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.
THE DINING TABLE was filled with people for breakfast once again. Just like before. Vincent had brought Mark home and they had given him a couple of rooms for his stay. So it was Jon, Lucas, Rick, Paxton, Vincent, and Mark O'Donnell. Not like the family it was. But also not so far off. Jon walked down the stairs and saw everyone was busy eating. He gave a nod to Mark O'Donnell whose eyes traveled everywhere as he ate. He gave a nod to Vincent who sat on the left side, next to Jon. His face was buried in the morning paper. He fist-bumped Paxton and Rick as he walked past them and gave Lucas a look as he sat down at the head of the table. Immediately, a cup of coffee was placed before him by a maid and he took a small sip. As usual, there was the occasion chatter at the table. Rick and Paxton had taken an immediate liking for Mark and they talked in hush tones as they ate. Jon cleared his throat to get Mark's attention before asking, "How is the unwinding of the tape coming?" Mark
"WHAT DO YOU mean by he saw you?" Maxim snarled. "Exactly how it sounds," The thick Russian snarled back, "He almost came to us. His eyes, Maxim, they looked like they wanted to kill us." Maxim stared directly into the eyes of his assassin and yelled, "You look into my eyes. Tell me what they look like." The three Russian assassins behind flinched, but not that thick one. He stared straight at Maxim but did not say anything. "Him, coming after you means that Nicole must have told him something…" He groaned and rusted his hair with his fingers, "Just to keep a low profile," Maxim snarled after a few seconds of harsh breathing, "And you fucked that up!" "We are not babysitters," the thick Russian snapped, "We are assassins!" "And you even failed at that," Maxim countered, "We would not be in any of this mess if you had just killed the woman in the first place." "Uh, we are not in any mess," the thick Russian snapped, "You," He pointed at Maxim's chest, "You are in a mess. And you
"GET US TWO shots of Russian vodka, eh?" Igor called to the bartender. She looked at them dryly and lazily reached for the cabinet of drinks behind her. She poured it into two small glass cups and pushed it expertly so that it came to a stop directly in front of each man. "I didn't come here to drink, Uncle," Maxim muttered. "But nothing is stopping you," Igor said, drinking his glass in one gulp. He patted Maxim behind his back and said, "Go on," He urged. Maxim hesitantly drained his glass. "Bring us two more, eh," Igor called again to the bartender. Maxim looked like he was about to argue, but he clamped his mouth shut and allowed himself to be cajoled into drinking by his uncle. After they had gone through 4 shots of vodka, his uncle Igor finally said, "So… You are here." Maxim nodded, "I am." "What brings you here?" Igor asked, "You look troubled.""That is because I am troubled," Maxim said. "Dis I tell you about a tape?" "What tape?" Igor asked absently. He signaled to
"Have a seat, please," Mr Mitrovic said. He gestured with a broad hand at the two chairs opposite his desk. Jon and Vincent took their seats and Mitrovic sat down on his leather chair. He pinned Jon with a stare and said, "Okay, Mr. Stone, you have my attention. What do you have for me?" Jon reached into his jacket and brought out a copy of the tape.He placed the tape on the table and Mitrovic leaned forward and took it. He ran his finger through the sides and examined it closely with his eyes before bringing out a player from a drawer beneath his desk and inserting the tape. He pressed the play button and the clearer voices of Nicole and Maxim poured through.They remained in silence as the tape played on. Mitrovic's face did not change and he kept his gaze locked with Jon's for the full length of the tape. When the tape scratched to an end, it was like they had all held their breath throughout. Mitrovic pressed the elect button and the tape whirred out of the player. Without s
"YOU SHOULD STOP by our tower for a bit before heading back to New Jersey," Vincent said as they got back on the plane. "I think I will," Jon replied. Vincent nodded and said something into the phone hanging by his side. He spoke to the pilot, telling him to redirect their course of flight to New York."Do you think Mr. Mitrovic will do anything?" Jon asked when they were airborne. Vincent nodded. "I know him from way back. Your father did too, and there are not more capable people in this world than him." Jon relaxed. He reclined his seat and let his thoughts drift. In the case where Mitrovic did not do anything to Jon's satisfaction, Jon already had a plan formulated in his head on how he would exact revenge. He thought back and tried to align his thoughts."Tell me again, how was my mother killed?" Jon asked. The question threw Vincent off for a second. That was not what he was expecting at all. He looked out the window and tried to gather his thoughts before replying. "Uh,"