should be thankful that you are alive because of us."
"You just ordered me to kill a civilian in a cage match. Killed, or be killed. How is that being thankful?"
"That's your duty, soldier. Following orders. Our orders. For the sake of your friends in the hands of the rebels, and your own life."
"You 'saved' me, so I owe you my life?"
"That's the basic idea, yes."
"I bet it is."
The doctor smiled. "I have great plans for you, Logan. And one day, you will thank me for pulling you out from despair and unseen future."
Somehow Logan doubted that, but he looked away and nodded.
Present,
Downtown Neptune, 2016
That was years ago when he was recruited by this shadowy organization back when he was in the army. They taught him everything – especially killing. The army taught him to take out the enemies, but the organization taught him to destroy.
He was a killing machine. He was a professional hitman.
One thing they taught him that he'd still remember is how to recognize the enemy or suspicious people, and the Vibe was the way to recognize them.
Those men back in the Paintball game had the vibes. And they were responsible for making Veronica as an assassin. Logan knew how much he suffered for the way the organization turned him into an assassin. He didn't want to think what they had done to Veronica. He needed to find them, maybe destroy the people who made her as an assassin, and then...
And then maybe he could move on.
Move on from her, move on from the pain, move on from the past, and move forward to an uncertain future where Veronica was no longer suffering in the hands of these people...
At least his conscience was clear in that department. And he needed to start somewhere to find those people.
He remembered early this morning he felt a vibe from that man, Clarence Wiedman, back at Titan Tower. He needed to go back there again and investigate. He might not be someone who was responsible for making Veronica an assassin, but he got to start somewhere. Maybe he could help...
Logan looked up and saw the tower in front of him as he was driving. The tall tower looked so menacing right now, just like the tower of Babel where it reached up to the sky. And Logan felt like he was on his way to face a certain doom that he didn't know about.
He was ready.
Neptune Boardwalk
After Logan left, Veronica decided she wanted to take a walk at the boardwalk. The stuffed bears were peeking through her messenger bag while she was carrying her camera, occasionally taking pictures of the scenery and people. It gave her a lot of time to think of what just happened a moment ago.
Logan was in love with her.
He didn't say it out loud. But she knew.
How much easier her life would be if she was indifferent to Logan?
She didn't think it was possible that he'd still have feelings towards her – the last time they were together was a decade ago. They were teenagers in high school, being thrown into the relationship amidst the tragedies around them. He was her friend, her enemy, her boyfriend, her frenemy, and then her savior… They didn't have time to explore the depth of their relationship back then. There were too much baggage and despair floating above their heads.
Too many deaths…
But there was passion and warm things happened to them as well…
Whispers and kisses between them during that bittersweet summer.
Veronica smiled remembering that – they were so… well, maybe in love? They were children… What did they know about real love? But she knew that Logan was in love with her back then. He mentioned it during their make out session in his yellow canary car – that was an awful car with a big backseat, Veronica bemused – before everything went to hell. Before Weevil's gang shot the car and thus sparked the class warfare between Logan's 09ers and Weevil's PCHers, and she stuck in the middle of it.
The burning swimming pool, the burning of his house, the war between the 09ers and the PCHers… It was too much for her.
And then there was Cassidy.
Veronica was sitting on a bench, watching the people walking around, laughing and having fun. She looked at the rollercoaster and remembering how small Cassidy was when he was following their group around. That small kid had become a monster… But was she also a monster too?
Everything seemed to jumble up and everything was back to Logan again.
Veronica looked down at her ring finger. The diamond ring was given by her husband. Gorya said it belonged to his late mother.
She got teary thinking about her husband.
For three years they've been married and facing so many obstacles together. Veronica genuinely cared about him. Their families disapproved of their relationship and marriage, and Gorya made sure it didn't matter. But at the same time, she felt that her family was avoiding her because of her husband.
Logan and Gorya.
Her ex-boyfriend who she cared about and her husband who she… loved?
Veronica didn't want to feel like this. If she had to question her love to Gorya, then was it love in the beginning?
And Don…
Veronica knew she loved Don, but even then she knew that they weren't meant to be together. If Don hadn't died, they'd probably get a divorce at some point. There was too much pain and heartbreak for both of them, not even love would keep them together. But it would still sting, the loss of her first husband; his death was so sudden and then she didn't remember about him for a while.
Gorya filled the emptiness she had when she was trying to move on.
She loved Gorya…
But she shouldn't feel about this, whatever this was, about Logan, if she really was genuinely in love with Gorya.
This was nothing but a mere nostalgia, Veronica decided.
Many people felt like this when they met their exes and thought about what could've been and so on. She wondered so many times what would happen to their lives if Logan never left.
She also wondered whether she would be a professional killer.
She could never tell Logan that she was a killer… not after Logan told her that she was not during the rooftop incident. Maybe it was in her blood after all, and not even Logan could stop it.
Veronica sighed – their lives were so complicated, it was borderline absurd. She stood up, stretched a bit, and walked to the parking lot. There were things happening right now, and it wasn't the time to be nostalgic and wondering about what could've happened.
Right now she had a case to solve.
But she couldn't help feeling warm inside during her walk to the parking lot as she remembering their hug in the broom closet.
She decided that she liked the warm feelings…
Veles Restaurant and Bar
It was during lunch hour when Gorya arrived at the restaurant and went straight to the back. He walked past the kitchen and to the Breakroom. He grabbed one of the cooks while passing and said, "I'm starving. Make me some food."
"Soup?"
"Don't be ridiculous." He pushed the cook away and greeted Boris who was sitting at the table with a man who looked beaten. Gorya assumed it was Kieran. The rest of the bodyguards were around the table too, eating. "You know, where I come from, the boss eats first!" He said loudly. They shook their heads, knowing that Gorya was pretty chill. He then looked at Kieran and said, "So you must be Ciaran."
"Kieran."
"What?"
"I'm Kieran," Kieran answered. "Ciaran is my brother. Different pronunciation."
Gorya rolled his eyes, "Kieran, Ciaran, I don't give a fuck. You stole my stuff. I want them back."
Kieran sighed, "Can I have a glass of wine?"
Gorya opened his mouth in awe, which made Boris chuckled. "He's been like that since we picked him up. Charming little prince we have here."
"I got nothing to lose. My brother is gonna kill me. You're gonna kill me. Really, why can't I get something nice before I die?" Kieran said, almost whining.
"Because that's not how it works," Gorya said, and then winced. "Your crazy brother did this to me. Fucking asshole." He touched his face.
One of the bodyguards, Yegor, was chewing a piece of sausage, pointed his own bruise on his cheek with his fork. "piiiiz'dets, blyaaaa."
"Exactly." Boris nodded. "That's fucked up."
Kieran lolled his head, "He's de facto leader of our family ever since he killed Cormac, my oldest brother. Nobody can prove it, but everyone knew he whacked Cormac. He is insane." Kieran sighed again, "You think he gives a shit about me and the rest of the family? We have to fight for scraps. So yeah, I took your shit. I thought nobody would know I took 5 pounds of those." He exhaled, "If you wanna kill me… just do it. Okay? I mean, what do you want from me anyway? I don't have your stuff anymore. I sold it to several low-life dealers after I cut the shit – which by the way, was NOT easy, lemme tell you."
"Then give me the money from your sales, then." Gorya said.
Kieran actually looked sheepishly. "I spent the whole thing."
"For what? Blow? Booze? Babes?" Gorya asked. "All fifty Grand?" Kieran bit his lower lip and seemed embarrassed. He glanced at the album on the table but then he looked away again. "What?" Gorya saw his look and then grabbed the album.
"Ah, ah, be careful! That's my baby!" Kieran cried.
All the bodyguards and Gorya looked at him in disbelief. "Jesus, what is wrong with you?"
"Have you ever own something so precious and so… BEAUTIFUL that you're willing to do anything for it because it's priceless and it's the reason why you wake up in the morning?"
The men were staring at him silently for a few seconds, and then they burst into laughter.
Gorya didn't laugh but he was looking at him like he was crazy. "You know you're talking, right?"
"Come on, guys. If you're gonna kill me, please let me be with my one true love…" Kieran begged and he scooted over to Gorya who was holding his album, but Yegor who was sitting next to him pulled his chair back. Gorya opened the album and found many stamps lined up on the album. He frowned to see them very meticulously lined up and crisp. Some of the men were snickering watching Kieran's antic. One of the men said something in Russian, and then they laughed. "Oh laugh all you want, you uncultured swines! But I am right. When you're in love, you will do anything to keep it close to you."
"You're in love with stamps," Gorya said. "That's messed up."
"Is that so wrong to love something precious even when people don't understand?" Kieran said. Gorya thought that Liam had been hitting his brother for his whole life; his brain was damaged. He frowned to see something on the album. He ignored Kieran who was talking non-stop and then flipped the pages of the album.
Kieran finally shuts up and watched Gorya flipping the pages silently. The room suddenly went quiet; the only sounds were the pages being flipped and the kitchen sound. The men were looking at each other in confusion to see their boss was looking at the album. Finally, Gorya looked up and stared at Kieran. "You have an interesting collection here." He looked up to Boris, "Get me a tweezer."
"Are you gonna pull his fingernails one by one with a tweezer?"
Kieran looked afraid but Gorya just snapped his fingers. Boris pulled out his manicure set wallet from his suit and then gave his boss a tweezer.
Gorya carefully peeled a stamp from one of the pages and then looked at it closely with a tweezer. He grabbed a magnifier from the table and inspected the stamp. Kieran held his breath. Gorya's men were watching his boss examining the stamp while eating. When he finished, he carefully closed the album and put it on his lap while he stared at Kieran.
Kieran gulped as he waited for Gorya to speak.
He was speaking in a very calm tone. "I get it. The whole love spiel you're talking about. I know how it feels to love something so much; you just have the needs to protect the one you love." Gorya tapped his finger onto the album. "And this stamp collection is worth a quarter-million Dollars."
Yegor dropped his fork and looked at Kieran who was sweating.
"What?" Boris asked in disbelief.
Kieran frantically looked around, "I don't know what you are talking about."
Gorya sighed and said, "I was an amateur philatelist. I dabbled with stamps back in the day. But my dad thought that it was a waste of time." He curled his lips. "Threw away my collection one day when he was pissed." He looked at Kieran. "You are sitting in a gold pot and yet you are in debts with everyone, running around like a chicken without its head. Why you endure a lot of abuse?"
"You don't understand," Kieran whined.
"Explain it to me, then."
"Look at those! Aren't those the most beautiful things in the world?" He answered in a defeated tone. "No money can ever replace those. Don't you ever feel that you would do anything for your most precious thing? Have you ever been in love?"
Gorya stared at him, hard.
He then signaled his men to leave. Kieran watched the men walked out from the room except for Boris. Yegor was still chewing while carrying his plate outside. Boris was going to close the door when a waiter brought a tray of food.
"Mr. Sorokin asked for –"
"I'll handle it." He grabbed the tray, pushed the waiter away, and then closed the door with his foot. He put the food tray on the table. Kieran widened his eyes, and his stomach grumbled. Gorya picked a knife, started to cut some sausages into little pieces, and then ate it from the tip of the knife.
"Here's the thing, Kieran. You stole our stuff and money. To me, it's nothing to cry about. But I have a pain in the ass brothers who wants your head – to make an example for our rivals and your family. I disagree with my brothers because I really don't give a shit about a few kilos of cokes. But money is money, and respect is respect. I mean, you worked for us as a cutter, and then you stole from underneath our nose, that's humiliating. Very disrespectful." He clicked his tongue while chewing his sausages.
Kieran was sweating profusely. He knew Gorya's famous temper – he may speak in a very calm tone, but he was really dangerous like a motherfucker. Even Liam sometimes talked about him in fear. "What are you gonna do to me?" He said quietly. If he was going to die, they had better do it quickly because this prolonged moment was not really good for his psyche.
"I understand that your asshole brother, Liam, had done things to you – and your girlfriend as well," Gorya said. "I don't think he really cares about you."
"He killed Cormac. He will kill again if he wants to."
"Your brother is a psychopath. He's also a rapist." Boris glanced at his boss as he sat in the corner; his arms folded, watching Gorya eat in front of Kieran. There was something so familiar in his tone that made Boris very uneasy.
"Yeah…"
"He raped your girlfriend?"
"I… I think so. I don't really know. I mean..." Kieran shook his head. "I was unconscious when he and Danny went to Trina's apartment."
"I saw your girlfriend." Gorya plopped a piece of sausage into his mouth. "She was such a pistol. I like her."
"Oh, hey… If you like her…"
"Not like that, doofus." Gorya poured himself a glass of wine. "I feel for her. And you, for a strange reason." He sipped the wine slowly while watching Kieran. He put the glass on the table after he finished and stared at it, hard. "I know how it feels to be undermined by your own family. You work hard and nobody appreciates you. And then a fucked up thing happened to you, and there's nothing you can do about it - because some asshole rapist is taking your power away and stripping away your last dignity even though it's not your fault."
"O-okay…"
"I blame you for her rape." He pointed a finger at Kieran. "If you didn't steal our stuff, Liam wouldn't blow a fuse. But then again, I remember this is Liam we're talking about. If it were up to me, I would just cut off your head, sell your stamps, and then give the proceeding to my brothers – end of story. But…" Kieran held his breath. "I want Liam to suffer more." Gorya formed a triangle with his fingers and talked quietly. "I want Liam to feel the pain of losing everything. And you're gonna help me."
"Help…you?"
"You're gonna help me taking down Liam once and for all. I won't kill you because let's face it; you got enough punishment from your own stupid brother. You will be free of him. He's going to witness his empire burned down to the ground. And then holy crap, I will rain down fire upon him and cut him in little pieces for everything he did to your girlfriend, just because I fucking hate rapists."
Kieran blinked.
"And… and you want me to help you for that?"
Gorya pulled a notebook from inside his suit. Kieran gasped to see the black notebook. "Your girlfriend gave me this – which by the way, she said that you are no longer her boyfriend."
"She gave you the book?!"
"She gave it to me, willingly." He opened the little black book, "Everything is here. I guess I have to thank her, and also thank you for this book. I mean, you are very meticulous. Not surprising, based on your stamp collection." He reads the notes. "Arms dealing, drugs, bookies, names of people, places, locations…" He smiled. "I want Liam to crawl down the sewer and beg for mercy after I destroy his empire he built for years."
Kieran frowned, "And you're not gonna kill me?"
"Nope." He popped the 'p' and started to check the stamps again. "Also, I'm gonna keep this."
Kieran gasped loudly, which made Boris snickered. "Not my stamps!"
"Okay. Let me break this down for you: you stole from us. This is the payback. I am letting you help me to take down Liam from the goodness of my heart." He held up his hands, creating balancing scales "Your stamps… or your life."
Kieran blinked rapidly and his eyes darted between Gorya and his stamps.
"It's just fucking stamps, goddamn it!" Boris yelled from his chair.
Kieran exasperatedly nodded, "Fine! Fine! I'm sorry."
Gorya pushed the sausage plate in front of Kieran, and he immediately gorged the whole thing. "Jesus, this guy," Boris commented. Gorya just shook his head as he read the notebook.
"Chew your food," Gorya said.
"You better kill Liam soon and not give him a chance to attack you," Kieran said with a mouth full of food. He stabbed a boiled potato and shoved it into his mouth, not waiting to swallow the previous food.
"Like I said…" Gorya murmured. "I'm not planning to kill him, yet. He needs to suffer first."
He still remembered how he almost died at the hands of Liam because he made fun of Veronica… and Trina's expression when she told him to extract revenge.
Psychopath rapists need to be wiped out from the face of this earth.
Neptune Grand
The meeting with his boss, Warner Brostoff, was over, and Jeff found himself walking down the lobby of the hotel. The hotel was familiar to him as he used to work here. He waved to the girl who was behind the receptionist desk and greeted some of the workers. They knew that he was an FBI agent. It wasn't as if he was undercover or anything, but Jeff enjoyed how much the employees of the Grand paid him some respect; especially knowing that he used to work in that hotel.
Jeff walked into the hotel bar and sat at the corner. He ordered some sandwiches with a glass of soda and waited for his next meeting.
He checked his messages and noticed that Lizzie Manning texted him and that she already put the bug in Valentin Sorokin's office. He texted her back and told her that she would get her deal. Lizzie had decided to cooperate with the Feds in order to take down the Sorokins.
"Everything is in place." Jeff murmured.
Ten minutes later, a man walked into the bar. He saw Jeff in the corner and walked towards him. "Agent Ratner." He greeted and sat in front of him. He ordered Gin and Tonic from the waiter while he cast a glance towards his surroundings.
"I am surprised that you want to see me, Mr. DeSante."
Domonick DeSante curled his lips. "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately."
"About what?"
"About my safety. I think someone is trying to kill me." Jeff met Domonick a while ago and decided that he would use him for his case. "You heard about the killings that have been happening lately?"
"What killings?"
"In the news! People are killing lawyers left and right."
"Well, no offense but – they are lawyers." Jeff sarcastically said.
"Not just lawyers. Lawyers for the mob."
Jeff stared at Domonick, trying to bait him. "Are YOU a lawyer for the mob, Mr. DeSante?"
Domonick raised his eyebrows. "Let's not fool around, Agent Ratner. I work for one of the most powerful families in Neptune. I do know some stuff."
"What do you want from us, Mr. DeSante?"
Before he could answer, the waiter brought them drinks. Domonick gulped his drink and slammed the glass hard on the table. "I need your protection."
Orion Suite
Dick was lying on the couch, his head was on Mac's lap, and he groaned now and then, complaining about his hangover. Mac already gave him some hangover cure, but the only thing that Dick needed was rest. It didn't help when her phone kept buzzing from notifications – her Twitter and Neptune Connection feeds kept notifying her with news regarding her and Logan.
The TV was on but she muted it. She kept seeing herself on the news with Logan, and they kept playing that video of them holding hands and running away from the paparazzi. The headlines were screaming "NEW COUPLE ALERT: LOGAN AND CINDY" or "LINDY ALERT".
"Lindy? Ugh," Mac muttered.
"Kinda cute couple name," Dick murmured.
"Does this mean I have your blessing to be with Logan?"
"Please don't joke about that."
"Can you move to my room? My bed is more comfortable for you."
Dick thought it was tempting, but the prospects of leaving her warm thighs and not having her in the bed itself were less tempting, so he opted to stay in this position. "No..." he whined.
Mac brushed his hair with her fingers and Dick calmed down again. "You're such a kid."
Dick didn't say anything but he closed his eyes and started to rub her knee. Mac shivered a bit but let him rub her knee, while she kept brushing his hair with her fingers. He moved his head a bit, and his lips touched her thigh. For a second, Mac went still. But then she relaxed again, letting Dick rubbing her knee. She didn't know that Dick was hard because of that.
Dick suddenly bolted upright and went to her bedroom. "I'm going to bed. Please don't bother me?" He walked very fast and slammed the door. Mac watched the door, bewildered. Mac exhaled loudly and laid herself on the couch. She was watching the news for ten minutes when she heard Dick moaned loudly from her bedroom. "OooHHHH Cin...!"
"Dick? Are you alright?" Dick didn't answer. Mac frowned when she didn't hear anything so she approached her bedroom. "I'm coming –"
"DON'T COME IN! Please, I have a headache!" Dick yelled from inside, he sounded panic.
"Why are you yelling?" Mac asked outside the closed bedroom.
"Just... a headache. Please."
Mac shook her head, annoyed. "Fine. Well, I guess if you need anything..." Dick didn't answer but she could hear some rustling inside. Mac shrugged and went back to the living room when she heard her phone ring. She frowned to hear the ringtone – it was Veronica's ringtone.
She picked it up,"Bond?"
"Q. How's it been?"
"Same 'ole, same 'ole." Mac grimaced. "I haven't heard from you for a while. Last time I saw you is when you went to New York. How are you?"
"Sorry about that, Mac. I've been busy. Sorry that I just called."
"It's okay... Well, what can I do for you?"
"Actually, can I come over? Today has been weird, and I haven't seen you for a while." Veronica paused. "I kinda need to talk to you about something. And I missed you."
Mac widened her eyes. "Uh, sure. Right now?"
"I hope I'm not intruding anything. I was going to your office, but I called and your assistant said that you're a celebrity now and can't be bothered by mortals so you're resting on top of Mount Olympus."
"Stupid Oliver. Look, come over and we'll have ice cream or something. God knows I need it. But I must warn you that there are paps surrounding the apartment, so it might be annoying."
"Sounds good. I'll be there in a few minutes."
They exchanged goodbyes and hung up the phones. Mac bit her lip and shook her head. Might as well let this get over with – Dick mentioned that Logan and Veronica had a date, based on what Casey Gant said. But if she was coming here, then there was something wrong. Maybe it was time to clear the air once for all. She knocked on the bedroom door, "Dick? Just want to let you know that Veronica is coming." There was a bit commotion and she could hear Dick approaching. When he opened the door, she widened her eyes. Dick's hair was sticking up, he was sweating, and he wrapped himself with the bed sheet. It was obvious that he was nude. "Dick, are you naked?!"
"Look, I can't sleep. Sorry about the mess."
Mac sighed and pushed him away. "I need to take a shower. Let her in, okay?"
"Hey, is it a good idea to let her come?"
"I dunno. Let's find out, 'kay?" She was about to open her kimono when she noticed that Dick was staring. "Dick, GET OUT."
"Right..." He muttered and then got out from the bedroom, while still wrapped by the bed sheet. Dick didn't want Mac to found out that he made a mess in her bedroom and he had to get rid of the bed sheet because it was dirty now. He went to the laundry room and put the sheet in the washing machine, grimaced when he saw the stain. He poured the detergent and for a moment didn't know what to do. He had never done a laundry before. When he lived with Veronica and her dad, she was the one who did the laundry. When Veronica tried to teach him, his mind went blank. He closed the machine's lid and grabbed a bathrobe.
As he was putting a bathrobe, he heard the front door's bell. He walked while muttering something and then opened the door, and found Veronica standing with her eyes wide open.
"Oh my god, are you naked under there?!"
Dick looked down and saw his robe was untied, and Veronica was trying to cover her face. He didn't care – he missed Veronica so much, so he hugged her and carried her to the living room after he kicked the door close. She was trying to get away but Dick's grip was too strong and then finally she gave up and let her being hugged. Suddenly she felt emotional and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Hey, Ronnie."
"Hey, Dick."
"Miss you so much."
"Miss you too." They held each other a little longer and then they let go. Veronica cleared her throat and looked away. "PLEASE tie your robe."
"Ronnie, what's going on? I haven't seen you for a while, and then Logan picked me up at the club after he went to your place –" Dick ignored her plea. Veronica closed her eyes as Dick was still not tying his robe and even moving around.
"Please put the mouse back in his house!"
Dick grunted and tied his robe, but then grabbed her hand. "What the hell happened? Why were you with Logan? And why haven't you talked to us?" They plopped themselves on the couch – Dick was still holding Veronica's hand with wide eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Veronica asked Dick, ignoring his questions. "Are you sleeping with..."
"NO! Fuck, shut up." Dick yelled and then hissed at her,"Don't you dare say anything about my feelings about Mac. I don't know what Logan told you, but there's nothing going on with me and her."
"But you have feelings..."
"What's going on between you and Logan?" Dick immediately asked her.
Veronica pursed her lips and looked down,"There's nothing going on between me and Logan."
They looked at each other, silently and warily.
"You know I miss you so much." Dick broke the silence. He looked at their hands intertwined and shook his head,"This is ridiculous, Ronnie."
"What is ridiculous?" Veronica asked softly.
He couldn't say that her husband hurt Wallace and warned her friends and family to keep away from her. Surely she would know that there was something amiss. "That we haven't seen each other for a while. And then one night, Logan suddenly appeared everywhere – had a date with Mac and then you..."
Veronica smiled,"You think he was dating both me and Mac?"
Dick pouts,"Well I know now it's not true."
"Dick... Logan came by to my gallery and we had Chinese food. We talked a lot about stuff." Veronica squeezed his hand, "He apologized about the past – about the way he left without saying goodbye. I forgave him, even though he didn't do anything wrong. And then I asked him to help me with stuff today."
"What stuff?"
"Stuff that I need to discuss with Mac, actually - that's why I am here." She looked at him. "Why the first question you asked me is whether Logan and I are together?"
"Because..." Dick gritted his teeth. His impulse made him say something he shouldn't say. He blamed it on his hangover. "Never mind, okay - I thought he was trying to seduce Mac. So automatically I thought he was trying to seduce you too."
"He would never do that, you know that."
"Oh no? Do you remember Kendall?"
"I'd rather not."
"Exactly." Dick rubbed his head. "I'm just... worried." He looked at her in sadness, which was so unlike him. "I really miss you."
Veronica cleared her throat. "Well... here I am. I miss you too, Dick. Why don't you come over to my house for dinner sometime?"
Dick widened his eyes. "Really?!"
"Yeah. I would love to have you and everyone for that matter, to come over."
"Alright! But how about..." Dick trailed off. "Uh..." He seemed searching for words. Veronica bit her lip; she seemed to know what he was going to say but waited for him to say it. "I can bring Mac, right?"
"Of course." She smiled. "I will let you know."
They both went silent again; there was this awkward thing going on between them because they hadn't talked for a while. Dick cleared his throat,"So you saw the paps everywhere?"
"Yeah... I managed to sneak in. The concierge got his hands full, trying to stop the paparazzi taking pictures. Glad I had more finesse than them."
"What a fucked up situation. Poor Mac." Dick scoffed, "Stupid Logan!"
Veronica grinned. "I heard they just had twins."
"Not cool, Ronnie."
"I found this a bit bittersweet. I can imagine what Mac and Logan have been through..." She remembered Felix's case. She was at Logan's side during his trial, and the media were attacking him and trying to get some juicy tidbits about her as well. The whole thing with Mac was nothing compared to the trial, but annoying nonetheless. "I met Logan for lunch at the boardwalk, and there were people taking pictures of him. Glad that he wasn't that famous nowadays, or else people would swarm at him."
"What were you doing at the boardwalk?"
Veronica looked at Dick, contemplating whether to explain about the case. "We just had lunch." Dick stared at her, trying not to blink, obviously he wanted to ask about their relationship. She sighed,"There's this case... and Logan said he would help." Dick wanted to ask why Gorya didn't help her instead, but he held his tongue.
"Are you back in the sleuthing game?"
"Not necessarily... I just want to help someone." She played with the strap of her bag. "Anyway, we went to that Paint Ball game to investigate – and I won a bear." She chuckled, showing a pink stuffed bear that was peeking from her bag. Dick looked at it, nodded. "I'm grateful that Logan was there to help me with the investigation. He is a good friend, Dick."
Dick nodded,"Yeah..."
"So uh... how are you?" Veronica asked.
"Pretty chill, except with the whole Logan and Mac drama. Did you know that the paps are calling them 'Lindy' for their couples name?"
"That's kinda cute."
"It's a nightmare. Please don't tell her that I have feelings for her. I am not ready for this conversation. Look, we've been friends for a while. I don't want to ruin our friendship with this bullshit, okay? Ronnie, just... be cool about it."
"I won't tell, Dick," Veronica remembered how much Logan also refused to talk about his feelings towards her. He knew that she was married, and that was the reason he didn't want to admit that he had romantic feelings. She was also the master of avoidance, so she'd rather avoid the subject to protect their friendship. Sometimes truth wasn't the right thing...
Mac came out from her room wrapped in her kimono and with wet hair. She immediately approached Veronica and they hugged very tightly.
"Gosh, I miss you so much," Mac said and sat next to her.
"Me too. Sorry about what happened with the reporters," Veronica commented. "They were at the front lobby, harassing everyone. So I sneaked in from the back. The last time I saw this kind of commotion was when Carrie Bishop had a drug scandal with Sean Friederich a few months ago at the Balboa Plaza. They closed the street because of that."
"Yeah... I don't know how Logan faced this on an everyday basis." Mac shook her head. She looked at Veronica and asked quietly,"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Mac paused for a bit. It seems Veronica was okay with her and Logan being spotted together even though there was nothing going on between them. "Nothing. This whole thing is a mess."
"I was just telling Dick that I had lunch with Logan at the boardwalk." She glanced at Dick, who was avoiding eye contact. "We both were investigating a case at that Paintball Game."
"Paintball? Does this have something to do with Darrell?"
Veronica blinked,"Wait... how do you know?"
"Ryan was telling me about how Darrell was fired by Clemmons about that paint prank in his school. Are you helping him?"
"Wait, this is about the paint prank?" Dick interjected. "The one where they had Cassidy's poster splattered across the school area?"
Veronica raised her hands. "In a way, yes... And also about that paintball prank that happened to the Mayor and dad." She exhaled and looked at both of her best friends. "I can't just stand aside watching what happened to dad and Darrell...I really thought that drive by shooting was real. I saw it on TV and I thought I lost him..." She shook her head. "I know this is nothing but a stupid prank, but if I can help Darrell and Dad by solving this case, I would do anything."
"Is it dangerous? I don't want you or Darrell to get into a trouble," Mac said, worriedly.
"Somehow I doubt it. I think it was a bunch of kids trying to scare off people. Which is why I am here: I wanna ask you for a favor to solve this case."
Mac shook her head,"Say no more. I will definitely help. What do you need?"
Veronica pulled out a piece of paper,"I went to Neptune High this morning – it was still under construction – but I managed to go to the library and printed out this list: a list of students who signed into the library when the sprinkler went off. The library was the only place that didn't get affected by the paint. Who knows, maybe the culprits were the kids who stayed in the library." Mac inspected the list and frowned.
"What's this got anything to do with you and Logan going to the paintball game?"
"I went to Neptune High and found a paint barrel with the company name called 'Purple Rain.' So I checked and the company sold their paint to that paintball game. I went there with Logan and did a little digging. Logan said that he found some files about the guests from the game. Usually, they keep the guest information for future reference and discount offers. I thought we could cross-check the names from the school and the paintball game."
"Where's the file from the paintball game?"
"Logan has it. He... downloaded the file illegally from their computer." Veronica sheepishly explained which made Mac raise her eyebrows. "It's a long story. He's a hacker now, apparently. I don't know; he was rather shady. But I got more important stuff to think about. He left before I could ask for the file." She didn't elaborate that Logan left because he was emotional about their experience at the paintball game.
"Interesting..." Mac's mind suddenly went to the day when Logan was in her office, tinkering around in her computer desk. But she brushed it away and thought it was nothing.
"Anyway, I thought you could also check the list through Police files or something. Maybe they have criminal records, and then we can go from there."
"I also need the guest list from that paintball game to cross-check."
"I'll call Logan and ask whether he can bring it here or email it to you." She pulled out her phone and dialed up. She waited for a while, but Logan didn't pick up the phone. She sighed and started to text him instead. "I will tell him to email the file to you, instead."
Mac went to her working desk and started to work her magic. Dick seemed to ponder something as Veronica looked at him. She touched his hand. "I saw your dad this morning,"
He was surprised but trying not to show it. "Really? Where?"
"At school. He was with Clemmons. Apparently, he's paying for the renovation."
Dick nodded. "Yeah...I saw him after the news broke about Cass' posters at school. He thought the public would blame our family again. Man, you should see him freak out. I think he's just trying to keep his reputation from getting tarnished again so he offered to pay for the renovation." He shrugged. "Waste of time, if you ask me. Not the renovation, but the whole image thing."
"He's trying to help," Veronica said.
"Dad?" He scoffed. "He doesn't give a shit about helping. He just doesn't want people to blame him again." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I gotta take a shower. I'm still a bit hungover." Without saying anything, he went to the bathroom. Veronica watched him retreated to Mac's room and then turned her attention to her phone. She texted Logan whether he could send the file to Mac.
"Hey, just want to let you know that the file might be big...I don't know whether Logan has time to send it," Veronica said to Mac.
"Tell Logan to come by my office and use my super computer. Tell him that I will turn on the computer from here so he can just send it using my email. Don't worry; I can control it from here. I will call Oliver and let him know that Logan is coming." Mac reached for her phone and called Oliver. After a few arguments from Oliver who wanted to know the details of her life and Logan, she finally hung up.
"I just texted him. Still no answer. I think...I think he's avoiding me," Veronica muttered.
Mac glanced at her room. She could hear the shower was running so she asked quietly to Veronica,"What's going on between you and Logan?"
"There's nothing going on with me and Logan," Veronica said, a little bit annoyed. But then she relented and grabbed a chair next to Mac. "Okay, I don't know whether I should tell you this..."
"If you worried that I would spill something, then you don't know me at all."
"Of course not... It's just..." Veronica covered her face with her hands. "Logan... it seems he still has feelings for me."
"How do you know?" Mac realized that her own feelings towards Logan had gone completely. Maybe after what happened to both of them, especially after being chased by the reporters and paparazzi, she decided that she didn't need any drama. And she realized that she was actually fine with the whole thing. She never actually had any deep romantic feelings towards Logan; it was about being lonely more than anything. "Did he say something?"
"No... not in so many words." Veronica leaned back to her chair. "We went to this paintball game... and I just knew." She didn't elaborate what happened to them. She didn't tell Mac about the hug in the closet, about how Logan leaned and hugged her, and it seemed he wanted to kiss her, or when he pressed his forehead to hers and she felt the heat of their bodies. Or when they were holding hands together in the lobby of that place, and she didn't want to let go. Or when she kissed his cheek during the game. Or when they were hugging at the pier as he desperately held onto her, afraid of letting go, and the way he looked at her like she was the only one in the world. "I don't know what to do."
"Do you have any romantic feelings towards him?"
Veronica looked at Mac like she was crazy. "Of course not, Mac. He's my friend."
"He's your ex-boyfriend."
"I am married."
"Then you don't have anything to worry about, right?" Mac didn't look at her but kept typing at her keyboard, her eyes focused on the monitor. "You love Gory."
Veronica stared at the monitor, but not really looking. "Yes."
Mac set her jaws but decided not to talk about Gorya. "There you go. If Logan still has feelings for you, then he has to suck it up." Just like me, Mac thought. "I know how it feels to have feelings for someone and then the other person didn't reciprocate. And then one day you found yourself moved on from the feelings." She pressed enter. "If I were you, I wouldn't think about it. Just be friends. And you will find out that it's the best decision for both of you."
Veronica was deep in her thoughts. Finally, she said,"Thanks... Mac."
"No problemo." She pointed at the monitor. "Voila; the list of the kids who were in the school library and who have records."
"We'll just have to wait for Logan to send us the file and cross-check." Veronica nodded.
Mac looked at the computer and then said,"I miss this. Me and you, working together like this." She looked at Veronica. "We're good at this."
Veronica looked at her best friend and smiled,"Yes. We are."
Titan Tower, Votuza
Gorya arrived at the building after lunch hour. People were walking in and walking out from the elevators and gave him a funny look. He knew that his face was like a punching bag, but he just didn't care. With a sigh, he pressed the elevator button to his office. As he rested his head on the wall, he knew that Roman would make everything difficult today.
And he was right. Roman yelled at him the minute he walked into his own office. "Where the fuck have you been?!"
Before Gorya had a chance to reply, Valentin openly mocked him by saying, "Did someone mow your face with a lawn mower?" He laughed.
God help him, he wanted to kill his brothers. Apparently, they didn't care whether he'd get killed or not.
"I just had a mind-blowing morning sex with my wife before I got here. Important thing first, you know." Gorya nonchalantly said, managed not telling his brothers that he visited the Sheriff Department and saw his father-in-law. He also didn't tell his brothers that he just got back from the restaurant to handle Kieran.
He saw Roman was sitting at his desk and had his feet propped on it. This was his office; Roman had no business here.
"Ew." Valentin made a face.
"Did you get our drugs and money back from The Fitzpatrick?" Roman asked.
"Get your dirty paws off my desk and your ass out of my chair, and I will tell you," Gorya growled. When Roman didn't budge, he swiped his brother's legs off the desk. Roman chuckled because he liked to get under Gorya's skin. But he walked away from the desk anyway, and Gorya sat after him.
"Well?"
Gorya pulled out an envelope from his suit and then threw it at Valentin. He caught it and took a peek. Valentin whistled, "Yo! You got the money." He counted the money with his fingers. "Fifty grand!"
"Of course I got the money back. Now we're even, and don't ever tell me to do a servant job anymore."
"Dude, you didn't have to do it." Valentin laughed. "We were just messing with you. Didn't think that you ACTUALLY running around collecting money!" He laughed hard, "You are so easy."
Gorya leaned back to his chair and smiled, "So how's everything with the El Fuego and the Four Pillars deals?" Valentin shut his mouth although he was still smirking, and glanced at his oldest brother who didn't smile. "Isn't it why you've been calling to come down to the office because you wanted to tell me that the deals are successful?"
"Shut up." Roman hissed. He grabbed the envelope from Valentin's hands. "I sure hope you killed the thief."
"I was gonna bring his head, but I just refurbished the office," Gorya said deadpanned, lying to his brothers. "Roman, whatever stupid thing you're asking me to do; I will finish it, brilliantly." He waved his hand. "Unlike you, who knows only how to order things – you can't even do it right." He counted with his fingers, "Your deal with the Chinese is kaput –"
"Not my fault."
"Your deal with the Mexican gang is on pending."
"Still not my fault."
"You ordering to kill a Fitzpatrick is basically asking for a war with a bunch of uneducated smelly alcoholic motorcycle hillbillies."
"It's necessary!"
"And you are hanging around here like a homeless guy with no office."
Roman wanted to punch his brother, but Valentin stopped him, even though he was chuckling, "Cool it, bro."
"Look, Roman – I did everything you asked me. You are the commandant of the family, I accept it." Gorya said with a shrug. "But I am the head of the family legal business. This is my job. And I am good at my job. Don't bother me again with stupid little things like these."
"You do what I tell you to do!"
"Nope, Roman. I got a business to take care of. Uncle Lev will agree with me on this one. Ask your enforcers to do your dirty jobs, not me."
Roman gritted his teeth, but he couldn't have a rebuttal because Gorya was right. Uncle Lev would also be so pissed if he found out that he and Valentin basically told Gorya to do their bidding, instead of taking care of business. Gorya was a great businessman, and he was the face of the family – the legal side. He was ready to yell at him since this morning, but apparently, Gorya managed to track the dope money and returned it.
"Fine." Roman finally said.
"We really can't get the dope back, because that stupid Fitzpatrick already sold them to several dealers. But we got the money back, and that's a plus. A few blocks of dope won't change our deal with the Mexicans – tell them we will get them discounts."
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"Roman, give them less the price that you both agreed upon, and they will be happy."
"That won't cut the losses that we already have!"
Gorya pulled out a piece of paper and gave it to Valentin, who was closest to him. "What's this?" He frowned to see the piece of paper.
Gorya stared at Roman and smirked. "That's how we get even."
"What?"
"That, my dear brothers, is a list of Fitzpatrick's businesses: bookies, shops, dealers, you name it. Take those things down; burn them to the ground," He looked at Roman and Valentin. "Do your thing as a commandant of the family. Get rid of our competitors. And then the Bratvas will think that you are an amazing leader of the family."
Roman seemed to ponder something. He looked at Gorya suspiciously, "What do you get from this?"
"You're off my back, for good." Gorya's stare hardened. "And stay away from my wife."
"Oh yeah, your wife is –"
Gorya slammed his fist on the desk which made both Roman and Valentin jumped. "My. Wife. Is. Off. Limit." He stared at both of his brothers, "Meaning you don't make lewd comments about her. You don't talk to her. You don't even look her, or I will let the Bratvas and Uncle Lev know that you are fucking screwed up with this whole dope mess."
Roman scoffed hearing the threat. "You wouldn't dare."
Gorya smiled and leaned back to his chair. He said to his older brother in a very calm tone. "After all these years, do you not instinctively fear me?"
Roman and Valentin remembered Gorya's temper; he almost strangled their father because of that – and all because their father didn't approve of Veronica, which was the cause of the expulsion from the family.
Say what you want about Gorya, but he was the head of the company and he owned the majority of shares. Roman might be the head of the family, but Gorya had the family money. It was time to stop playing with him and start taking him seriously.
"Fine," Roman said. He looked at the piece of paper. "Where did you get this anyway?"
"Does it matter?"
"No, it doesn't." Roman curled his lips.
Gorya might be his younger brother, but he could be scary sometimes. The fact that he didn't care about losing everything as long he could be with Veronica was a testament how obsessively in love he was with his wife. He remembered how Gorya was disowned by the family, especially by their father for marrying Veronica. He didn't care, and yet somehow he managed to get back on his feet and turned the family business into a bonafide legal business. They were all richer, thanks to Gorya. The family and the Bratvas were thankful to him… despite his marriage to the Sheriff's daughter.
"Destroy the Fitzpatrick's businesses. Make ours the only one that matters. It's your job, Roman." Gorya put his feet on his own desk. "Forget the Chinese deals. We don't need more eggs in our basket. Keep the relationship with the Mexicans intact, and make them happy. Trust me on this, Roman."
"You're not the boss of me, Gory."
"Roman." Gorya's eyes turned into slits. "I am aware I am neither your boss nor your commandant. But I know what I'm doing. It's up to you whether you want to do it or not, but you know I'm right in every way."
Roman and Gorya stared at each other.
Valentin looked down awkwardly, didn't like the idea of being stuck in the middle as always. It was always like this between them – they never got along… ever since their mother... was gone.
The stare down was interrupted by the sound of the intercom.
Gorya pushed the intercom button angrily, "WHAT?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting, Mr. Sorokin. But your sister-in-law is here."
"Why?"
Before his secretary could answer, the door was opened with a bang and Zena burst in. Both Gorya and Valentin jumped because of that, while Roman looked at his wife exasperatedly.
"What are you doing here?! I'm in a meeting!"
Zena pushed the secretary who wanted to stop her and jumped into Roman's arms.
"I've been looking all over for you! I called the restaurant, the bar, the sauna, and every place you always hang out, but they told me you weren't there. I tried to call you but you didn't pick up the phone. I texted you, but it seemed you haven't read it. So I decided to go to this tower."
"Is everything okay with the kids?" Roman asked his wife.
Valentin and Gorya glanced at each other. Zena was one of those annoying mob wives who always wanted to know their husbands whereabouts. They spend money like water and spoiled rotten. The fact that Zena was actually nicer than Mischka, their step-aunt, was not encouraging.
"Yes, baby. I need to tell you something. It's very important." Her voice sounded very husky. Valentin rolled his eyes while Gorya shook his head. "I went to the doctor this morning…"
"What doctor? Are you sick?"
"You know I've been throwing up lately. I thought I had food poisoning. That or Medusa really can't cook when she invited us for dinner."
Valentin snorted, and Gorya couldn't help to smirk when Zena called Mischka as Medusa.
"So, what's happening?"
"I AM PREGNANT!"
There was a pregnant pause in the room until Valentin reacted, "Again?!" He yelled. Roman threw him a dagger stare and he immediately backtracked. "I mean congratulations!"
Zena squealed and hugged her husband. Roman was sort of happy although he made a face. This would be his sixth child if he wasn't mistaken. Zena was babbling to her husband and then peppered him with kisses. She then hugged – more like squeezed – Valentin, who was fake cheering and returned her hug.
Gorya stood up and hugged his sister-in-law. "Wow, Zena. Congratulations. Another child."
"I know, right? We've been blessed."
"I'm the luckiest uncle ever."
"You're the best uncle in the whole universe!" Zena happily hugged him tightly. "And don't you worry; Veronica will get pregnant someday. And when that day comes, I will throw you the biggest baby shower!"
Gorya's chest constricted hearing that, but he was smiling.
He didn't pay any more attention to Zena and her enthusiasm, especially when she was bouncing around her husband and Valentin. Gorya stood near his desk, feeling sad all of a sudden. He remembered how the doctors said that Veronica couldn't have children.
Sometimes he was envious towards Roman.
That bastard of a brother had everything; a status, a family, and a position in the family. He had so many children, but he never cared about them. The only reason why he had children was to impress the peers that he was a family man.
His brother grabbed some glasses from the bar and poured some whiskeys. And then Valentin handed him a glass of whiskey while rolling his eyes at Zena's squealing. The three brothers clinked their glasses together and congratulated Zena. Gorya watched as Roman kissed his wife and drank his drink.
He hated Roman so much right now.
Titan Tower, Kane Software
Logan arrived for the second time today at the Titan Tower and he already hated the place. The building was very tall, made of glass, very sleek and modern, with lots of palm trees at the front of the garden where everyone could see the Titan statue. After receiving his car token from the valet, he went to the receptionist.
"Hello, excuse me. My name is Logan Echolls. I was here earlier meeting with Mr. Gant from Gant Company. Is he still around?"
The friendly receptionist typed something on her computer and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Echolls. Mr. Gant is out for today after lunch. Would you like to make an appointment? I can put you through with his office."
"It's okay. I think I'm gonna reach him on his phone. However, I wonder whether I can see Mr. Clarence Weidman? He's an old friend of mine, and I know I am without an appointment, but is it possible to come by to his office?"
The receptionist was still smiling when she said, "I am sorry Mr. Echolls. The Kane Software is restricted for everyone without an appointment. I can put you through to his office if you want to?" Logan shook his head, pursed his lips, pretending to be disappointed as he drummed his fingers on the receptionist desk.
"Oh well, what can you do?" He shrugged. He then gasped and searched his jacket. "Oh my god, I think I left my phone at Casey Gant's office! Can you tell his office to bring my phone? Careful, it's a diamond encrusted iPhone. It cost more than your house."
The receptionist's smile faltered but she contacted Gant's office and asked whether they could bring Mr. Echolls' phone. After a while, the receptionist told him that they couldn't find his phone. "I'm sorry, Mr. Echolls. They can't find your phone."
"Damn it, I don't remember where I lost it. Is there any way I can go to his office and look for it?" The receptionist then contacted the office again, while she still had her fake smile.
"Mr. Echolls, you can go to Gant Publishing office accompanied by this gentleman." Logan looked at the security guard and nodded. "It's the building's safety policy."
"Awesome. I feel safe already. Thank you so much." Logan thanked the receptionist and went to the elevator with the security guard. Inside the elevator, the guard pressed the Gant Publishing floor button. Logan noticed when he first came to the building this morning, he needed some sort of card to go to the top of the floor of Kane Software. He already counted the security cameras surrounded the premises. He just needed to go to the floor somehow without using the elevator. When they arrived at the Gant's floor, Logan went to Casey's office where a secretary was in front of his office door.
"Mr. Echolls, I can't find your phone anywhere. Are you sure you left it here?"
"I'm pretty sure. Let me have a look."
"Mr. Gant is out for a while, sir. Maybe you can wait?"
"Don't worry, he won't get mad. I'm an important client." Logan grinned. The secretary helplessly lets Logan inside the office. Inside, Logan counted to ten, and then walked out again waving his phone, which was actually inside his pocket all the time. "Here it is! Found it near the window. I probably dropped it behind the couch." After thanked the secretary, he went to the elevator with the guard. "You know what; I think I can manage to go to the lobby by myself. Is that okay?"
"Of course, sir. Have a nice day." The guard walked out from the elevator.
"Thank you!" Logan said as the elevator door closed. He immediately pushed another button on the tenth floor. He was thinking about using the emergency stairs from any floor. He only needed to disable the alarm from the door; he'd been doing that for a while whenever he had an assignment. He knew there was a camera inside the elevator – he could just say he was looking for a restroom from the closest floor if he was asked.
The elevator dinged, and Logan immediately walked out, and read the company's name in front of the elevator:
"VOTUZA KAVIAR"
Logan approached the receptionist and smiled, "Hello. I think I got off on the wrong floor. I was looking for the Gant Publishing Company?"
"Oh, it's on the thirteenth floor, sir. You still have to go up."
"My mistake. Thanks so much," Logan pretended to go back to the elevator, but then talked to the receptionist again. "I'm sorry, I'm embarrassed asking this. Do you know where the bathroom is?" He grimaced like he wanted to pee so badly.
"No problem, sir. Just straight down the hallway, and turn left. It's before the emergency exit."
Logan thanked the receptionist again and walked briskly down the hallway. He arrived at the front of the bathroom and glanced at the emergency exit a few steps after it. He made a calculation in his head; how long would it take to disable the alarm and sneak out to the top floor. He went into the bathroom and paused: The bathroom was really beautiful.
Instead of regular urinals for men, it was unisex. It had stalls and sinks with modern design. The floor was marbled, and so were the toilet bowls. There were even couches and vanity mirrors. Logan whistled, "Wow."
He stood in front of the sink and stared at himself. He looked tired and wary. But he was doing this for Veronica. He needed to find out why he could feel Clarence Weidman's vibe – maybe he could get information why ever since he arrived in this town, he felt uneasy. Veronica was his sole reason why he came home to Neptune. He needed to know what happened to her; and how she became an assassin. Who was her boss, and who were Gabriel and Dante? Obviously, they were the people who were responsible for her being a professional assassin.
Logan gritted his teeth – there was no way he would let anyone use her like that. He knew the pain of being used by people who wanted to hurt others. He didn't want Veronica to suffer anymore. He would destroy those people, by force if necessary.
Logan was lost in his thought as he washed his hands, he didn't notice a man walk into the bathroom. The man was muttering to himself, and he was frustrated. He was pacing behind Logan, and finally punched one of the doors of the stall. Logan looked up and frowned to see the man's behavior, but didn't say anything. The man paced again, and then finally sat on one of the couches; he stared at the wall. Logan dried his hands with one those fancy infrared air dryers that were quiet.
Before he finished, the man suddenly said. "Have I seen you before?"
Logan rolled his eyes, "I doubt it."
"Yeah, I think I recognize you from the tabloids and TV."
"Okay." Great, one those people who read tabloids and watches TV. He turned around and nodded, "Have a nice day."
He was reaching the door handle when the man said something that made him pause, "You were Veronica's ex-boyfriend. You're Logan Echolls."
Logan stopped on his track. He slowly turned around and looked at the man in the bathroom. The man stood up from the couch and buttoned his fancy suit, and he looked at Logan up and down, like he was sizing him. "I beg your pardon?"
"So you are the famous Logan Echolls; the famous movie director. Who used to be in the military. Who used to date, Veronica." He smirked in disbelief. "What are you doing in this building? On this floor? You shouldn't be here."
Logan stared back at the man who stared at him. The man was wearing a really fine suit. He was tall, just like him. Although he didn't feel any vibe from him, he could feel that this man was dangerous. He didn't know who this man was. "Well, it's none of your business. But I got off the wrong floor. And I wanted to go to the bathroom. Who the hell are you?"
The man tilted his head to the side like he was trying to read Logan. He put his hands in his pockets and nodded, "This must be my lucky day. Logan Echolls in my company's bathroom; the war hero and the famous celebrity." He took a step. "You know, I saw your step sister, Trina. She was delightful."
Logan suddenly got angry. "How do you know Trina?"
The man shook his head and took another step. He was now in front of Logan – they had a similar size and height. Logan didn't budge but he formed a fist, ready to do something if this man made a move.
The man offered his hand to Logan, "My name is Gorya Sorokin." He smirked at Logan, "Nice to meet you."