HEADS TURNED AT the loud, guttural sound as Jon's car sped down the street. His phone rang as he swerved into a street, he tapped at a screen on his dashboard. The phone was connected to the car. Lucas's voice came through the speaker, "How's it going, Jonathan?" He asked. "I've left the hospital," Jon replied. "Is she going to be alright?" Lucas asked."Yeah, the doctors said she'll help fine," Jon said. Lucas sighed in relief, "That's good to hear. I'll speak with you when you get back home.""Wait… there's one more thing," Jon said. "Yeah?""She said something," Jon pressed his horn at some people crossing the road. "She said it wasn't an accident." "What do you mean?" Lucas asked. A second later, it dawned on him, "Someone was responsible?" Jon made a sound from his throat in agreement. "Did she say who?" Lucas asked. Jon made that same sound. "Who?""Maxim Ivanov!" Jon spat the name out. His tires screeched as he swerved into another street and accelerated. "Oh God!" Lu
"DAMN, MAXIM. Did you get run over by a truck?" Antonio asked. Maxim snorted and brushed past him. He looked around, the toen wallpaper and untidy corridor had been fixed. "I like what you've done with the place," Maxim muttered. "You should see the music room now," Antonio said, "I would have taken you there but it looks like you have more pressing matters at hand." His eyes went to the ice pack in Maxim's hand. Maxim chuckled. He caught the joke. "But seriously, Maxim," Antonio said, "What happened to you? A truck?" He asked again. "Yeah, more or less," Maxim muttered. He collected the drink that was offered to him and took a small drink before saying, "I was hit by the truck of Jonathan's rage." "Which Jonathan?" Antonio asked. "How many Jonathans do you know?" Maxim snapped. "I met a Jonathan in Madrid last year. Lovely fellow, you know. You would like him," Antonio counted off his fingers, "Then I met another Jonathan in Germany the year before that. Was it Jonathan or ju
JON WAS VERY tempted to reverse and turn back to Maxim's house and beat an answer out of the Russian. The track skipped and the voices were scratchy at some points so Jon could not hear what was being said. He took out the tape and put it in his pocket. He was going to get an answer by any means. He was going to cryptically ask Vincent if there was any way to get the content of a destroyed castle tape. If anyone knows how to do it, Vincent would surely know the person. But now at the moment, he was here to give a little ghetto town some hope of a brighter future. He stopped and parked at the edge of the community. He got out and looked around, the sun was high and harsh. Squinting against the light, he closed the door, locking it securely and then putting on dark sunshades. As he made his way into the ghetto, he noted that things were not any better than the last time he was here. And he remembered that Miguel had told him that a big man – no doubt Maxim – was willing to employ them
JON DROVE NONSTOP and got to the hospital in record time. He parked just outside the ER and walked up to the nurse's desk. The nurse gave him a bright smile and greeted, "Mr. Stone. How may I help you today?" Jon returned the smile and said, "I am here to see someone. Nicole Bishop." The nurse nodded and flipped through the papers in her front, "Miss Bishop is found well. She was transferred from the intensive care unit to a private room on the second floor." Jon released a breath of relief. Nicole, being transferred meant that she was over the worst. "What room is she?" The nurse gave Jon a thick card. Printed on it was the floor and room number. Jon nodded at her and walked up to the elevator. He got in with a couple of nurses and dropped off on the second floor. As he walked down the hallway, he kept muttering the room number, like that would make him find the room faster.Nicole's room was at the far end of the hallway, and Jon was thankful that none of her parents were ther
IT HAD BEEN two days since Jon left his mansion in New Jersey. To him, it was like New Jersey was the base of the Stone Empire and not New York as his father said. He simply had too many ties to this city. But this morning, he had woken up with an urge to check on the tower and even call in New York. He had to apologize to Vincent for delaying his retirement. After a quick breakfast and a text to Luke, he got into the already waiting limo and Luke drove him to the tower. They came to a stop in the underground garage of the tower. Jon rode the elevator directly to the top floor and came out. Oliver was waiting for him at the top. "What's going on, Oliver?" Jon asked, walking briskly down the hall and to his office. Oliver hustled beside Jon, fumbling with some papers in his hands before saying, "I got hold of a building contractor.""Hmm," Jon said without stopping or slowing down. Oliver held open the office door for him to enter before following and saying, "I set an appointment
JON WAS STARTING to turn and walk out when the call was answered in New York. "Hello Vincent," Lucas said cooly. Jon paused at the door as he listened to the call. "Everything is alright here. Yes yes, the accident was terrible news and it is in fact related to why I called you," He paused and listened to what Vincent said. Then he gave a hearty laugh and said, "No no, It was not Jonathan in the car… and he is not in a hospital. Matter of fact, he is here with me, but still, we might have to snag on your retirement plan for a while." Lucas kept quiet and listened. Then he looked up at Jon who still stood by the door and gave a small nod. Jon raised an eyebrow in question, Lucas held the phone from his ear and said, "He wants to speak to you." "Why did you tell him I was here?" Jon muttered as he collected the phone. "Master Stone," Vincent's voice came through the line. "Vincent," Jon replied. "It was a relief to hear that you were not involved in the accident." Jon wanted to
"BY THE SHOCKED look on your face, I am guessing that they are not your bodyguards," Aaron said without any worries in his voice. Jon shook his head. "No, they are not." Aaron sighed but didn't say anything more. He put his arm along the headrest of Aaron Jr.'s seat like he was trying to shield his son from whatever it was that was out there. Jon did not need to think hard to guess who had put the tail on him. It was obviously Maxim Ivanov and Antonio Orsatti. He sucked in a breath through his mouth and whipped out his phone. He dialed a number and said, "Hello, Lucas… I am being followed." "Followed?" Lucas asked, "What do you mean by that?" "I mean, there is a fu–" He glanced at Aaron Jr. by his side and met the eyes of Aaron, " – fudging car following me. A brown sedan with two guys in it." "How do you know?" Lucas asked. "My guest saw them from the moment we left the tower," Jon explained. "For fuck's sake," Lucas swore. "There's a kid beside me," Jon said. "Is the call
THEY GOT TO the tower a half hour later. Luke parked near a large pickup truck. Aaron and Aaron Jr. got out. "So, is there any agreement that I would need to sign?" Aaron asked, standing near the front of the truck. Jon got out of his car and said, "Yes, I assume there might be," He nodded at the truck, "She yours?" Aaron nodded proudly and laughed, "Do you have anyone in this tower that looks like they can handle this?" Jon thought for a while and shook his head. "I thought as much," Aaron laughed and slapped the car's bonnet lightly. "When your crew arrives," Jon said, "I will have the contract ready for you to sign." Aaron nodded, "Deal." He hopped into the car beside his son and started the engine smoothly. The loud rumbling of the engine filled the quiet garage. "See you soon, Mr. Stone," Aaron called as he drove off. Jon nodded as he watched the car leave the garage. He collected the documents that Maria had signed from Luke and he rode the elevator to his office floor.